Worthy to be Called Christian

In Second Thessalonians 1:11, Paul begins, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would." Constant, endless prayer for the growing maturity of these believers. That is what Paul always prayed for. You will note as we continue through verse 11 that this opening phrase carries throughout.

Paul continues, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling" (v. 11a). This request covers everything that is included in Christian character. Paul's prayer here is that you might honor the name of Christ.

"Our God" (v. 11a) refers to a loving, caring Father who is intimately involved with us. "Count you worthy" (v. 11a) can also be translated "make you worthy." Either translation is appropriate because God will make worthy all whom He counts as worthy.

Here, as throughout the New Testament epistles, "calling" (v. 11a) refers to the irresistible call to salvation. It does not refer to the general call to salvation that goes out from the evangelist asking all to believe, but to the specific act of God in which He redeems all who believe. Paul has just spoken of that Day, the Day of the Rapture, when all who believe in Jesus would be made completely like Him as He gathers them to be with Him forever. He is now asking God to make you worthy of that calling. He is asking God to make you worthy to be called Christian.

In First Thessalonians 1:12, Paul prayed that the believers in Thessalonica would "walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory" (NASB). As Christians we bear the name of Christ. As you become more like Christ you become more deserving, more worthy, to bear His name.

Apparently this was an item of major importance for the Thessalonian believers to understand. While in Second Thessalonians 1:5 Paul spoke of how the suffering they were enduring proved that they "may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God," chapter three points out that some of them were not living up to their calling in Christ. In Second Thessalonians 3:6, Paul wrote, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us" (NASB, 1995). And in verse 11 he adds, "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies" (NASB, 1995). Some it seems were leading lives that were disobedient to the Word and to Christ. They are unworthy to be called Christian.

Don't let that be said of you! Follow Christ with all your heart and live by His Word. Let Christ richly indwell you and guide you, and God will make you worthy to be called Christian. "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6, NASB). Amen.