The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 28th October 2007 by Robin Hawkins
-
Imitation Of Christ And Joy In Suffering
Reading: 1Thessalonians 1:4-10
Last week we explored how Paul's gospel message came to them not just with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. The rest of verse 5 adds another dimension. Paul asserts: "You know how we lived among you for your sake." Paul knew he had to "walk the walk as well as talk the talk". He showed them by example how the Gospel had changed him. Once violently opposed to Christians, now he nurtured these new Believers, and showed them how Jesus was able to change their lives too.
Once again, we are reminded that people are watching us to see if our lives match up to our message. If our witness is to be effective, we must be like Jesus - do what He would do - in our workplace, our schools, among our neighbours, friends and associates. People will judge Jesus by how much they see of Him in us. What we say is important, but what we are and do, is possibly more so. Often when we mix with unbelievers, it'll be with people whose hearts are closed to the Gospel. They won't listen to our message, so all we can do is live out a Christlike life in front of them, and pray that they'll see something in us that they want. Many of them want to know simply that we'll love them anyway, and that we won't judge them.
Jesus set us an example of how to live, and we want our lives to inspire others to follow Jesus. Think for a minute of a Christian whose life has inspired you. What was it about them that did so? Some of us may be thinking of Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, but think closer to home, people you've met, people you know well. What's impressed you about them that you could take onboard yourself?
It's funny, we are often hot on not comparing ourselves to others, and there's wisdom there, but it's not the whole story. There is such a need today for good role models. Children need good role models. Sons need a Dad to imitate. Those of us who're mature in our faith need to be modelling mature attitudes and responses. If you're a husband, are you clearly providing a spiritual lead in your home, are you tender and considerate towards your wife? Wives, is it evident to all that you respect your husbands, and are under their authority, or have you usurped their authority? Fathers, do you spend time with your children, training them in righteousness; or are you provoking them by saying one thing and doing another? Our society desperately needs men to role model good fatherhood. We need couples to role model married life as it ought to be, leaders and managers to role model good leadership. We need teenagers to be good role models for each other, showing them that you don't need drugs and knives to be respected, that stealing and fighting isn't cool.
Paul could say, "Imitate me!", but we feel very coy about that. Somehow we feel that it would be lacking in humility to go round saying "Imitate me." The fact is we do it all the time in so many words. Good parents know they have to set a good example to their children. They know only too well that their children are going to imitate them either way. Adults too, are going to imitate somebody. It could be in the latest fashion in clothes, or the behaviour of their favourite pop star, footballer, or film star. This being so, I would have no hesitation in saying to you all, "Imitate me!" The fact is: you could do a lot worse! Now I wouldn't want you to imitate my faults; but neither would Paul have wanted the Thessalonians to imitate his - and he still had a few! But they would have picked up something of Jesus from Paul and Silas - more then if they hadn't followed their example. So he could commend them that they became imitators of him and Silas, and, of course, of the Lord. He's our ultimate example, but Paul's example, along with yours and mine will point people to Him.
People aren't stupid. They know what's good and what isn't. I was talking to Dave Rigby once about some matter, and his response was, "I don't think I could disciple you very well in that area." He knew it was an area of weakness and admitted it.
What does it mean to be imitators of Christ? Think of how often Jesus said, "I've given you an example." or "Follow me". How do we do that? (Interact with people) Well, Love your enemies. Forgive those who have sinned against you. Heal the sick. Cast out devils. Set captives free. Make disciples. Visit the imprisoned, the sick, and feed the hungry. Things like that, right?
So how's it all coming along? Are you seeking opportunities to develop these gifts? Are you allowing yourself to be trained in the use of them? This is what church is about. This is what imitating Christ is all about.
Anyway, then Paul goes on to commend them. "In spite of severe suffering you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit." Joy in the midst of suffering is a hallmark of genuine Christianity. It's the real thing because it goes so much against the grain of what we might normally expect.
We have to have a proper understanding of suffering if we're going mature as Believers. As John Hosier points out: "We are promised two things as Christians:
Eternal life and a rough ride!" Persecution is promised to those who faithfully follow Jesus. "If they hated me," said Jesus, "they will hate you." In the book of Acts we find this strange mixture of protection and persecution. Peter gets delivered from prison miraculously, but James was executed. Paul and Silas start a riot with their preaching, get themselves flogged - illegally, and put in the stocks in the deepest, coldest, filthiest part of the prison. Yet their response is one of praise. They're singing hymns - at midnight. Their praise is saying, "We trust you Lord. You're still in charge. You haven't lost control. You still love us. Then God moved, and the earth moved as well - and an earthquake opened the prison. That amazing intervention brought about the conversion of the Jailer and his family; and Paul and Silas were released the next day. Yet later on in Acts 24, Paul was arrested yet again. This time he was left languishing for two years.
What's going on? We believe God is our Father and protector, yet sometimes it appears that we are not protected. In the OT, they had a view of suffering that said it was because you've sinned in some way, so God's punishing you. But this is not how suffering is viewed in the NT. The whole attitude has changed and now we are encouraged to embrace suffering, even welcome it as a friend (James 1:2). Why? There are a number of reasons:
1. Paul wanted to identify with Jesus in His sufferings (Phil 3:10). He so wanted to know Jesus that he wanted to empathise with Him in His sufferings, sharing a common experience brings people closer together.
2. Suffering does something to us that makes us more like Jesus. People who have suffered have a quality about them, a depth of faith, a peace and serenity, a spiritual strength that cannot be obtained any other way. James 1 goes onto explain this in vs 2-4 & v. 12. Peter says the same thing in 1Pet 1:6-7.
3. Suffering makes us more dependent upon Jesus. Remember those Chinese Christians who don't pray for their suffering and persecution to be removed, but for grace to bear it. Independence from God was Adam's original sin, and it's been at the root of mankind's sin ever since. Christian maturity is getting to a place of total dependence upon Him. Suffering helps us to do that. It's a dangerous tool because when suffering comes, we always have a choice. We can become bitter and angry at God, or we can be filled with sweet spirit of Jesus. Yet God thinks it's worth it, because it not only reveals what's really in our hearts, but the end result is like gold-dust to God.
These Thessalonians had grown to maturity in their faith very quickly, which was a mark of God's grace on them. It doesn't have to take years. Paul & Silas' example as leaders, and the Believer's willingness to emulate it, played an important part in that process. But so too did the "severe suffering" they experienced from Day 1. It's like a spiritual Boot Camp. It's a tough regime, but it shapes us up quickly if you're willing to take it. Some people aren't, and there's quite a high drop-out rate; but it sorts out whether we really want to know Jesus, or if we're just following for the "feel-good" factor.
That's the challenge to us today. There's a lot of Consumer Christianity about. We go to different churches until we find one we like, one that meets my needs, that plays my kind of music, my kind of people and so on. We stay there until somebody upsets us, then we move on to another church. This is not NT Christianity. Back then, they recognised that they were called together by God. They had to work through their differences, and face a hostile world together. It was tough. It was costly. But it was worth it for the joy of knowing God!
