2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 (NRSV) 13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. 1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, 2 and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Our family goes on a campout weekend in July. Our family exchanges $10 presents with every other member at Christmas. All the cousins get together to go sailing the Atlantic every summer. Our family makes sure that every child is baptized in great-grandma’s baptismal dress. Our family has a steak cookout at the lake on Labor Day. (None of these are about my family!)
Our Christian family gathers each Sunday for worship. Our Christian family studies the Scriptures together each week. Our Christian family is involved in projects that help people with their physical needs. Our Christian family gathers from time to time to spruce up our worship space and property. Our Christian family offers opportunities to participate in serving others. Our Christian family is so proud of being saved for eternity by Christ that it seeks ways to bring that message to the neighborhood and to the world. Our Christian family knows about and prays for the struggles involved in the messy realities of life – our struggles, those of others, those we do not even know.
Paul goes deeper yet. The traditions are not just what we do, but what we believe. The traditions Paul speaks of are the aspects of the Good News of eternal salvation. “Hold fast to the traditions!” Learn the Gospel. Celebrate being saved and redeemed. Hunger to hear that message. We celebrate 65 years as a congregation at Emmaus, and yet I pray we are not ready to retire and rest on our laurels. Many aspects of life here have changed over time. But the drum-beat, bottom line, central point of it all is that Jesus Christ came to this earth to restore us to eternal life in the presence of God the Father, by the power of the spirit. NOTHING else will matter 65 years from now or 130 years from now or whenever. Let us hold fast to and celebrate the teachings of the faith – feeding our family and gathering as Christian people. Let that tradition be celebrated every Sunday by every one. Let God be praised for the past and the future.
Pastor Tom Trapp, Mission Pastor
Walking the Emmaus Road with the Risen Lord!
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XV, Number 3, October 2013)