Faith and Charity

I Thess. 3:6. “ . . .Timotheus. . .brought us good tidings of your faith and charity. . . .”

Paul cared very deeply for the new believers he had left at Thessalonica.  Far from being a cold, legalistic and demanding man, as some have painted him, his whole heart and soul were wrapped up in the churches he started and the people he led to the Lord. His life mission was to spread the gospel.  He had spent some time worrying that the new believers would lose heart, lose faith, and abandon the New Way.  So it was with great joy and relief that he received Timothy’s report of the steadfastness of his converts, and of their faith and charity.

In the Greek, both faith and love (charity) are given the definite article: that is, “the faith and the love of you.”  Faith is mentioned first because it is central and foundational to their Christian life.   Faith describes their attitude toward God;  love was their characteristic attitude toward man.  Taken together, these two words should be the embodiment of godliness.  The Bible says “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6); and that proof of our faith in God is our love for others (John 13:35).

I’ve been thinking a lot about this concept today.  Faith in God, love for others.  Surely that should characterize us.  And yet I see so much dissension among believers.  We argue over things we shouldn’t. We fuss and accuse and demean and degrade other believers for disagreeing with us over things that are a matter of opinion, not of doctrine—although we fuss about doctrine, too.

Satan has a wonderful time when he can get us to shoot our own wounded.

Is it not possible for us to disagree without being ugly?

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  I John 4:7.