I Thessalonians 2:14-16 – “Calling Facts Facts”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁴For, brothers, you became imitators of the churches of God being in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same [things] under your countrymen just as they [suffered] under the Jews, ¹⁵the ones both killing the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuting us and not pleasing God and opposing all men, ¹⁶preventing us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, into the filling up always of their sins, but the wrath has come upon them into [the] end.

In v14, Paul offers as another evidence of the Thessalonians’ genuine conversion the fact that they too suffered for their faith. In the first century, of course, to become Christian was to choose persecution. I would consider us all fortunate in America that such has not been the case for us.

But then Paul goes on in verses 15 and 16 to present a very unflattering description of the Jewish people. I think it is worth pausing to think about this. Read those verses again.

In our day, these words would be termed anti-Semitism. We’re just not supposed to say such things. It seems, if we do allow such things to be said about the Jewish people, it can only lead toward another Holocaust.

The problem, of course, is that what Paul is saying is true. And this is precisely where I think some pondering is needed. As I have studied these verses and thought over them for at least a couple of weeks, I am struck by the Bible’s ability to see the world as it really is and yet still come out loving. At least in America, we have developed into a culture that is forever playing “the Emperor’s New Clothes,” always saying and thinking what is “correct” regardless of whether or not it is true. We have become utterly unable to simply acknowledge the facts and then deal with them accordingly. The Bible, and this passage in particular, I think would call us back to a life of common sense.

What do I mean? Once again, the plain simple fact is that what Paul is saying is true. It is not anti-Semitism. It is a statement of facts. The words could certainly be an expression of anti-Semitism. In fact, if spoken only by themselves, they could even promote anti-Semitism. But, again, the plain simple fact is that what Paul is saying is true. Jesus Himself said,

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar… Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matt 23:32-37).

Although it was the Romans who actually crucified Jesus, the Bible itself is abundantly clear the guilt of that unjust murder falls squarely on the Jewish people. In Acts 2:23, Peter tells them, “…you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.” Even secular writers down through the centuries have condemned the Jewish people, like Tacitus describing them as “… cherishing hatred against all others.”

However, Moses tells this same people in Deut 14:2, “… you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be His treasured possession.” And of course we always have the Lord’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:3). Further, although Jesus’ condemning words there in Matt 23 were very sharp, they were spoken in love. “… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings …” Finally, the same Paul who authored our words in I Thess 2:14,15, is the one who says in Romans 9 & 10,

“I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit -- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, … my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”

Both Paul and Jesus could call facts facts and still come out loving people.

Could I suggest that is one of the freedoms of real love? Real, genuine, godly, Christlike love allows me to see the truth clearly because I don’t need to fear it. It is what it is. I can face it and know that, whatever it is, whatever it means, love will still guide my conclusions and my response. In fact it is the lack of love which means we all have to hide from the truth. We have to play the Emperor’s New Clothes all the time precisely because we can’t handle the truth ... precisely because we don’t truly love.

In our graceless world, love is always performance-based. If you do well, if you please people, then you can be loved. When you don’t do well, when you displease others, your name is mud. Only grace says, “I love you because I love you. I will always love you,” so then can say, “Now, let’s look at the facts.”

I wish for my country that genuine godliness could reign in people’s hearts. Grace would free us to be people who call facts facts and yet go on loving people … just like Jesus, and our friend Paul.