1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Pentecost +22 or Community Practice ²²
November 9, 2014

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

In every identity war the church has waged there have been thousands upon thousands who died without seeing themselves included in. The exclusive church has harmed and harmed again and returned to harm some more (same process; different target).

While it is little comfort at the time, hear again the work of Jesus: "through Jesus, G*D will bring with him those who have died". (Well, as constructed it is the work of G*D, but we'll leave that for another time.) Regardless of fanciful details, "Encourage one another."

If this is an encouragement to keep on working for mercy and  grace in the present, good. If this is one step too many to be an encouraging word, OK—use what you can for encouragement.

Whether an expectation of joy or an after-the-fact promise, may you have what you need to engage the powers-that-be with an affirmation larger than their limitation.