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| The Church at Indianapolis |
March Madness and the Final
Four just ended last week when Duke beat Wisconsin for the national
championship of college basketball. March Madness is one of the most exciting
sporting events because of the high amount of drama, excitement, buzzer
beaters, emotional back-stories, screaming coaches and highlight plays. There
are a lot of peripheral things that surround March Madness, but the overall
driving purpose of the Final Four is to win the national championship. Coaches
Mike Krzyzewski and Bo Ryan did not enter into the final game with the goal of
having a good story, completing some highlight plays, or enjoying themselves on
national television. No, they wanted to be the champions. Through all that
encompassed the event the main purpose was to be champions at the end of
the day.
There are a lot of peripheral
things that surround the church: serving the poor, teaching, social issues,
childcare, youth groups, mission work, giving, loving, spiritual gifts, etc.
What we are trying to determine is the main goal or purpose of the church. What
is the “championship” that the church is seeking? Thus we’re continuing our
study of God’s desired purpose and product of the church and we are looking at
Jesus’ commendations and criticisms to the churches in Revelation.
(For further introduction
and background see the previous articles). As always, please read along in your
own Bible to make sure I’m not just making stuff up.[1]
The
Church in Sardis
“I know
your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up,
and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your
works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you have received
and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a
thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you,” (Revelation
3:1-3).
Unlike the other churches,
Jesus starts out his address not with commendation, but with criticism and let’s
just say it does not sound good for the church at Sardis. They have the
appearance of being alive, but in reality they are a dead church. There is no
life, no fervor and no heart within this church. What a distressing reality!
What is even worse is the same thing could be said about many churches and
Christians today. They have the appearance of being alive, they are involved in
religious activity, but in reality there is no life within. The church in
Sardis is are called to remember what they originally had heard. They are
called to return to what they originally were taught. Thankfully Jesus words
are not totally without praise for the church.
“Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled
their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy,”
(Rev. 3:4).
There is yet some minor
measure of commendation for this church. There are a few there within the
church who apparently were not dead, were not corrupted by sin, and had life
within them. To these faithful few Christ promises a blessing of white garments
and their names will be proclaimed before the Father and the angels. If that
sort of thing doesn’t motivate you to get off your duff[2] and faithfully serve the
Lord then I don’t know what will.
What do Jesus’ words to
Sardis teach us about what he wants from the church? What does it teach us
about God’s desired product from the church?
The
Church in Philadelphia
“I know your works…I know that you have but little power, and yet you
have kept my word and have not denied my name…Because you have kept my word
about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming
on the whole world…I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one
may seize your crown. To the one who conquers…” (Rev. 3:7-12).
Interestingly enough there
are no criticisms in this passage, only commendations from Christ. As an aside,
how would you like it if your church were to stand before Christ and be
commended and encouraged like this? How would you feel if your church were to
be criticized like the one in Sardis?
Throughout these verses
Jesus praises the church for their endurance amidst persecution and difficulty.
The church had kept the word of Christ. They had not denied his name. They had
patiently endured through persecution. They were encouraged to continue to
endure and hold fast. They were encouraged to “conquer” with the promise of
reward. The church in Philadelphia is repeatedly praised for their endurance
and faithfulness. They were faithful to Jesus Christ, faithful to the gospel,
and faithful to endure even when persecuted. What does this teach us about
God’s desired purpose and product of the church? What does this teach us about
what we should see in our own churches? Hold that thought. We’ll come back to
it at the end.
The
Church in Laodicea
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were
either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I
will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I
need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and
naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be
rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your
nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may
see…The one who conquers…” (Rev. 3:15-21, selected verses).
Notice there is no
commendation whatsoever in Jesus’ words to this church. At least the church in
Sardis had one minor commendation. This church has nothing. They are criticized
for their lukewarm nature. There was no heart for God. They were apathetic.
Secondly, the church was full of pride and trusting in their wealth. They trusted
in their own resources, thinking they were rich and secure when in reality God
viewed them as wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. They were called to
repent, to turn from their apathy, and to turn from their trust in their own
wealth and sufficiency. In the end Jesus again closes with a promise that those
who overcome will be blessed and rewarded.
