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. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
1 Thessalonians 3:14-15
We live in a culture that is quick to shun. Termed a “cancel culture,” ours is one that quickly identifies culturally unacceptable behaviors and alienates those who practice said undesirable behaviors. This cancellation policy serves as one of our society’s go-to strategies of conflict. The “cancelling” that goes on often produces some destructive cost to the targeted individual that may include but not be limited to destroyed careers, relationships, popularity, esteem, and peace.
How is this different than what Paul is suggesting?
As noted previously, there were members in the Church in Thessalonica acting in an undesirable way.* Their behaviors did not align to the tradition of the Gospel that Paul shared with them.*
We must understand some important key factors to Paul’s recommendation to “have nothing to do with him:”
This form of rejection was intended to bring the disobedient believer back into alignment with the tradition of the Gospel.* Paul’s reference to the person in verse 15 as a brother implies that relationship and membership in the body of Christ should not be revoked.* The action was not intended to destroy nor punish.
Within the Greek and Roman culture, to reject someone in the way that Paul describes would be synonymous with labeling them an “enemy” as enemies were those who lost or did not hold the title “friend.”* This would catch the attention of the Christian community, helping them to understand that Paul was seeking something other than the destruction of the disobedient one.
The goal was shame. In our culture, shame is associated with an inner feeling. Our own actions can cause shame, or the actions of others may cause this feeling. In the culture of Paul’s day, the community had a group view of society rather than the individualistic view that we have today.* Shame as a mechanism of social connectivity was important and could cause great strife in one’s life if one decided not to adhere to the society’s rules.* The believers that Paul addressed had already been rejected and received shame from their culture or origin by becoming Christians, to then be excluded from the Christian group would have demanded the attention of the disobedient in a very effective way.*
This was not the first step in conflict. If Paul was in fact addressing those unwilling to work, the disobedient brother already had rejected Paul’s teaching (v. 10), had not responded when the same instruction was repeated in the first letter (1 Thessalonians. 4:11–12), and did not change even when approached by other members of the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:14).*
God has a way that is good and right for us to live. When we see a brother not living as God has called believers to live, we should approach them (and not just once). We should challenge them to engage in obedience unto Jesus Christ. We may, if they will not listen, need to engage in steps that are difficult but necessary for bringing them back. The goal should always be to bring them back.
The Church should not be known for cancelling, but it should be known for obeying God’s Word and helping others to do so out of a love that’s willing to do the hard things to help a family member.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to have a hard conversation with a friend. Perhaps today God wants you to break a pattern of vengeful cancellation. Maybe today God wants you to make another effort to talk to someone who won’t listen.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 275–276). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 329–330). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 354–356). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 669–672). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 145–146). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 260–264). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 624–628). Baker Academic.