Day 81 - Troublemakers for Jesus!

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? (I Thessalonians 3:9)

By the time you are reading this, the International Congregational Fellowship will be meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, which is, of course the biblical Thessalonica. We will be gathered from many parts of the world: Syria, Argentina, parts of Africa, plus the UK and USA. Others will join us online for part of the programme.

This year, we are meeting at the heart of the landscape where the Christian faith began its own long journey from its origin in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, out into the world. While we are there, we will follow in the footsteps of Paul and the other missionaries, learning, as we go, from two different biblical accounts of those early Christian years.

The Book of Acts is a careful account written by the scientist, Luke, which aimed to set out what happened in a clear and orderly way (Acts 1:1, Luke 1:1-4). This is invaluable, because it sets the overall context, describing the spread of the gospel through a series of missionary journeys by Paul and others. From this, we learn that Paul, with Silas and Timothy, visited Thessalonica on their way from Philippi, before going on to Berea and Athens (Acts 16-17).

We will trace part of that journey in the next few days, and we will learn how Paul and his companions were mobbed by angry crowds, and hounded from place to place, because they were: ‘These people, who have caused trouble all over the world’, and ‘have now come here’ (Acts 17:6). In an authoritarian State, their message was dangerous: ‘They are defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.’ (Acts 17:7)

But Luke’s ‘orderly account’, while it vividly narrates the drama of the events, doesn’t always convey the personal emotions and tensions among the adherents of this new faith, as they learned to live in the presence of the risen Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. For this, we have the amazingly rich resource of the letters, first hand insights into the explosive impact of the gospel into ordinary lives. I and II Thessalonians show us what it was like to live through the persecution, the fear and the hope, day to day.

The new faith was radically different from anything that had gone before. It wasn’t the same as biblical Judaism. Indeed, the Christians found themselves constantly at loggerheads with followers of the old ways. But it was definitely not just another cult alongside the old and new religions of the Greek/Roman culture that surrounded them. The Christians dared to challenge the empire of Rome, and proclaim a servant-king, Jesus.

Today’s Christians, who are meeting in Thessaloniki as you read this, along with those who join us online, are also called to defy injustice, exploitation and the misuse of power, wherever we find it. We will hear from some very troubled parts of our contemporary world, where Christians still face serious persecution through standing up to ‘Caesar’ in many forms. We will hear how people are still hounded from place to place, as we listen to the experience of refugees, and consider what the Bible has to say about welcoming strangers.

Above all, we will share our experiences, learning and finding encouragement from each other. Because, among the strong emotions recorded in the letters of Paul and others, is a profound sense of love for each other, rooted in a shared sense wonder at the miracle of the gospel. Paul expresses this in his letter to the Thessalonians, in the verse at the head of this reflection:

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? (I Thessalonians 3:9).

This echoes our joy when we meet. Maybe you would care to join us. There are still online sessions available – find out more at International Congregational Fellowship Conference Info. If you register, free or paid, we will send details.

Above all, please keep us in your prayers, and keep on being troublemakers for Jesus!

Janet Wootton