4 ms·

You know as well as I do he's referring to a real verse. The fact that he cited it as 1 Thessalonians instead of 2 Thessalonians doesn't change the fact that th

You know as well as I do he's referring to a real verse. The fact that he cited it as 1 Thessalonians instead of 2 Thessalonians doesn't change the fact that there's a line in the New Testament that says "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." There is context for it, and I don't consider it an indictment of Christianity, but pretending it's not in there doesn't help your credibility.

groby_b 8y ago
I actually did not know which verse he was referring to, no. So, thank you for pointing me there. If you know of an interpretation of this including the context you refer to, I'd appreciate a pointer very much.
- triangleman 8y ago
  Yeah I meant 2 Thessalonians. The context is the whole of chapter 3 verses 6 through 15. Basically the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica with advice on how to make the communal lifestyle there work. Because if everyone is living together and working together, you're bound to have some issues with some people taking advantage of that. So the Apostle is saying, first of all, set a good example, and secondly, go ahead and exercise some discipline in the community. Verse 15 hints at how you might want to interpret these verses as compared to the references you cited: "Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers." You see, a Christian has rather different conduct when he is dealing with a believer or a non-believer. If someone is your brother in Christ, it's ok to be a little hard on him. Same way you have the right to be a little harder on your own family members than I would. It's all supposed to be done in love, of course. Hope that helps.
  - groby_b 8y ago
    That does help, thank you. (Not that I'm entirely agreeing with it, but it's helpful in understanding where it comes from :)

4 ms·

You know as well as I do he's referring to a real verse. The fact that he cited it as 1 Thessalonians instead of 2 Thessalonians doesn't change the fact that th

by presidentender 8y ago

groby_b 8y ago
I actually did not know which verse he was referring to, no. So, thank you for pointing me there. If you know of an interpretation of this including the context you refer to, I'd appreciate a pointer very much.
- triangleman 8y ago
  Yeah I meant 2 Thessalonians. The context is the whole of chapter 3 verses 6 through 15. Basically the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica with advice on how to make the communal lifestyle there work. Because if everyone is living together and working together, you're bound to have some issues with some people taking advantage of that. So the Apostle is saying, first of all, set a good example, and secondly, go ahead and exercise some discipline in the community. Verse 15 hints at how you might want to interpret these verses as compared to the references you cited: "Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers." You see, a Christian has rather different conduct when he is dealing with a believer or a non-believer. If someone is your brother in Christ, it's ok to be a little hard on him. Same way you have the right to be a little harder on your own family members than I would. It's all supposed to be done in love, of course. Hope that helps.
  - groby_b 8y ago
    That does help, thank you. (Not that I'm entirely agreeing with it, but it's helpful in understanding where it comes from :)