Observing • II Thessalonians 2:1-12
By Cyndi Grace
I admit this was a hard lesson to cover in the amount of words allowed, but the things the Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians in today’s lesson are crucial to our understanding of Christ’s return.
Paul begins by putting a stop to the rumors that Christ had already come back. Some researchers believe a false letter had been sent, stating the Second Coming had occurred. Those reading the letter were devastated and anxious. Gossip generally causes confusion, and confusion causes anxiety. Paul set out to clarify this misbelief. It is important we, also, have a clear idea of Christ’s Second Coming.
When I was at Mississippi College, the Jesus Movement was in full swing. We focused a great deal on the Second Coming. Hal Lindsay’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth, and songs about the Rapture were a steady diet for us.
We would greet each other with the term, Marantha, which means, “Oh, Lord, Come,” but as I read about what was to come and the great delusion, I wondered how people could ever be misled like that? These years later, I am still amazed at how deceived many have become.
Paul stated clearly that before Jesus returned, apostasy must come. The definition of apostasy is: The total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it.
While this may seem to go against “once saved, always, saved,” it really doesn’t. There are many who walk an aisle, get baptized, go to church, but never truly allow Christ in their hearts and souls. They take on the name, “Christian,” but it is more social than spiritual, and a social faith is easy to walk away from. These hearts were never fully committed to the vow. It was just an outward ceremony.
Sadly, in recent years we have seen a falling away of leaders who were great influencers for the faith. Joshua Harris, a former megachurch pastor, and author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, announced in July 2019 that he no longer considered himself a Christian and was recanting his teachings.
Harris calls his falling away, “deconstruction,” in other words taking what he had been taught and reconstructing it to something he prefers. Other high-profile evangelical leaders who have publicly announced their own deconstruction/reconstruction include:
— Former Hillsong worship leader Marty Sampson.
— Abraham Piper, son of John Piper. Abraham Piper rejected Christianity, returned to the faith, and then rejected it a second time.
— Paul Maxwell, author of the book, Desiring God.
— Kevin Max of the Christian pop group DC Talk.
When those in the spotlight who claim to know Christ turn away, others will follow unless their hearts are filled with truth.
The importance of this lesson’s Scripture passages is that we must truly understand what following Christ entails. It is not merely a title we put on after walking an aisle; it is a true allegiance and surrender to Christ and a taking up of His cross.
Following Christ means turning away from our old selves and embracing the faith. Sadly, in the South we often believe if one is a member of a church, they are saved. That might not be true. As the Book of Jude states, contend for the faith. Contend means to fight.
Why? Because the delusions have begun and if we don’t contend for the faith, the deceiver could confuse even us with his lies. Without a firm grip upon truth, delusions seem viable. While this happens to non-believers, it could also happen to church members and family who have only a social view of faith.
It was this contending for the faith that Paul was encouraging the Thessalonica Christians to continue to do.
Paul then speaks that the “man of lawlessness” is being restrained by God’s hand until the right time. Why would God wait? I do not pretend to know. However, my belief is that He is allowing more time for unbelievers to come to Him. He is giving us time to spread the truth.
Our congregations need to take seriously the discipling of our members. The time for mere pew-sitting is over. We must know what we believe and pass it on to a lost world. It is the responsibly of each of us to contend for the faith. Our children and grandchildren are in danger if we don’t.
God is in control of the timing of all of this, knows the end from the beginning, and has given us His Word to guide us. However, when the man of lawlessness appears, time is up! Let us be good stewards of the time we have left.
Grace is a member at First Church, Jackson, and is a conference speaker and Bible teacher.
