It is valuable for a Christian to understand the spiritual health of their congregation. However, this is not something that can be easily discerned as an insider. It takes maturity, discernment and the ability to see things as they really are and not how you hope or wish they would be. What is going on spiritually... what is being done right, and what is being done wrong, in a congregation is almost beyond human capacity to see things objectively.
Even if you are in a position of leadership, you will have a more comprehensive perspective and understanding of what the church needs to do. But you must be careful and not leap to conclusions! We need help to say the least, to evaluate who we are and where we are in our relationship to Jesus Christ. Consider the first three chapters of the book of Revelation and the reviews offered by Jesus of the seven churches. Jesus Christ's words to the seven groups of first-century Christians are telling and revealing in ways we often don’t want to accept as possibly being the condition of our church. They are a timeless diagnosis of the spiritual condition of God's Church throughout history. They also offer sound remedies for spiritual aliment and explain how we can resist the pull of a compromise and spiritual lethargy.
No one wants to give themselves a less than favorable grade when evaluating yourself and the collective body of believers in a congregation of God’s Church. I have noticed that whenever a congregation or it's leaders evaluate their congregation against the seven churches in Revelation, they always seem to consider themselves to be a Church of Philadelphia... the one Jesus commended and seemed to be on track.
Actually, there are very few such churches like Philadelphia around today. Most present day "Philadelphia" congregations are in the Third World, or in countries where they are suffering deadly persecution. So what can we really learn from those seven ancient churches? What can they tell us about ourselves and what we need to do to improve our standing before Christ?
Ideas circulating among Christians today are significant in ways most do not realize. New ideas and new controversies cause some groups to move together, and others to move apart. But why is this happening, and what does it all mean? Does Scripture give us any clue?
As the Apostle John wrote under divine inspiration about events that would lead to the end of this age, he began with admonishment to the seven churches.
The letters to the seven churches describe actual conditions in each church at the end of the first century. However, the letters are also fully applicable to our time and our congregations. The church conditions described in the letters prophetically describe conditions that would prevail as the second coming of Christ nears. John addressed the book of Revelation "to the seven churches" (1:4), indicating that the letters to each church were to be read in all the churches.
The purpose of the letters, i.e., performance reviews by Jesus... is to convey universal lessons that describe and deal with universal human tendencies. We need to understand what these letters reveal about the eras of the Church—especially our modern era—and how their lessons apply to us today.
Ephesus: Lost Its First Love
Ephesus was the leading city of Asia Minor—but it was in a state of decline. The Ephesian church is symbolic of the Apostolic era of the first and second centuries. This church is commended for its works—the preaching, enduring and serving by the early disciples (Revelation 2:1–3). Even they had to discern between false teachers and true Christian ministers. However, like the fading glory of Ephesus, the Church at the end of the first century was told that "you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4). God warned that, unless they repented and renewed the passion, He would cease to use them for His purpose (Revelation 2:5).
John equates "love" with walking in the truth and keeping the commandments (2 John 6). Concerning the effect of false teachers, he warns, "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for," including our reward (2 John 7–8). In 3 John, he urges the Church to serve the brethren and to "become fellow workers for the truth" (vv. 4–8). Though Jesus emphasized humility (Matthew 5:5) and love for neighbor (John 15:12), the Church at the end of the first century contained individuals who loved preeminence over others—an attitude the Bible calls evil (3 John 9–11).
The church at Ephesus had lost its love—for God, for the Truth, for doing the Work and for the brethren. In place of these key fundamentals, people were listening to deceptive doctrines (Revelation 2:6). For some, holding on to a position was more important than holding on to the Truth. Even today, some are more concerned with holding a position—perhaps serving as an elder or deacon or leading a choir—than with doing the Work of God–His Way. The lesson of the Ephesian era is clear: Get back on track—do the Work–His Way. Preach the Gospel with zeal, love the Truth and love each other.
