Letters are a blessing

Two people send me letters by ‘snail mail’ — everyone else uses e-mail, text messages, the telephone, and face-to-face conversation. I like writing letters, but not the time it takes. Perhaps this explains why letter writing is becoming a lost art.

In the New Testament church, it was the chief means of communication. If Paul and other church leaders could not be there, they wrote letters. These were delivered by friends — no mail service in those days, not even a pony express. Getting a letter is special, even when they were more common. Getting a letter from Paul must have been special to those early Christian congregations, yet they are special also to me because they are not only from Paul:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

Both he and Peter agreed; the letters of the NT were from God and the authors were merely the instruments He used to record them. This gives the Bible a unique significance; it is God speaking to those with ears to hear.

Paul wrote four types of letters (or epistles). Theologians define them with long words but the definitions are simple.

Soteriological Letters. This word refers to the study of salvation. The letters in this group are: 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans. They date about A.D. 55–58. The Corinthian Epistles stress the application of salvation to the life of the Church. Romans and Galatians both discuss the doctrine of justification and its outward expression in Christian living, however Galatians has stronger warnings because that church struggled with a strong pull to go back to their old ways of thinking.

Christological Letters. These letters present the doctrinal study of the person and work of Christ. They include Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians, written about A.D. 60–62. They are often called the Prison Epistles. According to tradition as well as internal evidences, they were written from Paul’s when he was a prisoner  in Rome as described in Acts 28. These letters contain passages that highlight the person and work of Christ in a definitive manner.

Ecclesiological Letters. This long word refers to the church. In these letters, Paul gives detailed instructions to two pastors regarding church administration, activities and church leadership responsibilities. The books are 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy and they date about A.D. 63–67. The last days of Paul are reflected in the last chapter of 2 Timothy.

Eschatological Letters. This word refers to a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world. They were written early to a church that was ill-informed about the return of Christ — about A.D. 50–51. These two letters, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, clarify the doctrine of last things, the Second Coming of Christ and the implications of that event in the present life of believers. I list them last because they will be the topic of the next two weeks.

Going back to our letters, we write them for different purposes too, to say thanks, ask questions, give information, even to complain or take the recipient to task about something. These days, electronic and social media are not as effective, partly because people tend to blurt out without editing, or write to create a false impression. Paul did not do that. He was carried along by the Holy Spirit and the words he wrote had been breathed out into his heart and mind by God.

The NT is the story of Jesus Christ and the early church, of Christianity and how to become a child of God and live the Christian life. God’s word is called ‘logos’ but also ‘rhema’ and while both inform us of the will of God, rhema is that special way God uses Scripture to speak to the needs of the moment.

For instance, the above verses say the Bible can teach, reprove, correct and train me in order that I am equipped to do whatever the Lord asks of me. This is highly personal, not in the sense that I can put any interpretation I want on a verse, but that God can use a verse or passage to speak to me what I need to hear. This rhema experience involves reading and studying and is always conveyed by the Holy Spirit. It usually leaves no room for doubt; God speaks and I hear Him. I’ll miss it only if my heart is unwilling or distracted.

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Lord Jesus, today You remind me of how precious Your Word is, writing by men but inspired by You. It is an historical document, but also alive and contemporary for You use it to tell me how to think, speak and act each day, each hour. It is Your GPS for my life made personal in that You know where I am, what I am doing, and what I need to hear. It also reminds me of the importance of writing letters that are guided by the Holy Spirit and can become a blessing to those who receive them. Thank You! Amen.

Faith in Jesus changes priorities

In the era I grew up, people wrote letters. A few still do. I get mail from a friend far away who gives brief descriptions of what is going on in her life and family. Another friend writes Dear _______ letters with almost flowery descriptions of what she is doing, from moving furniture to going for walks. She obviously has a mailing list, filling in the name of each recipient. Sometimes her letters have personal notes at the side or in the margins.

I write letters at Christmas time to family and friends, and during the year to people far away who appreciate getting mail such as missionaries and grandchildren. Many years ago, one missionary couple said I sent more letters than their family did.

This was also the form of communication “in the fullness of time” when God sent Jesus to our world. I’m glad it was then and not now. The Word of God has endured in printed form for centuries. It is still a worldwide best-seller. Imagine how long phone calls, email, texts and twitter messages would last!

Paul wrote nine letters to churches and four to pastors. Most of them were responses to problem situations in the churches. Some are personal in tone, even including non-theological asides such as . . .

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13)

Even though this is not a doctrinal revelation, it does show the priorities of the man God used to write it.

Other books, Romans for instance, are more formal, almost like a thesis with a businesslike tone, yet it also has personal additions such as the greetings in the final chapter. They remind me of the add-ons my friend puts in her form letters. She wants me to know that I am thinking of her.

Paul’s letters feature doctrinal teaching and practical application using a variety of content. He was able to show how living for Christ applies to all of life, not merely a component to put in a box. This also reveals his priorities. He said for himself, to live is Christ and to die (and be with Christ) is gain!

This brings me back to his brief mention of his cloak, books and parchments. Asking for his cloak may indicate he was chilly. This man needed to take care of himself. He was getting older and needed to be wise; getting sick would not enable him to do the things God was asking him to do.

Added to that practical priority, his books and parchments were high on his list. They may have been copies of the Old Testament, but also could be blank writing materials. For Paul, both were vital. He studied and referred often to the OT Scriptures. He also wrote what God was revealing to him, sharing it with those under his care.

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Lord Jesus, very rarely do I write something that surprises me, but that last paragraph does it. I’m not inspired by You in the same way the NT writers were, nor is my content and application considered ‘Scripture’ but many years ago when I asked You what You wanted me to do regarding writing, You clearly told me to make public my daily devotional thoughts. I am awed at Your faithfulness. You always have something to say to my life and situations. Today, You are telling me to keep this activity on my priority list. The size of my audience is up to You as is their receptivity. My priority is to read and listen to You each day, to keep using what You give me in my own life, and to willingly share it with others. Thank You for this unexpected affirmation.

Closing a Letter

Most of the time my correspondence is email, but occasionally I write a real letter. Both open with Dear . . . or Hi, or Hello and close with sincerely, or blessings, or love . . . , depending on who is getting the letter.

This morning I read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, and while it is not quite at the end of this letter from Paul to the church at Thessalonica, it is a benediction.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

True to his calling and his style, Paul crams Christian teaching into every line of his letters to the churches, even when he signs them.

In this benediction, he mentions the love and grace of God that gives every believer eternal encouragement and hope. He conveys his love for them too, saying he desires comfort from God in their hearts, and that God would establish or strengthen their ability to speak and work for Him. In saying these things, he makes it clear that God is the source of all they need, both personally and in their ministry to others.

As for my endings, “sincerely” says I mean it, “blessings” is a vague desire for well-being from God and “love” tells my readers that I care. After reading this ending for Paul’s letters, I’m going to try and be more specific in the way I sign my mail. I don’t know what the recipients will think, but I think I can do better.