The Third Sunday in Advent-
That's Quite a List!
In today's epistle from 1 Thessalonians 5 gives us quite a list of things that the church is supposed to do. It sounds like one of those "should" lists. As you read it in the prose style, you might miss how many things are in the list, so here it is:

• Live in peace with each other.
• Warn those who are idle,
• encourage the timid,
• help the weak,
• be patient with everyone.
• always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
• Be joyful always;
• pray continually;
• give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
• Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
• do not treat prophecies with contempt.
• Test everything.
• Hold on to the good.
• Avoid every kind of evil.

Enough to make you tired, huh? Or to decide not to be part of the church and instead, just sit around and be "spiritual." But then I thought again about today's Gospel lesson trying to figure out how this epistle fits into the Advent series. This struck me:

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
--John 1:6-8 (NIV)

Then in church this morning our youth pastor gave a children's sermon with a mirror. Very simple, straightforward. The mirror is not the light, it simply reflects the light. Just like we are can to do as Christians. The answer hit me. Paul's list is not a list of more shoulds- a kind of church commandments list. Instead he is reflecting what he sees Jesus being like. This is what people will see when they see Christians.

We all tend to want to make these things into things that MUST be done. We all want to have some checklist.

• How can I be a better Christian? You have to do these things.
• What must I do to make sure I get into heaven? Act like this.
• Is there a list of membership criteria? Sure. Here.

But that isn't what it's about. It isn't completely a list of church order. (It is that, to some extent. Remember that Paul was trained in legal structuring!) It is more importantly what Paul sees when he looks at Jesus. It is the mirror. It is not something that we can do ourselves. It is the result of grace at work in our lives. It is the reflection in us of the light.

Paul knew that. After he's done with the list he gives a blessing and ends with the important acknowledgement of who does it all and where it all comes from:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.