As we look at 1 Thessalonians 5:1–28, we see that the apostle Paul, as he is giving instruction to the church, is saying that ministry to certain groups requires us to think about what they need. Look at the categories that he uses in 1 Thessalonians 5:14:
Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.Those are different categories, aren't they? In my mind the best image of idle is someone that lives in their mom's basement and maybe just plays video games all day. They do nothing. The apostle Paul says that you don't come in and encourage them; you come in and you admonish them. You say,Here is what God's Word says to do. Be responsible.But if somebody is faint hearted or weak in heart and discouraged, Paul says you don't come in and admonish them. You don't crush those that are weak. You encourage them. You help the weak. And in all of these categories you are patient, ministering unto the glory of God.So as we think about this call of mercy ministry to the apparently well, and we think about what the role of the diaconate can be to those that seem like they have things together, we need to consider what God is calling us to do. We have talked about Word ministry and deed ministry (or mercy and proclamation of the Word). One writer says that they are like smoke and fire – where one is, the other must be near. And if we fail to provide both the ministry of mercy and the ministry of the Word, we may still have an active and successful appearing church, but growth in the kingdom will not be occurring. So as a church we have to understand that there are multiple categories that deserve the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it may not always be obvious to the church. But it takes discernment.1
Nathan Eshelman
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.