"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'"
- For FAR too long, this verse has NOT ONLY been taken out of context...it is inferred that anyone NOT competitively engaging in the so-called 'open market' today, deserve to starve to death. Let us break down the verse so that we may have an objective, not subjective, understanding of the idleness Paul warns of...
- When Paul refers to 'we', he is speaking of himself as well as Silas and Timothy who accompanied him to the church of the Thessalonians - that, of course, is...or SHOULD, be understood. What is EMPHANTICALLY misconstrued is the part where Paul mentions 'you'. Often it is believed that Paul is addressing the downtrodden, the misfortunate, the impoverished, etc. Afterall, who are not the most idle save for those who do not earn their keep, correct? Well, the idea (...for the most part...) is, but the TARGET of said verse...is not. Paul was addressing, as stated at the very beginning of 2 Thessalonians in verse 1:1, the church of the Thessalonians.
- We can find out even MORE accurately -WHO- Paul was addressing amongst the church of the Thessalonians by referring to 2 Thessalonians 3:9, which goes as follows:...
"We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow."- The 'help' Paul refers to is discussed in 2 Thessalonians 3:8 pertaining to being fed as they saught not to be a burden to the church of the Thessalonians, 'working night and day' so as to pay for their provision, THROUGH their labor, making themselves a model for the church of the Thessalonians to follow by NOT BEING IDLE. By 'right' Paul was stating that, as one of the prominent leaders of Christianity at the time, his position would've granted provision by default of said position - their working was subsequent and surplus to the requirement of their being provided for: being fed.
- As a prominent leader of Christianity, Paul was not simply striving to make an example of himself to the laymen of the church of the Thessalonians - he was making an example of himself to the LEADERS of the church of the Thessalonians which can be further understood in 2 Thessalonians 3:11, which goes as follows:...
"We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy, they are busybodies."- Paul is VERY discerning with his wording, seeking not to heap condemnation, but to incur thoughtful reflection upon one's own actions. There is a vast difference between building a shelter then simply moving a single brick back and forth all day long. A leader doing nothing is bad...a leader PRETENDING to do something by engaging in activity that accomplishes nothing is Far, FAR worse - they are being hypocrites.
- As Paul emphasized in 2 Thessalonians 3:9, a leader makes an example of themselves regardless of said position's inherent rights. A leader who is idle, or worse...a busybody, is a BAD EXAMPLE, REGARDLESS of whatever the leader may believe for they are making themselves, by their action (...or in this case, inaction...) for others to follow. Thus, when Paul stated, 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat', he was not making some generalized statement - he was speaking, as a leader, TO the leaders of the church of the Thessalonians as a warning not to append their positions as a right to attain provision whilst being idle, or worse, being a busybody and not working, being a burden, making a bad example of themselves by expecting provision via position without earning it...
- Now what does that say about our society today where corporate CEO's and bank executives award themselves tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses annual (...if not quarterly...)? Has the provision they have been granting themselves been equivelent to the work they have accomplished...or are they being hypocrites awarding themselves provision, by right of position, being busybodies and not, truely, working (...hence, earning their provision...). I truely desire to see the itinerary of these select few who profess they have earned their keep, 'worked night and day' so as to not be a burden in order to make themselves an EXAMPLE for others to follow. So far, in my honest opinion, they have proven to be a BAD EXAMPLE, need their names noted, warned of their idleness and shunned (...at the very least...) until they understand what it is that...they...are...doing.
- What about the poor?...the homeless? Are they not idle?...do they deserve not to eat? Let us remember whom Paul was speaking to...he was not talking to the poor, the homeless, the misfortunate and the downtrodden - he was talking to the LEADERS of the church of the Thessalonians. Under NO circumstance was Paul contradicting the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth whom professed it was a Christian's DUTY to feed the needy...for if there is one thing that is, beyond certain, that leaders are seldom...if ever...needy.
- If the job market is depressed...is it the fault of those whom are laid-off regarding their condition?...or are we committing the logical fallacy of reasoning called 'blaming the victim'? If there are less jobs, and job opportunities, available then the current existing population, HOW can it be justified to allow these people to starve when it is by no fault of their own that they suffer thusly?...ESPECIALLY when our society today has the means to provide for EVERYONE...ON...OUR...PLANET. What, in the name of God, are we allowing to occur? There is no logical reason for this...
- Let us be reasonable and understand one thing - the current existing socio-economic model has not, can not and WILL NOT be able to provide everyone on our planet with a job. To believe this is not true is to ignore recorded history, append delusion and condone the willful suffering and death of untold thousands...daily. There has ALWAYS been unemployment, there has NEVER been 100% employment...ever, it is a statistical impossibility. However, those who are impoverished are BLAMED for their condition and forced to suffer needlessly - the elderly, the handicapped, the uneducated...even though, through our CURRENT EXISTING science and technology - EVERYONE can be provided for...and more.
- So this is what we have become...instead of tending to those in need, we give to those without lack. Instead of following the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, we do what is warned of - reject the spiritual ideology of God and worship the materialistic concept of money. It is not by emotional drive or religious fevor that I write these words, but through REASON that I have established what is now being read. This is an, unfortunate, truth...as long as we continue to append the current existing socio-economic system: We Are ALL -GUILTY- Of Mass-Murder...and unless we change our ways, we will continue to teach this aberrant Death Cult Of The Almighty Dollar...for generations to come...
- There is a better way...please research the resource based economy concieved by Jacque Fresco, sponsored by the Venus Project which is advocated by the Zeitgeist Movement.
Thank you for your time,
Be well, God Bless,
The American Deist,
Mark D. Little.
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