The New Testament Church, which began in the 30s, was beginning to fragment in the 90s, when John wrote his epistles and the book of Revelation. The Apostle Paul indicates that this diversity of opinion had been present for some time (1 Corinthians 1:10–13), and was causing people to fall away (2 Timothy 1:15). In just over 60 years, the Church founded by Jesus Christ was already rife with division and doctrinal strife. This should be a sobering lesson for us today as we look at the massive shift away from God’s truth and the denominationalism the governs the Church!
Smyrna: Faithful in Trial
The church at Smyrna offers another powerful and timeless lesson. Smyrna was a prosperous, bustling, beautiful port city, but Christians there faced considerable persecution. Smyrna fell under intense Roman persecution of the Church. While the Smyrna believers are commended for their works and being rich in faith (Revelation 2:9), it is urged to be "faithful until death" in order to receive a reward (Revelation 2:10). The church at Smyrna illustrates the vital importance of endurance—of holding on to your beliefs during difficult times. Jesus said that "he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). The Apostle Paul wrote that only those who finish the race will be given a prize (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). Elders are admonished that they must be found "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught" (Titus 1:9). If your foundation is solid (Matthew 7:24–29), and you take time to "prove" what the Truth is (1 Thessalonians 5:21), you will be prepared to endure when the going gets tough.
Historical sources reveal that Christians of the Smyrna did not follow prevailing Roman social and religious customs and they paid a heavy price in persecution. Smyrna is one of only two churches to receive no corrective counsel from Jesus. However, the lesson of the Smyrna Christians is vital and timeless: Remain faithful in trials—endure to the end and do not give up! It is a lesson we cannot afford to forget!
Pergamos: The Compromising Church
Pergamos was the capital city of Asia Minor, home to imposing temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Asclepius (the healing cult) and Caesar. Its citizens were sophisticated and literate. The church at Pergamos is admonished for permitting false teachers to put "stumbling blocks" in the way of believers (Revelation 2:14). While people may not initially believe false teachings, tolerating the spread of deceptive ideas will eventually lead many to stumble spiritually and compromise the doctrines of true Christianity. The Bible reveals that not only can false teachers cause people to stumble; so also can trials, tribulations, persecutions (Matthew 13:21) and poor examples (1 Corinthians 8:9). Some will even stumble over the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ (Malachi 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:23).
The Pergamos Christians fell under the influences of intellectual sophistication, human reason and the desire to be progressive... all of these desires, while seemly good on the surface, often lead to abandoning and compromising fundamental biblical truth. The lesson of Pergamos is strongly pointed: Do not tolerate false teachings or those who promote them—compromise causes people to stumble. Christians must stand for the Truth alone. This advice is particularly appropriate for the Church today!
Thyatira: The Corrupt Church
Thyatira was an inland city located on a major trade route. It was a commercial center with many trade guilds, and was the home of a Roman military garrison. Its patron deity was a warrior goddess. To participate in the local economy would have required membership in trade guilds that sponsored idolatrous annual festivals—thus putting pressure on Christians to compromise to fit in, and literally to get and keep employment or sell goods.
The lesson of Thyatira is blunt: Do not pretend to go along with false teachings for appearance's sake—do not compromise the Truth, do not go back into ways you have been called out of or you will suffer tribulation. Scripture contains very graphic warnings about this (see Deuteronomy 12:29–31; Jeremiah 10:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 2 Peter 2:18–22). We are specifically warned that at the end of the age, many professing Christians will be "deluded" into accepting false but fashionable religious beliefs, because they did not know the Truth, or were willing to compromise the Truth they once knew to get some form of personal gain or acceptance (2 Thessalonians 2:1–13). Paul's message rings clear, to "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Spiritual compromise leads to spiritual corruption. It happened in the first century, it is happening today—and truth loving Christians need to be alert!
