The #Bible’s New Testament: 2 Thessalonians: Waiting for Jesus’ Return, The Man Who Won’t Show until the Man of Lawlessness Does

Posted on December 1, 2013 by virgowriter

I’m a collector.  I’ve always collected things, some of which have made no sense to the people in my life—or even to me, when I look back, for example, on when I had a strong desire to gather bottle caps when I was 6 and lived in Atlanta.  (My father will tell you that I get this from my mother.)  Regardless of what particular item has garnered my interest, I experience an awful lot of joy in being able to amass a collection of things.  Sometimes this joy has been expensive. As I discovered comic books, I was easily wooed into ponying up cash for a “limited edition” cover or over-paying for an issue at a convention, one that I had not found elsewhere—sometimes I just had to have something.

Although I usually find a way to track down something I want, I doubt I will EVER wait outside in long lines, in any weather, for days at a time, in order to acquire it. Which is why when I see people begin camping out for Black Friday sales days ahead of time with a sleeping bag and a large thermos, I shake my head. As I contemplate this phenomenon, I contemplate how these individuals rationalized taking off work to do this.  Of course, I’m also frugal, so the thought of losing money in order to spend it is foreign to me.

But some people take such pleasure in waiting around for something to happen—a door to open, a person to arrive, etc.—that they shut off everything else in their life to wait. Maybe they just want a story to tell. 2 Thessalonians addresses some of these people, who have checked out of their life so that they can wait for Jesus to return.

This book of the Bible is a follow-up letter to the people of Thessalonica. Arriving a few months after Paul’s first letter, it is designed to shore up some of the same points as 1 Thessalonians.  Specifically, Paul feels the need to address all of the unrest about those awaiting Jesus’ return.

Contrary to rumors, Paul clarifies, Jesus has not already returned. How does he know? Well, Jesus can’t return, not until The Man of Lawlessness appears. Paul is a bit vague on what form this person/entity will take; however, he does say that Satan is guiding him, that he will display all kinds of “counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders” (2:9), and be displayed in “every sort of evil” (2:10).

So basically he’s the anti-Jesus. Not to worry, though, for Jesus will overthrow this person (2:8). However, this person will apparently have been sent by God in order to condemn all of those people who don’t believe in Jesus, God, etc. (2:11-12).

You’d think people would begin to panic with the prophecy of such an awful being surfacing; however, it seems, some people decided to throw a party instead.  Bad move, Paul suggests.  His letter stresses that while people await this second coming, they should avoid these idle individuals—they should not have quit working. These people are vile, suggests Paul, for they don’t know that a man must work in order to eat (3:10), that bread must be earned (3:12). These people should not be judged, however, just warned.

I appreciate the need to encourage people to continue to work; however, this part of the Bible seems like a pretty clear argument against any type of social assistance, like welfare, food stamps, or even some forms of social security (like disability).

Aside from that, this seems to contradict at least one of Jesus’ own miracles: he turned a few loaves into enough bread to feed 5,000 and then 4,000 people, none of whom were “working.”

But I guess that if you’ve given over your life to something you believe in so deeply that you think of nothing else as you anticipate this idea coming to pass, you ignore the naysayers. If you believe one thing, what makes what someone else believes better enough to ignore your own conviction. Maybe all of these ideas merely act as tests to see how far people will go with their waiting. Perhaps this is why Black Friday now begins on Thursday.

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The #Bible’s New Testament: 1 Thessalonians: Test Everything

Posted on November 29, 2013 by virgowriter

I was a very gullible kid, and some of this mindset followed me into my adulthood. Especially when it came to how much attention I paid to the fruits and vegetables I ate.  Specifically, I tended to drop whatever I bought from the store—broccoli, green beans, asparagus—right into the pot or pan to steam while I prepared whatever else was for dinner. One of my good friends—who has spent a lot of time researching healthy foods (read: organic) and proper food cleanliness—was horrified when she saw me do this.  “You’re not going to wash any of that before you cook and then eat it?”

I paid her little mind.  I had felt that she went a little overboard (at times) with her insistence (or perhaps extreme preference) for organic foods.  No, what I bought at Thriftway was fine. Besides, why would you have to wash vegetables, I wondered?  Surely, the packaging ensured product cleanliness, right? I almost prided myself in blindly accepting what was being sold to me without taking any precautions whatsoever.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul is concerned that his audience is not testing enough of what ideas they are being fed.

This Bible book is apparently one of Paul’s earliest letters (dated around 50 or 51 A.D.), and in it, he offers a number of different ideas to the members of the church he left behind and has not seen for some time.

Apparently, Satan prevented his return (2:18).

Anyway, he offers some nice advice to these people, many of whom are anxiously awaiting Jesus’ return. To these people he reminds them of the rules he has already passed on (4:1, 3-6) but implores them to do more than they’ve already done—he’s a little evasive on what would be asked of them, however. Coming from a person who advocates that people need to think more about what they are being told—perhaps some specifics would help this directive along?—this seemed a bit ironic.

