CREDIBILITY

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

I think we have all heard a news report when the reporter says, “Credible sources have told us…or credible sources indicate”…and then they go on to report what has been said.

So, what does “credible sources” mean?

Well, “credible” means that there is “reasonable grounds for being believed.”

There is reasonable grounds to believe what your sources tell you.
They are reliable; proven, they can be trusted.

And if the source is not “credible”…well you can’t believe them.

Is it important for a politician to be credible?

What about the news media?

What about your doctor?

What about a police officer?

School teacher?

We could go on and on…but I think we all understand just how important being credible or having credibility is.

And that is extremely true for those of us who claim to be Christians.

Many people have a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to people who call themselves Christians.

People have been lied to by men and women who have claimed to be Christians.
So called Christians who promised to do something…and didn’t do it.
People have entrusted their hard earned money to some of these “so called Christians” only to have their money stolen…or gambled away.
They have given their money “in faith” only to be scammed.
In recent years we have heard over and over again of “so called Christian priests” who have been charged with molesting young boys.
Even in the most recent elections we saw self- proclaimed Christians publicly supporting and voting to legalizing immoral principles…and not only that, they said some awful things about those they were running against.

People see the greed…the immorality…and they hear the lies.

And they see the double standard…and they suffer physical and emotional abuses at the hands of those who claim to be “Christians”, and it leaves such a bad taste in their mouths that they are suspicious of any one who claims to be a Christian.
And they think, “If that is what being a Christian is about, I don’t want any part of it.”
And they denounce religion all together.

And that is why it is critical…essential that we, as God’s people, be credible.

For us to reach out to the lost of this community, the nation and this world…
In the midst of all this manipulation and abuse that is going on in the name of religion…people must be able to see in us, a people where they say, “They truly are Christians.”

It is critical for us to be CREDIBLE.

So, let’s look at this passage and let’s learn from the Apostle Paul some things that are essential to our CREDIBILTY as followers of Christ.

Let me begin by setting this up for you some.

If you remember, in Acts 17, Paul and Silas had come to Thessalonica and for 3 Sabbaths Paul preached in the synagogue.
Some of the Jews who saw the success that the word of God was having, become jealous and they stir up a mob…and they go after Paul and Silas.

Well, some of the brethren are frightened for Paul and Silas’ safety, so they send them out of the city.

As a result, Paul’s quick departure and failure to return to Thessalonica has made him vulnerable to a very persistent and malicious whispering campaign.
“I hear he had a police record. He was arrested over in Philippi.”
“ “You say he loves you so much, then why doesn’t he come back.”
“Kind of ran out on you didn’t he.”
“He probably went somewhere where he could spend some more of your money.”
“He was a huckster. A fake and a liar.”

All of these accusations were apparently being made to destroy Paul’s credibility…and so Paul writes this letter to counter those accusations.

And the first thing that Paul speaks of is his STEADFASTNESS. Look at verse 2. Paul says:

After we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

You can go back to Acts 16 and see what happened to Paul and Silas.

They were beaten with rods and then locked in stocks.
And when they came to Thessalonica it may be that there backs were still bruised and sore from the beating they had taken back in Philippi.

But in spite of that…in spite of the mistreatment and the suffering…and in spite of the opposition…they still “boldly preached the gospel.”

They were undeterred.
They kept their faith…and they continued to serve God…regardless of what happened to them…and regardless of what they faced.
And that gave them credibility.

And for us to have credibility we must be the same way.

We must be faithful to God…and continue serving God…no matter what happens to us.

You know, not too many of us get beaten for preaching Christ like Paul and Silas did.

But we do have some things that come into our life that cause us to suffer.
Illnesses…financial difficulties…for some there has been divorce.
Perhaps the worst is the death of a mate…or a child.

In these situations if we just sit down and quit on God…and some do.

“This is your fault God…I’m not coming back to church.”
Or if in the midst of dealing with these difficult situations we forget our faith and our Christian conduct and go off into a cussing…screaming…hateful tirade…it destroys our credibility.

Fair weather…comfort faith…is something any one can have.

It is the faith that manifests itself at all times and especially in the face of adversity that impresses people.
And it is that kind of faith that will make people say, “He or she truly is a Christian.

If we are going to have CREDIBILITY that people notice…we must be STEADFAST NO MATTER WHAT.

Look at the second thing that Paul speaks of that will give us CREDIBILITY. Look at verses 3-4:

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.

