Ouachita Stories

The verse for today is packed with truths we often overlook: (1) Our faith can grow. Implicit here and throughout the New Testament is that some can have faith like babies, some like youngsters and some like mature adults. Paul is thankful that this church has progressed beyond being spiritual babies. (2) Not only can faith grow but love as well. How often does our love grow for fellow members of the Church and how often does it remain stagnant? (3) We’re to be thankful for churches which make spiritual progress.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

I grew up in a small, country church in the middle of nowhere. Frequently, people would give personal testimonies or ask for prayer requests during the church service—sometimes out of the blue! It was very informal. One thing that stands out in my memory is the numerous times people would express their genuine thankfulness for their church. Although I have now come to very much appreciate formal (so-called) “high church” liturgical services, of first importance is to be at a church where people seek to increase their faith and love for one another, that is, to be at a church for which one should be truly thankful.

By Tully Borland, Assistant Professor of Philosophy