Test Everything – Hold to the Good

Test Everything, Hold to the Good

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 – ¹² But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; ¹³ esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. ¹⁵ See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²² abstain from every form of evil. (NRSV) ^{(emphasis added)}

This closing statement provides Christians with a framework for discerning between truth and error, good and evil. How do we discern and know what is good? Here’s a breakdown of how to apply this principle:

1. Examine Everything: This involves critically evaluating ideas, teachings, experiences, and even our thoughts and desires. It’s about asking questions, seeking evidence, and considering different perspectives. We should not blindly accept anything, but rather, actively engage with what we hear and receive.
2. Test Against God Revealed Through Christ: By centering our discernment on God as revealed through Christ, we gain a deeper and more personal understanding of what it means to test everything and hold fast to what is good. Does it align with God’s character, his promises, and his commands? Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the clearest expression of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
   • His teachings: Jesus’ teachings, as recorded in the Gospels, provide a clear understanding of God’s heart and his desires for humanity.
   • His life: Jesus’ life on earth demonstrated God’s love, compassion, and obedience to the Father.
   • His death and resurrection: These events offer profound insights into God’s plan of salvation and his ultimate victory over sin and death.
3. Consider the Fruit: Jesus taught that we would know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). In other words, we can evaluate the quality of something by examining its outcomes. Does it promote love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? Or does it lead to division, strife, and harm?
4. Seek Guidance from the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our guide and counselor. He can illuminate our minds, reveal truth to us, and help us discern between good and evil. We should pray for wisdom and discernment as we seek to test all things.
5. Hold Fast to the Good: Once we have tested something and found it to be good and in accordance with God’s character, we should hold on to it. This means embracing it, living it out, and sharing it with others.

Becoming Fluent Followers

N.T. Wright shares a good analogy:

Indeed, thinking of Christian behaviour as a type of language, with its own grammar, is a helpful way of understanding what teachers like Paul were trying to do. Most of us learn a kind of mother tongue of behaviour: we watch how our families and close friends behave, and assume that this is how we should act as well. If we grow up with people shouting at each other and using violence to settle quarrels, we assume that is how one should behave. . . . If people around us are kind and considerate, there’s a good chance we will pick that up. And so on. But supposing there are other languages of behaviour, other grammars? How are we going to learn them? How will we get them into our systems?

Of course, the Christian ideal is that we should get to the point, as with a language, where we don’t need to think about it at all . . . To the extent that you are still racking your brains about which words to use and how to form sentences, you are not yet fluent. But, as you practise, the rules will steadily become, as we say, ‘second nature’. That is the aim with learning the new language of Christian behaviour.^[1]

The verses emphasize that “walking in the likeness of Christ” is not a solitary undertaking but a dynamic process of learning and growth within the Christ-centered community. It emphasizes the importance of community support, effective leadership, and intentional effort in cultivating a Christ-centered lifestyle. Just as learning a new language requires consistent practice and immersion, so does this spiritual journey. It necessitates active engagement with Scripture, the guidance of spiritual leaders, and a conscious pursuit of goodness in all interactions. The ultimate goal is for Christian living to become second nature, flowing naturally from the heart, even in the midst of challenges. Joy, gratitude, and a discerning spirit that enables believers to navigate life’s complexities while consistently choosing paths that align with God’s will marks this journey.

Steps to Fluency

In response to the fear that guidelines would become laws and lead to an understanding of justification by works, N.T. Wright answers, “Of course the ideal is that we should have the new language of Christian behaviour written on our hearts. Paul does indeed say in various places that this is what God’s spirit will do (e.g., Romans 2:25–29). But it doesn’t happen overnight. Indeed, the way in which God’s spirit does this is not simply by working secretly within the individual heart or mind, without any other intervention and without conscious effort by the person concerned—though this may and does happen in some people to some extent. Rather, God’s spirit brings us to fluency in the new language”^[2]

Being Teachable and Respectful

While later Christian tradition developed formal clergy and laity, in Paul’s time, he is likely referring to all who held leadership roles and provided support. He emphasizes respect for all those who actively guide and care for the Thessalonian church. In early Christian communities, wealthy converts often assumed leadership roles. These “proïstamenoi,” similar to patrons in secular Greek society, provided financial and logistical support, such as opening their homes for meetings and supporting the early church. This likely stemmed from the fact that most early Christians were from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and lacked the resources or time for significant leadership responsibilities. Jason, mentioned in Acts (Acts 17:5–9), serves as an example of such a patron. ^{[3] & [4]}

When church leaders are acknowledged, respected, and their guidance is heeded, it can foster the smooth functioning and effective outreach of the church, as well as harmonious relationships among its members. Conversely, these leaders must embody qualities that warrant such recognition and respect from their fellow Christians.^[5] It is essential for both leaders and its members to carefully evaluate the teachings and guidance offered. This involves discerning their alignment with Christological principles and their overall benefit to the community (the fruits of the spirit). Furthermore, while respecting leadership, it’s equally important to maintain a spirit of critical examination and discernment, ensuring that the church’s direction remains rooted in truth and fosters genuine spiritual growth.

