Christian Discipline
009 Christian Discipline
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
July 17, 2011
As we continue our study of 2 Thessalonians you are well aware that we are now in the midst of the “practical application” section of Paul’s letter.
These sections are where the rubber meets the road.
It is where theology makes practical application to the Christian life.
It is in sections like these were we find practical truths
As to how a Christian is supposed to live the Christian life.
And tonight we learn more about the Christians responsibility
To be disciplined in the way he lives.
We know that a disciplined lifestyle is important to the Lord.
From the time we are born, it is God’s intention
That our fathers begin to teach us a disciplined lifestyle.
Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Furthermore we know that God is a God who “disciplines us”
Hebrews 12:4-11 “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
There the writer of Hebrews says that He does so “so that we may share in His holiness.”
I guess putting it another way, we could say that
God disciplines us so that we will be disciplined people.
God never intended for His people to live lives of undisciplined freedom.
Christian freedom (as it is often promoted) knows nothing of being
“wild” or “irresponsible” or “undisciplined”
The freedom which Christ gives is a freedom from sin
And all human effort to eliminate it.
But it is not a freedom that condones any and all types of living.
The freedom of Christ actually comes with tremendous responsibility.
That is why are said to be free from sin but enslaved to God.
Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
And this type of freedom / slavery
Actually expects a tremendous amount of discipline.
Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
1 Corinthians 8:9 “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Peter 2:16 “Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”
Christian freedom does not condone any and all types of living.
It doesn’t allow for selfishness…
It doesn’t allow for liscentiousness…
It doesn’t allow for wickedness…
And according to our text this evening,
The freedom of Christ also does not allow for laziness.
Apparently there were some believers in Thessalonica
Who were leading “lazy” lives.
Verse 11 says, “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies,”
To put it plainly some held to a mindset that now as Christians
There was no need to bother themselves with the everyday menial tasks.
This included things even like “work”.
Apparently they had tried to take advantage of
The church’s good nature to help those in need.
We all remember the attitude of the early church:
Acts 2:44-45 “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”
It is apparent that some where taking advantage of just such a benefit.
· They were not working, they were free loading.
· They were letting everyone else foot the bill for their life, while they no
doubt claimed to focus on “spiritual things”.
What is also apparent is that this problem has been going on since the church’s beginning and was still an issue.
In verse 10 Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
So Paul had confronted this issue before he ever left Thessalonica.
Beyond that, when he wrote his first letter back to them,
He addressed it again.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
And now, apparently the problem still is not resolved.
Therefore Paul calls for swift and severe action
To fix a problem that is spiraling out of control
And will no doubt bring division in the church.
And so in this letter we have Paul calling for discipline on both ends.
A disciplined life for those who are lazy.
And church discipline for those who remain that way.
There are 5 points I want to make in our text this evening.
#1 THE EXHORTATION
2 Thessalonians 3:6
I call this an exhortation, but you can clearly see
This is more than even a strong encouragement from Paul.
This is an apostolic command.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
This is a direct command with all the authority of Christ.
WHAT DOES HE COMMAND?
“that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.”
Paul commands the Thessalonians believers
To “shun” those who lead unruly lives.
And this is fascinating in an age in which even the majority of Christians
Think that shunning is about as “un-Christian” as it gets.
Well, let me help you think biblically.
According to what Paul writes, you can’t live life as an obedient Christian unless you do shun some people.
Now we have all read the passage in Matthew 18 about church discipline in which our Lord commands us to discipline a sinning brother.
And we are also aware of the progression.
· Go to him
· Take a brother with you
· Tell it to the church
· Let him be to you as a Gentile or a Tax Collector.
Some would no doubt ask, why Paul jumps straight to shunning?
What is apparent is that this is now the third warning.
There is no possibility of ignorance here anymore.
This is willful act of disobedience.
That actually serves to enlighten us to church discipline.
Christ’s order of discipline did not mean to serve the purpose
Of giving a sinning brother time to stay in his sin until the final hour.
