Tackling Tradition (Part 5) - 2 Thessalonians 3 & the Social Safety Net

2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 (ESV): Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Some people believe that this text supports cutting the social safety net.   Isn’t it obvious?  If someone doesn’t work, they shouldn’t eat.  2 Thessalonians does not support this concept. The selected text is referring to the Thessalonians’ fellowship meal and the Lord’s Table.

People in that church had decided to withdraw from church life in view of the immanent return of Christ.  There was also a sharp divide between people of means and the poor.

A group of people had visited Thessaloniki and taught them.  Those same visitors, realizing how poor most of these people were, refused to accept payment for their work.  Instead of accepting payment for their services, these visitors used their money to pay the people for the food they provided.   

The example that they set is an example of serving people in unexpected ways.  Paul in 1 Corinthians talks about the right of people serving others (apostles and their entourage) and expectation for payment.  Ministers and visitors serving the church should receive monetary support when possible (1 Timothy 5:18).

What is the example these visitors set?  They chose to forego payment,  a monetary love offering, and instead they assisted the church and its people, & instead of money they accepted what the Thessalonians gifted them by way of food, shelter, & fellowship.  

When Paul speaks to the idleness problem, he isn’t as concerned for the world as much as he is concerned for the church.  The world, of course, should emulate what the church does when the church gets it right.

Paul is not laying down a principle that we should do something like cut the social safety net for idle people.  Rather he is laying down a principle that people who, through idleness become chronic busybodies and gossips who ultimately cause problems in the church & should, if the their activity has reached it’s crescendo or near crescendo, be barred from the fellowship meal - but not the ministry of the Word.  Even this is the option of last resort. 

Thus, the text is about church discipline within the local church.  Those who are idle should be sanctioned with a penalty that is fit for the problem.  Why food?  Because this is a weekly or biweekly fellowship meal that their congregation put together. 

What should these people do for food during the week?  The church should provide for them like the visitors provided for the church.   Society should emulate this behavior.   

This text isn’t about “personal responsibility,” it is about our duties to each other as Christians & how to handle those who fit a particular profile.  If someone has been barred from the Table, the church should help feed them during the week.  

If society chooses to regulate the recipients of social safety net benefits, how large or small a sanctioning should it be?  

Answer: The equivalent of the cost of their plate & cup in a fellowship meal, not the equivalent to the cost of living for the week.  They should also be blessed, not merely sanctioned.  

Why? To give them hope and to maintain their connection to the church community, and with respect to the civil order, hope that can help them rise above where they are right now and begin contributing to the whole community again. 

 God bless us all, every one, & “Go & sin no more.”