Closing
So what[3] can we learn from Jesus’
words to the churches in Revelation about God’s desired purpose and product of the
church? First we should ask what, if any, are the repeated themes and ideas in
these chapters?
Jesus
is a really, really big fan of endurance, faithfulness, and holding fast. The
message of the gospel is one that will divide, anger, and challenge the world.
If they killed Jesus for his claims how do you think they will treat his
followers?[4] Jesus Christ desires his
church be one that endures hardship, holds fast to the gospel, holds fast to
truth, and remains faithful despite difficult circumstances, including
persecution and death.[5]
2. Jesus
hates apathy and cold heartedness in the church. Several churches are rebuked
for some form of this. Ephesus was rebuked for abandoning their first love.
Sardis was rebuked for being dead and having no life. The Laodiceans were
rebuked for their lukewarm nature. Jesus desire for the church to love him
deeply is in line with the first and greatest commandment. “Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,”[6] (Matthew 22:37).
Jesus
Christ despises immoral thought and immoral behavior. He praised the Ephesians
for standing against those who were evil and for rejecting the works of the
Nicolatians. He rebukes the church in Pergamum for being involved with the doctrinal
and behavioral error of idol worship and sexual immorality. The church at
Thyatira is rebuked for tolerating “Jezebel” who was promoting sexual
immorality among the believers. Jesus desires doctrinal and behavioral purity
in the church. The two are closely related. I’ll say it again, wrong doctrine
will lead to immoral behavior. Evil behavior will corrupt what you believe
about God, Christ, and man.
This is just an initial
foray[7] into our study of the
purpose and product of the church. We’re just beginning to gather our puzzle
pieces to see what God desires in and from his church. Hopefully these articles
will give you a good foundational ground from which to proceed.[8] Until next time I leave you
with some parting questions/thoughts:
- * Reread
Jesus words to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. What do you personally think
Jesus desires from the churches? Do you agree with my conclusions?
- * Does
your church promote a gospel and ideals that challenges the culture and the world
around you? Do they preach the gospel of turning from sin, bowing the knee to
the one and only Savior for salvation that is by faith alone?
- * How
is your heart towards the Lord? Is it apathetic? How would you say you are
doing in loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
- * Does
your church promote doctrinal and moral purity? It seems like that was a pretty
big deal to the risen Lord? How about you? Are you pursuing purity in mind,
heart, and body?[9]
- * How’s
your endurance and holding fast to Jesus in difficult times? Do you have
Christians in your life you can reach out to in challenging times for your
faith? I encourage you to find some brothers[10] in Christ that you can be
open about your struggles, your sin and your hurts. We are the BODY of Christ.
We need one another to keep one another holding on in hard times.
Alright. Peace out my brethren.
See you next time.
[1]
Because sometimes people just make stuff up, like that boy who cried wolf, most
politicians, and your grandfather when he’s telling you about how he went to
school 50 years ago through four feet of snow.
[2]
Duff = buttocks. As in, “That worthless bum sits on his duff all day.”
[3]
Yep, I threw that in there again…”so what” as in sowhatramblings.blogspot.com…you
see how I did that? Isn’t that smooth? Aren’t you impressed? No?...Well you
should be.
[4]
Which begs the question, if the message of your life and church doesn’t irritate
someone are we maybe preaching/living the wrong message?
[5] You
don’t see a lot of Christian bumper stickers or t-shirts that say that. “Come
be a Christian and die for your faith.”
[6]
Yes, I used KJV language. I’m trying to appeal to all types of readers here.
[7] Mr.
Webster: an attempt to do something especially for the first time
[8] If
not then just lie and tell me I’m doing a good job anyway.
[9]
No, you don’t get to ask me these questions. Only I can ask uncomfortable
questions. Stop it! Stop asking me uncomfortable questions that I may not like
the answer to!
[10]
Or sisters, depending on your corresponding gender.
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