The order Christ gave was simply to make for certain
That the believer had been warned, knew that he was wrong,
And knew that the entire church was in agreement.
Since it is obvious that this has already taken place in Thessalonica,
Paul calls for him to be shunned.
“keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life”
WHAT IS THIS “UNRULY LIFE”?
Verse 11 says, “we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”
The “unruly life” Paul referred to was a lack of labor,
Coupled with a propensity to sin.
This verse supports the fable,
“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”
You may remember that Paul addressed this same problem while speaking about widows to Timothy.
1 Timothy 5:13 “At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.”
So being undisciplined, and being a busybody
Was never allowable for anyone, not widows, and certainly not men.
And because that is true, Paul calls for shunning those people.
That is the Exhortation.
#2 THE EXAMPLE
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
In verse 6 Paul calls for a pretty drastic response
To the unruly lifestyle of some of the members of the church.
Here Paul gives the basis for such a drastic response.
And that basis is the clear example he had given them
As to how to live the Christian life.
Here we see the example that Paul left for the Thessalonians to follow.
And you can see 6 areas he covers.
1) OUR DISCIPLINE (7)
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,”
Paul says our example is a reliable one.
We were not “undisciplined” in the way we lived.
We were not wild.
We were not unruly.
We were not busybodies.
2) OUR DEPENDANCE (8a)
“nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it”
In short we were dependant upon no one.
We weren’t free loaders.
We didn’t come in just seeking to take advantage of you.
3) OUR DETERMINATION (8b)
“but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;”
Here Paul reveals that they didn’t steal bread,
But also that paying for their bread was no easy task.
It wasn’t that they were rich.
It wasn’t that the church at Antioch had given them a spending budget to take with them.
They didn’t have they money, they worked for the money.
And they did so “with labor and hardship” and they did so “night and day”
The point being is that they were determined to pay for people’s bread.
They worked all night to make sure they could pay for it.
They were determined.
4) OUR DESERVEDNESS (9a)
“not because we do not have the right to this”
This is what makes Paul’s sacrifice even more commendable.
We all know that those who preach the gospel
Have the right to earn their living from the gospel.
You can even listen to Paul’s sermon to the Corinthians in which he adamantly says he has the right to be compensated.
To Timothy Paul wrote that elders who rule well are worthy of double honor.
Certainly Paul was worthy of every piece of bread they might have given,
But he took none of it for free.
WHY?
5) OUR DESIRE (9b)
“but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.”
Paul had every right to get compensated,
But he willfully did without it so that he could give a good example
For the Thessalonians to follow.
Instead of just telling them to work hard and pay their own way,
Paul showed them how to work hard and pay their own way.
6) OUR DOCTRINE (10)
“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
And so there we learn that Paul practiced what he preached
And preached what he practiced.
Certainly as Paul paid for his bread
There were people who insisted he not pay them.
(If Paul came to your house to eat and then tried to pay you for the meal, you would adamantly try to stop him)
To that Paul would say, “No, let me pay, I am trying to teach a lesson to everyone as to how they should live a disciplined life.”
So Paul practiced it and Paul preached it.
And because he had been so adamant, and so thorough about making a point that everyone work hard and pay their own way,
Paul now can tell the church
To shun everyone who disregards his teaching.
The Exhortation, The Example
#3 THE EXPLANATION
2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
Here we find why Paul writes about it for the third time.
Some may wonder why Paul brings it up again.
“For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”
Paul brings it up again because it still hadn’t stopped.
THIS WAS SIN, AND IT WAS STILL OCCURRING!
Work has always been God’s intention for man.
Genesis 2:15 “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”
That means that work is NOT a consequence of the fall.
Toilsome work is a consequence of the fall,
But work was always God’s intention.
In fact listen to the 10 commandments.
Exodus 20:9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”
Yes God commanded rest, but He also intended work.
Even the Psalmist knew this.
Psalms 104:14 “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth,”
And the writer of Proverbs is very matter of fact about it.
Proverbs 6:6-11 “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest" — Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.”