Living in Community

F. F. Bruce writes in the Word Biblical Commentary: “The Christian community is to be a little welfare state, a society practicing mutual aid among its members in spiritual and material respects alike. Within its fellowship those who need help should be given the help they need. A special responsibility in this regard rests on the leaders of the community, but it is a ministry in which all can have some share. The timid must be encouraged, the weak must be strengthened, those who stray must be led back to the right path, and all must be treated with patience—especially those who make the greatest demands on the patience of their fellow Christians.”^[6]

N.T. Wright, echoing a similar sentiment, wrote that believers must actively care for one another within their communities. This involves not just avoiding harm, but proactively seeking the well-being of fellow believers and even all people. This care manifests in various ways, such as offering comfort during hardship, providing necessary warnings, offering encouragement, and setting positive examples.^[7]

Joy, Prayer, and Thankfulness

• Rejoice Always – Ben Witherington III rightly highlights that “He is not asking his converts to rejoice because of their circumstances but rather to rejoice in the Lord (see Phil. 4:4; Rom. 14:17). Joy is not caused by circumstances but has to do with one’s relationship with God and the adoration and praise and sheer joy that arises out of that communion with God. It is no accident that the exhortation to rejoice is coupled with the one to pray. Adoration results in joy in the Lord and prompts further prayer.”^[8]
• Pray without Ceasing – J. B. Lightfoot highlights that “It is not in the moving of the lips, but in the elevation of the heart to God that the essence of prayer consists. Thus amidst the commonest of duties and recreations of life it is still possible to be engaged in prayer.”^[9]
• While verbal praise may be appropriate at times, prayer primarily involves a heart-felt connection with God. This cultivates a mindful and God-centered spirit. In every action, we can seek God’s guidance, express gratitude for the abilities He has granted, and ultimately strive to please Him in all that we do.^[10] In essence, true prayer is a continuous dialogue with God, a heartfelt connection that permeates every aspect of our lives. It’s about cultivating a spirit of gratitude, seeking His guidance in all our endeavors, and acknowledging His presence in the ordinary moments of our existence.
• Give Thanks in All Circumstances – Ben Witherington III reminds us that one ‘should give thanks, not for all circumstances but “in all circumstances,” which is a very different matter’^[11]

The call to “rejoice always” and “give thanks in all circumstances” is a way to cultivate a perspective that transcends the immediate experience of suffering or hardship. It’s not about denying or minimizing pain (toxic positivity), but rather about recognizing that even amidst the darkest of times, there are still reasons to be joyful and grateful. Romans 12:15 calls us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” This practice of joy and gratitude doesn’t diminish the importance of acknowledging injustice or coming alongside those in need (Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:3). Instead, it encourages us to shift our focus, to seek out the glimmers of hope and the blessings that often go unnoticed in the midst of struggle. These blessings might be as simple as the strength to endure or the love and support of loved ones.

By cultivating a heart of joy and gratitude, we begin to reshape our worldview. We become more aware of the beauty around us, the kindness of others, and the simple joys of everyday life. Gratitude fosters a sense of contentment and appreciation, reducing our focus on what we lack and increasing our awareness of the goodness that surrounds us. Furthermore, gratitude has been shown to have a profound impact on our well-being. Studies have linked gratitude to improved physical health, reduced stress, and increased resilience. Max Lucado points out that when we cultivate gratitude, we strengthen our immune systems, improve our sleep, reduce anxiety, and even increase our life expectancy.[12]

Conclusion

Discernment is vital. It involves critically examining ideas, teachings, and experiences, aligning them with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Whether the fruit of our beliefs promotes love, joy, and peace or division and harm can help us discern their quality. Ultimately, the goal is for Christ-like living to become second nature, flowing naturally from the heart, even in the midst of challenges. Joy, gratitude, and a discerning spirit that enables believers to navigate life’s complexities while consistently choosing paths that align with God’s will marks this journey. Cultivating a Christ-centered lifestyle is a gradual process of learning and growing together within community and make a conscious effort to live out the teachings of Christ.

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^[1] Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 131.

^[2] Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 131–132.

^[3] Beverly Roberts Gaventa, First and Second Thessalonians, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1998), 80.

^[4] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 426.

^[5] F. F. Bruce, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, vol. 45, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1982), 120.

^[6] F. F. Bruce, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, vol. 45, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1982), 126–127.

^[7] Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 132.

^[8] Ben Witherington III, 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006), 166.

^[9] J. B. Lightfoot, Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul (Winona Lake: Alpha, reprint), p. 81.

^[10] Peter Gorday, ed., Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 98.

^[11] Ben Witherington III, 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006), 166.

[12] Max Lucado, You Can Count on God: 365 Devotions (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2021).