提要
在此，保羅的口氣像父母一樣。目睹教會的發展，顯然使他得到巨大的快樂；正如所有的父母見到自己的嬰兒會走、會說話一樣驚喜。保羅對教會整體有一個很高的期待，尤其是自己建造的那些個。請看二章十九、二十節──「我們的盼望和喜樂，並所誇的冠冕，是甚麼呢？豈不是我們主耶穌來的時候，你們在祂面前站立得住麼？因為你們就是我們的榮耀，我們的喜樂。」他說到他「極力想法子」看見他們（2：17，），又說「我們不能再忍」（3：1）。於是他派了提摩太到帖撒羅尼迦去探望會友們的情況。若有人全力投入一件工作當中，他或她有一種「使命感」；也就是說，他們有一種責無旁貸的責任感。這也是保羅的心情；雖然他是一位遊行的使徒，卻有一顆坐堂牧師的心。
地方教會仍是上帝的基本工具，用來表達祂對罪的憤怒，和祂在基督裡的愛心。自然，沒有教會是完美的──那便是它容易被找出缺點的原因。但老實說，某些會友的專長，就是非常會挑教會的毛病。我希望那些專門找錯的人，能留心聽聽自己的話。在許多情況之下，他們是用手指著自己──不是嗎﹖如果有人想見一個偽君子，那就照照鏡子吧。
另一方面，建設性的批評，是該受歡迎的。為什麼？因為批評者本身會投入解決問題。看見那裡不對，他們會說：「對這事，我能做什麼？我能怎麼幫忙？」因此使牧師得到協助，補滿會眾「信心的不足」。
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Overview
Paul is speaking like a loving parent here. He obviously gets a lot of pleasure out of seeing a congregation develop, just like all parents do as their baby becomes a walking, talking wonder. Paul had a very high view of churches generally, and especially of his own. Look at 2:19,20 — "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." He speaks of his "intense longing" to see them (2:17 NIV) and says "when he could stand it no longer" (3:1,4 NIV) he sent Timothy to Thessalonica to see how the congregation was doing. We often say today, of someone who is committed and caring about a project, that he or she has "a sense of ownership"; that is, they feel responsible and accountable. That's how Paul felt; although he was a travelling missionary, he had a pastor's heart.
The local church is still the basic material God uses to communicate His anger at sin and His love in Christ. No church, of course, is perfect — that is why it's easy to find fault. And let's face it, for some church members, finding fault is a specialty. I wish these fault-finders could hear themselves. In most cases, they are pointing their finger at themselves — after all, if you want to see a hypocrite, try looking in the mirror.
Constructive criticism, on the other hand, is to be welcomed. Why? Because the critic offers him or herself as an answer to the problem. Seeing what is wrong, they responsibly say, "What can I do about it? How can I help?" In this way, the pastor is assisted in perfecting "what is lacking" in the faith of his congregation.
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