Still, one of the highlights of this book—for me—is what he says next: people should strive to lead a quiet life, to mind their own business, and work with their hands.  By doing this, they will be self-sufficient—i.e. dependent on nobody (4:11-12).

This emphasis, clarified as self control (5:8), is a big idea for Paul.  I wonder why this is not something that is emphasized again and again—in fact, it seems like this is the first place it surfaces in the Bible with such emphasis.  But his warm ideas continue as he encourages people to live in peace with one another, and generally be good, open-minded people (5:14-15).

In the end, Paul is impressing upon them the difference between the right way and the wrong way to prepare for Jesus’ return. In anticipation, some have already checked out, so to speak, quitting their jobs, etc. as they await Jesus.  Addressing this issue (which Paul disapproves of), he cautions his audience to not treat prophecies with contempt (5:20), that they should be prepared for when Jesus does return and not quit living life in the mean-time.  Basically, people need to test everything (5:21), that they should not buy into false ideas about whether or not Jesus has come as some individuals suggesting the exact date.

Here, the “test everything” stands out. This seems a bold idea to impress upon followers of a religion that requires faith—i.e. NOT testing but rather accepting. Now, I believe Paul has noble intentions; however, how does someone know the difference, really? Sure, some people clearly offer good information while others don’t. He’s expecting people to know the difference and trust him.

I have done a better job in my eating life selecting better produce.  I have learned more about how harmful some food protection (pesticides, etc.) can be for one’s body, so I pay the extra money and buy my apples and lettuce from Whole Foods.  I still wash everything, though.  I don’t care what’s on the label—organic or otherwise—I trust my own preparation. Although I doubt I’ve ever admitted this to my friend, but I did learn this from her.

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The #Bible’s New Testament: The Book of Colossians – Beware of All Those Pesky Cults Trying to Get You to Believe Nonsense

Posted on November 26, 2013 by virgowriter

I’ve been an avid fan of Comedy Central’s South Park since its inception.  My roommate at the time turned me on to the cult episode circulating on the Internet—the one where Jesus battles Santa Claus. This show has always offered biting commentary on hot-button issues, and when they turned their attention to Scientology, they invited (and won) a lot of controversy.

In that scathing episode “Trapped in the Closet,” the writers portray a montage of the backbone of the Scientology religion (which some appropriately label a cult) and manage to demonstrate how from a certain point of view, this religion is founded on a series of ridiculous notions involving aliens, etc. Watching this episode, how could anyone follow this faith?

In Colossians, Paul has similar beliefs about various cults vying for followers, and he is determined to steer people clear of them.

Like previous books in the New Testament, Colossians is another letter by Paul.  Sitting in a Roman jail, he reaches out to tell the people of Colosse that, aside from reminding them about Jesus and God loving them, etc., he is looking forward to how devout they are (2:5). Why so concerned about them? Given this city’s location, they encountered a lot of traffic from the east, and these travelers brought info about a number of different religions, which Paul refers to as cults.

Part of the problem with these cults: they’re based on human traditions—as opposed to being inspired by God (I guess).

This is another example of an area of the Bible where I would have loved to hear about some of Christianity’s competition. Paul’s message is similar to what I learned in the D.A.R.E campaign:

-Don’t do drugs because they’re bad.

-Yes, but what do they do?

-They’re bad, that’s what they do.

If he went into detail, I might be more tempted to side against these “cults.” Of course, his audience probably already knows to what he was referring—but I feel a bit cheated still.

But in some ways, Paul is being consistent, for you can’t adhere too heavily to human traditions if a person should be striving for heaven, not earthly things (3:2). He also does a decent job providing evidence for Christianity.  I don’t mean the same “bad” list of things to avoid (though a bit shorter than mentioned in previous books); no, he offers a warmer calling card: he tells these people to “clothe themselves with compassion” (3:12-14).

This seems to be best piece of advice offered throughout the Bible—and perhaps not often enough.

But before this warm point can leave things on a positive note, Paul again asserts the rules for the Christian household. Among the list, which includes wives being submissive to their husbands, husbands being good to their wives, kids obeying their parents, he affords a chunk of attention to how slaves are to behave towards their master.

Of course, they should be thankful and respectful to the people who have enslaved them (3:22-25). At least he follows this with cautioning masters to be good to their slaves.  But shouldn’t he be advocating these good Christians free these fellow human beings? How is clothing yourself in compassion compatible with abiding by slavery—regardless of it being “just the way things were,” as some contend.

You’d think with all the tweaks to the Bible over time—parts thrown out, whole books eliminated for various reasons, etc.—that someone would have done some trimming here. He has such venom for “cults that embrace earthly traditions”; slavery sounds like an earthly tradition, not a heavenly one. Although the Bible puts forward a lot of good, worthwhile ideas, some fall short. And if we adhere to this book (as some like us to), then we have to follow the good with the bad.  Is it any wonder that South Park has often taken aim at Christianity at times?

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