A L M A C I A S

WALKING DISORDERLY

One of the hardest things for a congregation to do with its members is to administer discipline when it is necessary. This problem is not common to today's world, but has been in existence since the beginning of the church. We find how some were committing fornication in the congregation at Corinth, while others were causing division in the congregation at Rome, and still others were not working but rather meddling in other people's lives in the congregation at Thessalonica. It is the brethren of Thessalonica that we will address at this time. We read in I Thessalonians 3:6-15, how it was necessary for the apostle Paul to write unto the brethren of Thessalonica to withdraw themselves from those who were walking disorderly and not after the tradition of the apostles. What was it that these brethren were doing wrong? What did the apostle Paul mean when he said they were not walking according to the tradition that they had received from them?

In the first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul had written to them concerning how it was necessary for them to study to be quiet and to do their own business and to work with their hands. Also, Paul had commanded them to walk honestly toward them that were without so that they would have nothing lacking. The Thessalonians should have done as the apostle Paul had instructed them; and apparently some had, but others had not. Because some had not heeded Paul's instructions, it was necessary for him to write again regarding the same problem and perhaps this time they would all correct it.

What the brethren were doing was that they had stopped working and were therefore idle, with a lot of time on their hands. Also, they were taking advantage of the brethren who were working by asking for help from them so that they could eat. The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration how this was contrary to the doctrine of Christ and that was not the example they had left them while they worked among them. Paul reminded them that when they had been among them, Paul and those who had been with him had not been a burden unto them but rather had laboured night and day so that they could be an example unto all the rest. What kind of an example are we setting? Are we taking advantage of the brethren in any form? Let us strive always to walk in an orderly fashion, for we all will give an account of all this in the day of judgement.