We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

I saw an interesting blurb from an article in The Atlantic that explored the reasons that so many people failed to return to church after COVID-19. It spoke of people who perhaps were slow to return and then found themselves more sporadic in attendance. This created a fear of facing questions like “Where have you been?” that they simply didn’t want to face, so they chose not to. It concluded that they discovered going to church was another task in our ever-busier lives that they learned to live without.

I thought to myself as I meditated on this: “Good. If in your heart and mind going to church is simply a task to be checked off of your list, perhaps your choice not to return is a win-win for you and your church.”

Today our chapter-a-day journey returns to Paul’s letters to the fledgling group of Jesus’ disciples in the Greek city of Thessaloniki. Paul made a brief stop there and his sharing of Jesus’ Message led a few Jews and a large number of non-Jewish Greeks to become believers. Paul’s M.O. was typically to stay in a new town for a while to help a new group of believers get established in their faith. That didn’t work in Thessaloniki (see Acts 17) because enemies rose up and started a riot, leading to Paul’s abrupt departure and a number of the believers being arrested and thrown in jail.

Paul writes the group of believers this letter to encourage and commend them. In today’s introductory statement, Paul commends their:

work produced by faith
labor prompted by love
endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

What struck me first about Paul’s commendation was the words “work” and “labor” which in English are typically synonymous. So, I dug into the original Greek words Paul used:

“Work” is translated from the Greek “ergon” which is more easily thought of as good deeds. I think of Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek, walk an extra mile, and bless your enemies. All of which, the Thessalonians were given opportunities to exemplify by their local enemies and persecutors.

“Labor” is translated from the Greek “kopos” which can be thought of as being “troubled” or “bothered.” A week or so ago, when Wendy and I were busy moving everything in our basement, ripping up carpet, and recovering from a flooded basement, it was “kopos.” Slogging through the consequences of trouble. This was also the reality in the wake of the Thessalonian believer’s local persecution.

The next thing that struck me about Paul’s three-fold commendation was that the “work, labor, and endurance” were linked to a specific motivation. The “work” of blessing their enemies was motivated by their sincere faith in Jesus and desire to follow His teaching. The “labor” of slogging through the consequences of local persecution was motivated by love for Jesus, and love for others. Their endurance was motivated by hope in Jesus’ presence, provision, protection, and eternal reward.

In the quiet this morning, I couldn’t help but think back to those in The Atlantic for whom going to church once a week was a task. It was work that they felt burdened in doing. It took more out of them than what it provided them. So what was the motivation for going in the first place? Family tradition? Social or cultural expectations? Personal obligation? Having experienced many churches of many kinds along my life journey, I would observe that a congregation largely made of people who attend out of those motives is not a spiritually healthy system.

The Message makes it clear that believers’ regular gathering together is about encouraging one another, building one another up spiritually, corporately worshipping together (a unique experience compared to individual worship), and experiencing a spiritual refreshment needed to help us be examples of Jesus and produce the Fruit of the Spirit each day as we interact in the world. I don’t meet with my local gathering of believers because it’s a task. I meet because I both want and need the regular infusion to remain spiritually healthy in an unhealthy world.

Yesterday, Wendy and I missed our regular local gathering because Wendy had a sleepover with her inner circle of lady friends and I wanted to be present to help host and serve. It was a different kind of fellowship and a healthy change of pace. That said, I texted back and forth with multiple people in the gathering. I missed being there. I was thinking of them, being encouraged by them, and encouraging them in return. I was motivated by Jesus’ love for me, and my love for them. It wasn’t a task. It was the natural fruit of loving relationships. And, that’s what “church” was and is supposed to be.

Note: Thanks to those of you who noticed my absence much of last week and checked to ask if I was okay. Between a couple days of business travel and a number of things on the plate, I found myself taking a few days off.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.