Fighting Misinformation: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
A. Using social media, familiar with misinformation. Its been around longer than the internet.
A. Using social media, familiar with misinformation. Its been around longer than the internet.
i. Telephone game good illustration, start with something and how it comes out at the end.
i. Telephone game good illustration, start with something and how it comes out at the end.
ii. Social media is instant telephone game. Early September series of misinformation on Facebook
ii. Social media is instant telephone game. Early September series of misinformation on Facebook
iii. Truth: Fires in Oregon were caused by conditions only happen 4x in100 years, wind and dry
iii. Truth: Fires in Oregon were caused by conditions only happen 4x in100 years, wind and dry
iv. Facebook said, “radical groups setting them” ring of fire to torch the state. Rumor is more exciting.
iv. Facebook said, “radical groups setting them” ring of fire to torch the state. Rumor is more exciting.
B. Couple of wks. ago received call from Fairfield’s youth pastor looking for advice received phone call
B. Couple of wks. ago received call from Fairfield’s youth pastor looking for advice received phone call
i. Someone called to report a Facebook group saying Fairfield was having harvest party.
i. Someone called to report a Facebook group saying Fairfield was having harvest party.
ii. Community was angry they would do this during COVID. Posted picture of reader board sign.
ii. Community was angry they would do this during COVID. Posted picture of reader board sign.
iii. After I found out the even or the sign wasn’t true, I looked it up, they were using an old picture.
iii. After I found out the even or the sign wasn’t true, I looked it up, they were using an old picture.
iv. People were making assumptions and judging the church off misinformation. Someone corrected
iv. People were making assumptions and judging the church off misinformation. Someone corrected
C. Misinformation exists in many places, including how we read the bible, interpretation is key
C. Misinformation exists in many places, including how we read the bible, interpretation is key
i. Paul addresses issues of misinformation about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
i. Paul addresses issues of misinformation about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Page 1: Trouble in the Bible
Page 1: Trouble in the Bible
A. Two places Pastors usually avoid preaching and teaching from, the beginning and the end.
A. Two places Pastors usually avoid preaching and teaching from, the beginning and the end.
i. Both generate a lot of discussion, disagreement and emotion. If you don’t agree I am buying coffee.
i. Both generate a lot of discussion, disagreement and emotion. If you don’t agree I am buying coffee.
ii. Paul opens with statement in vv. 13. He is addressing issue for them that doesn’t exist for us.
ii. Paul opens with statement in vv. 13. He is addressing issue for them that doesn’t exist for us.
iii. Early church believed Jesus would return so soon, that they also believed no one would die before.
iii. Early church believed Jesus would return so soon, that they also believed no one would die before.
iv. Paul believed he would see Jesus return. Created confusion with people dying.
iv. Paul believed he would see Jesus return. Created confusion with people dying.
v. Second issue was what happened to those that died, would they miss out? Paul also addresses grief
v. Second issue was what happened to those that died, would they miss out? Paul also addresses grief
B. Vv. 14 Paul addresses these issues using statements found in creeds. Apostles Creed 300’s
B. Vv. 14 Paul addresses these issues using statements found in creeds. Apostles Creed 300’s
i. Statements were early first century creeds; everyone knew and affirmed the statements.
i. Statements were early first century creeds; everyone knew and affirmed the statements.
ii. First statement: Jesus died and rose again. Fundamental to our faith in Jesus, not without hope.
ii. First statement: Jesus died and rose again. Fundamental to our faith in Jesus, not without hope.
iii. Jesus will bring those who have died (fallen asleep). Vv. 15 he reassures they will not be left out.
iii. Jesus will bring those who have died (fallen asleep). Vv. 15 he reassures they will not be left out.
C. Vv. 16-17 moves into apocalyptic/end of the word language. Easy to want to dissect each word
C. Vv. 16-17 moves into apocalyptic/end of the word language. Easy to want to dissect each word
i. Commentary, ““This passage has more in common with poetry than with blueprints.”
i. Commentary, ““This passage has more in common with poetry than with blueprints.”
ii. We light to get caught up in details, Paul is painting a picture. Vv. 17 more word pictures.
ii. We light to get caught up in details, Paul is painting a picture. Vv. 17 more word pictures.
iii. Image is of victory parade by visiting dignitary after war. “in clouds” “in the air” authority over it.
iii. Image is of victory parade by visiting dignitary after war. “in clouds” “in the air” authority over it.
iv. Jesus has authority over heavens and earth, unlike Emperor. V. 18, its encouragement.
iv. Jesus has authority over heavens and earth, unlike Emperor. V. 18, its encouragement.