Work is God’s intention.
Ephesians 6:5-7 “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,”
That means to be undisciplined and refuse to do it
Is to go against the revealed will of God.
In fact God actually uses work as a means of spreading His glory.
1 Peter 2:18-19 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.”
Work is the intention of God.
That is why Paul can justifiably call for discipline for all who refuse it.
It is also why he can command the lazy to get started.
(12) “Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”
Get to work.
I will always remember Adrian Rogers preaching on work, and he said in our day with unemployment up inevitably people say, “I would love to go to work, but no one is hiring.”
Adrian Rogers said, “Then go find someone and ask to work for free, and you work so hard and so efficiently that they can’t afford to let you leave.”
The Exhortation, The Example, The Explanation
#4 THE ENCOURAGEMENT
2 Thessalonians 3:13
And this is a very important verse.
“But as for you, brethren, (those who do work), do not grow weary of doing good.”
It is not OK for people to free load, Paul has made that abundantly clear.
However, it is also not ok for us to use those free-loaders
As an excuse to become skeptical and quit helping everyone.
And sadly this has happened.
I will admit that not everyone who needs to be shunned gets shunned today.
But I will also point out that some people who should be helped
Don’t get helped because some have taken this verse to extremes.
Those who can work must work.
And those who do work must “not grow weary of doing good.”
Don’t let a few bad apples cause you to quit being hospitable.
Remember from the first letter why we work to begin with.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
One of the reasons we work is so that we can share.
We don’t work to get rich…
We don’t work to stay comfortable…
We don’t work to get glory…
We work so that we can share.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Romans 12:10-13 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
It is important that we do not allow their disobedience
To cause us to be disobedient as well.
God commands them to work.
God commands us to help.
Neither has the right to quit.
Perhaps you remember the sermon of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 15:9-10 "Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,' and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you. "You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.”
In other words don’t be so worried about being cheated
That you don’t help anyone.
If there is a brother who can work and doesn’t,
Then warn him and shun him.
But don’t use that as a cop-out to hoard your money.
“do not grow weary of doing good.”
We want to please God as well.
That is an important encouragement to those who do work.
The Exhortation, The Example, The Explanation, The Encouragement
#5 THE EXPECTATION
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
And now we come full circle and understand Paul’s purpose.
This is now the third time Paul has addressed the issue.
“If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.”
This is now the third time Paul has mentioned it,
And if an able brother still refuses to work,
It is time to break off association.
WHY?
“so that he will be put to shame”
Those who refuse to work are to be put to public shame for their deeds.
(We also learn something about those
Who willfully disobey what God has revealed in His word)
Obedience to the New Testament is not optional,
And persistent disobedience requires swift and severe discipline.
This man has disregarded Paul’s command and he must be disciplined.
It is important to note, however that this is NOT
The same as disfellowshipping a willful sinner.
In Matthew 18 Jesus said let him be “as a Gentile or a tax collector.”
That would indicate a complete severed tie from the church.
No access to the grounds, no access to the Lord’s Supper.
That is not what Paul says here.
Read on:
(15) “Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
All association is cut off, except for continued admonishing.
You don’t have him over for dinner…
You don’t hang out after work…
You don’t talk about daily events…
The only thing you have to say to this brother is “get a job”.
And do it publicly so that he will be so embarrassed
That he determines to go to work.
The aim is not to destroy him.
The aim is not even to remove him from the church altogether.
The aim is to get him to go to work.
WHY?
So that you won’t have to feed him anymore? (NO)
You want him to go to work
So that he won’t be living contrary to the will of God.
For when people live contrary to the will of God
It brings no glory to God and renders the church ineffective.
This person must be dealt with
So that the church of God maintains her role and function.
So simply put.
Honor God by obeying God.
Honor God by living a disciplined life.
Honor God by working hard with your hands and not burdening others.
Honor God by being generous with what you have.
And this mindset and lifestyle strengthens the church of God,
Renders her able to meet pressing needs, and minister in greater ways.
This is Christian Discipline
2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”