a darlin' part
Somewhere from years ago on a television show that obviously wasn’t serious, I remember seeing someone, a singer maybe, remark about a line in a song, “thassa darlin’ part.” Ridiculous, it was funny, and meant to be. It returns to mind this morning as I read our second lesson for tomorrow that, though a darlin’ part, to me somewhat irritatingly has nothing to do with Paul’s occasion for writing 1st Thessalonians, responding to that congregation’s concern about those who die before the promised Second Coming: Jesus will bring them with him when he returns, and all faithful living and dead will meet in the clouds. That could be a sizable crowd, maybe even more than the countless motorcycles currently here for “Bike Week.”
Paul’s answer in the letter may be assuringly suited for people of his time, I reckon; it does not satisfy 21st century me. I didn't even find it assuring when I first read it sometime along in the middle of the 20th century. Seems worth exploring in Sunday School class tomorrow morning.
Paul’s answer in the letter may be assuringly suited for people of his time, I reckon; it does not satisfy 21st century me. I didn't even find it assuring when I first read it sometime along in the middle of the 20th century. Seems worth exploring in Sunday School class tomorrow morning.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
DThos.1