" We are not trying to trick you, and we are not trying to flatter you"

These are the very direct words of Paul to the church in Thessalonica in 1 Thess: chapter 2.

Paul is sending encouragement to a group of very young believers who are being tempted and confused by the local " pagans" .

Sounds alot like our Campaigner group huh.
Let's imagine that they were on a 3 week camping trip w/ Paul and he has to leave suddenly only to find out that shortly there after many are falling away from the faith and being torn in what they believe and don't believe.

Last weeks Campaigners meeting right on the nose!

Well Paul's response among other things is to say (Girardi paraphrase), "You know what I didn't fail when I was with you" . I know God is at work and I am to please God not man. I didn't come to bother you, to trick you, I didn't wear a mask, I didn't come with a hidden agenda. "

So the Thessalonians may have responded something like this, " So why should we believe you over the scientist I just saw on Nova? "

and Paul would have responded a bit like this in 1 Thess 2: 8 " Well you don't have to believe me it's your choice but know this that I love you guys so much that I didn't just share Bible stories with you, I shared my life with you. (Paul thinks to himself but doesn't say out loud, is the scientist on Nova doing that?) "

To summ it up: In the end , love wins.