The word “error” speaks of “fraudulence”…or “deceit.”

Paul says, “We preached the truth.”

The word “impurity” speaks of a “moral uncleanness.”

There was no ulterior motive behind what they were doing.

And when he says, “by way of deceit” that word literally speaks of “a trick.”

And Paul says, “We didn’t try to trick anyone.”

Listen, you can be as sincere as you can be…but if your message is wrong…if it is inaccurate…your credibility will be destroyed.

And you understand that…you know how you feel about someone who lies to you.
And if they do it unintentionally what do you say, “He doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

If your message is wrong…or if you have some ulterior motive…whether it is to promote yourself…or to gain sexual or monetary favors…or to build your own following.

Or if people perceive you as a huckster…you will destroy your credibility.

And look at the end of verse 4. Paul says: “So we speak, not as pleasing to men but God.”

Do you know where we see this the most often? At funerals.
A couple of years ago I went to the funeral of a woman that I had known all of my life.
And I can tell you that I never knew her to go to church.
But to keep from hurting the family’s feelings…and to soothe their grieving spirits…he talked about her faith in God…and how she had “now gone to be with God.”

And when the service was over…my brother and I were standing out in the parking lot of the church building…and I wasn’t going to say a word about what had been said.

And we stood there for just a few minutes….and my brother…who doesn’t have a lot of knowledge of the word of God and therefore could have “ignorantly” accepted what that preacher was saying…
Turned to me and asked, “Was he talking about the same person we knew?”
He felt contempt for that preacher.

He would have had much more respect for him if he would have taught the truth…instead of saying what he thought the people wanted to hear.

If you are going to do what pleases people…you will lose respect. .

It is only when you do that which pleases God that you will find CREDIBILITY.

Look at verse 5 and 6.

5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is witness– 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

Verse 5 and the first part of verse 6 are pretty self explanatory. Not much to say. But I want you to notice the end of verse 6.

Paul didn’t throw his weight around.
Paul didn’t say, “I am an apostle so you do this and you do that.”

I know of preachers who have used their position to demand things of other people.

In fact, some preachers think that when they go into a business that they are entitled to a 10% discount because of who they are.
Some have the idea that since they are your preacher…you should give them what they want free of charge.
As a result, people hate to see them coming and have no respect for them at all.

If you are going to have CREDIBILITY with people respect who they are…and their situation…and don’t throw your weight around.

Now, look at verse 7. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

If you are going to be credible with people…you are going to have to show them that you care.

I am afraid that far too often we have more of a self-righteous, condemning attitude.
“I am going to heaven…and you better obey the gospel or you’re going to hell…and I don’t really care.”

Paul says here: “We proved to be gentle among you.”

These people were infants when it came to a knowledge of the word…and Paul and Silas was patient with them…and gentle with them.

And Paul says that they were as “nursing mothers who tenderly care.”

What does a “nursing mother” do?
She nourishes…she feeds…she gives of her self…all for the sake of another.

How much respect do you have for a mother who abandons her baby? Refuses to care for it…feed it?

Not much.

Listen, it is not enough to tell people you care and that you love them…you must also show them.

If you want to be CREDIBLE, people have to know…and see that you SINCERELY care.

Can’t just be a show.

Now, verse 10:

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

If you want CREDIBILITY people have got to see that you want what is best for them.

In this passage Paul uses the metaphor of “exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one as a father would his own children.”

In this culture, the mother did the nurturing…and the father did the instructing.

And Paul says, “we were like fathers who were exhorting…encouraging…and imploring each one of you.”
And notice their goal…their aim.
“So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

Paul says, “We want what is best for you”…not ourselves…but for you.

“We want you to go to heaven.”

So here it is. If we are going to have the CREDIBILITY that we must have…that we so desperately need to manifest to a lost world…a credibility that will make us stand out separate and apart from all others so that the Lord can be seen through us, here is what we must do and be:

Steadfast in our faith.

Truthful in our message.

No ulterior motives

No tricks…open and honest.

Pleasing to God…not men.

Sincere

Not Greedy

Not self seeking

Caring

Seek what is BEST for others. (Heaven)

HOW’S YOUR CREDIBILITY?

AS A PREACHER?
AS A ELDER?
AS A DEACON?
AS A TEACHER?
AS A CHILD OF GOD?

Is it such that it honors God…or does bring shame on Him?