PAGE 2: TROUBLE IN THE WORLD
PAGE 2: TROUBLE IN THE WORLD
A. End Times is not encouraging. Grew up in conservative home, attended CotN since 6, ECNA before
A. End Times is not encouraging. Grew up in conservative home, attended CotN since 6, ECNA before
i. Remember cold war and fear of nuclear war. Childhood was 80’s teenage years were 90’s.
i. Remember cold war and fear of nuclear war. Childhood was 80’s teenage years were 90’s.
ii. Evangelism in the 80’s and 90’s to me seemed like it was based on scaring you out of hell
ii. Evangelism in the 80’s and 90’s to me seemed like it was based on scaring you out of hell
iii. If you died where would you go? Based on held ideas that aren’t universally held anymore.
iii. If you died where would you go? Based on held ideas that aren’t universally held anymore.
iv. All this did was scare me into responding to every alter call and invitation I could.
iv. All this did was scare me into responding to every alter call and invitation I could.
v. I avoided Daniel and Revelation until seminary, gave it a second change.
v. I avoided Daniel and Revelation until seminary, gave it a second change.
B. Misinformation about end times and circulated for close to 200 years. Common belief in rapture
B. Misinformation about end times and circulated for close to 200 years. Common belief in rapture
i. Rapture is an idea of 2 second comings, one for the church and other for everyone else.
i. Rapture is an idea of 2 second comings, one for the church and other for everyone else.
ii. Rapture combines scripture from Matthew, Thessalonians, and Revelation: aka pretribulation
ii. Rapture combines scripture from Matthew, Thessalonians, and Revelation: aka pretribulation
iii. Idea started in 1830 by Edward Irving, then John Darby of Brethren church if England then to US
iii. Idea started in 1830 by Edward Irving, then John Darby of Brethren church if England then to US
iv. Rapture made more popular by Left Behind books, great fiction, but distortion of scripture.
iv. Rapture made more popular by Left Behind books, great fiction, but distortion of scripture.
v. Bible doesn’t support rapture, work hard, take passages out of context and ignore some.
v. Bible doesn’t support rapture, work hard, take passages out of context and ignore some.
Page 3: Grace IN THE BIBLE
Page 3: Grace IN THE BIBLE
A. Paul did not write these words to scare the church, fear has no place in relationship with Jesus.
A. Paul did not write these words to scare the church, fear has no place in relationship with Jesus.
i. Paul was writing words of encouragement. Dispels idea that those dead will miss out.
i. Paul was writing words of encouragement. Dispels idea that those dead will miss out.
ii. Paul affirms who jesus is, unlike Roman Emperor, territory has no boundary in time or space.
ii. Paul affirms who jesus is, unlike Roman Emperor, territory has no boundary in time or space.
iii. Rapture idea is only 200 years old, commentary note, “The historic church had never heard of pretribulation rapture. The fathers of the early church expected the church to suffer and remain on earth awaiting Christ’s glorious return.”
iii. Rapture idea is only 200 years old, commentary note, “The historic church had never heard of pretribulation rapture. The fathers of the early church expected the church to suffer and remain on earth awaiting Christ’s glorious return.”
iv. Jesus words of encouragement in John 16:33 more inline.
iv. Jesus words of encouragement in John 16:33 more inline.
PAGE 4: GRACE IN THE WORLD
PAGE 4: GRACE IN THE WORLD
A. Ambiguity creates confusion, leads to misunderstanding, bitterness, resentment and fear.
A. Ambiguity creates confusion, leads to misunderstanding, bitterness, resentment and fear.
i. Unclear about what is going on causes worry. Looking for new assignment caused anxiety.
i. Unclear about what is going on causes worry. Looking for new assignment caused anxiety.
ii. Released from Fairfield but didn’t have call yet. Months without hearing anything, created worry.
ii. Released from Fairfield but didn’t have call yet. Months without hearing anything, created worry.
iii. Questioned my abilities, and effectiveness, started to lose hope, easy to slip into depression/fear.
iii. Questioned my abilities, and effectiveness, started to lose hope, easy to slip into depression/fear.
iv. End times has lots of ambiguity, when? Rev. literal, figurative or both? How much as passed?
iv. End times has lots of ambiguity, when? Rev. literal, figurative or both? How much as passed?
v. Read words for place and culture that doesn’t exist. 21 century west vs. 1 century ANE
v. Read words for place and culture that doesn’t exist. 21 century west vs. 1 century ANE
B. CotN 16 articles of faith. Non-negotiables for us. Change little over time, takes 8 years to change.
B. CotN 16 articles of faith. Non-negotiables for us. Change little over time, takes 8 years to change.
i. CotN is silent on lots of things, or “big tent”. One of those is the second coming.
i. CotN is silent on lots of things, or “big tent”. One of those is the second coming.
ii. Manual statement: , “We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord.”
ii. Manual statement: , “We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord.”
iii. Basically passage this morning. We don’t get caught up in the details. We know it will happen
iii. Basically passage this morning. We don’t get caught up in the details. We know it will happen
iv. Pan millenialists, we believe it will all pan out in the end.
iv. Pan millenialists, we believe it will all pan out in the end.
Closing and Application
Closing and Application
1. Jesus’ return is not something that we should fear, we can have hope in the fact that he will.
2. Jesus will return and the dead will raise! Death is only temporary separation.
3. Misinformation is all around us, are you spreading it or dispelling it?