Sardis: The Dead Church
Only a few comments are made about Sardis, a city once famous for arts, crafts and wealth. The main description of the Sardis congregation... is that it was a dead church (Revelation 3:1). The lesson of Sardis is sobering: Do not let the Truth die—hold on to the Truth you have been given; bear fruit with this precious Truth, or be blotted out of the Book of Life! Sadly, Scripture indicates that despite these strong warnings, many believers at the end of the age will "turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:4). Isaiah wrote of a time before Christ returns when Truth will be "fallen in the street" (Isaiah 59:14). The cost will be high if we let the Truth die, failing to learn from the lessons of the Bible and history!
Philadelphia: Small but Faithful
In contrast to the other churches, Philadelphia was not a wealthy, sophisticated or influential city. Located on an easily defended hill beside a major highway, it functioned as an outpost for spreading Greek and Roman culture (and later Christianity) to the surrounding region. The city was destroyed several times by earthquakes, but each time was rebuilt. It still exists today. Its name means "brotherly love."
God commends this small church for its persistence in fulfilling its mission, and for holding on, without compromise, to His precious Truth (Revelation 3:7–8). For faithfully doing a Work and holding onto the Truth, Philadelphian Christians are promised protection from the coming Tribulation (Revelation 3:10). The lesson of Philadelphia is simple: Remain faithful to Truth—do the work of preaching the Gospel, love the brethren and let no one take your crown. We cannot afford to "drop the ball" at this vital moment of history. Our salvation and our reward are at stake if we do!
Laodecia: Lukewarm and Laid-Back
Laodecia is a study in contrasts. From history, we learn that Laodecia was a proud and prosperous city, yet it played only a minor role in the spread of Greek culture. Laodicea was a banking center with a strong sense of independence. This independent attitude is reflected in its name, which in Greek means "the people decide" or "the people judge" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). The Laodecian church is a description of the condition of the Church just before the return of Jesus Christ. It is not a pretty picture.
The charge against the Laodecians is their lukewarm attitude (Revelation 3:16). Their wealth and prosperity fosters an attitude of worldliness. They are lukewarm about the Truth, obedience to the commandments and their mission to preach the Gospel. They are very independent, and have "need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Laodecia had a medical school noted for its eye-salve, yet the Bible describes its people as blind to their own spiritual condition. Intellectual "sophistication" prevented them from seeing their own lack of spiritual discernment. Laodecians produced fine black wool clothing, yet the Bible calls them naked, in need of white garments (Revelation 3:17–18). In a sense, the Laodecians lack vital pieces of spiritual armor—faith, love, perseverance, commitment to the Truth and godly fear of disobeying God's commandments. They were failing to use the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10–19) to stand firm in times of trial and preach the Gospel with boldness.
The picture of Laodecia is of a sophisticated and self-sufficient church that trusts in its own wealth, numbers and wisdom. It appears strong, stable and unified, but it is internally divided. Its independent-minded people unknowingly reject the leadership of Jesus Christ while they do their own thing. The "democratic" (people-deciding) aspects of the Laodecian church tainted their decisions about doctrine, organization, governance, mission and methods. The lesson of Laodecia is urgent: Wake up before it is too late, and ask God to open your eyes to see your own spiritual condition—repent of complacency, compromise, materialism and stubborn independence; respond to the leadership of Jesus Christ! Your reward hangs in the balance!
The letters to the seven churches contain important lessons for anyone who calls themselves a Christian and who assembles with other believers in congregational fellowship.
If we heed these lessons, we will gain “the promise” from Jesus Christ – eternal life. John advised all seven churches: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:22).
Do we understand how the lessons of the seven churches apply to each of us today? I know a preacher who does. He stands up everyday through good times and tough times for Truth and urges the flock he cares for to consider their spiritual condition. He doesn’t mince words when it comes to what must be done to be in favor with the head of the Church... our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have 48 minutes you want to devote to growing spiritually today... then use these LINKS and listen to a recent sermon he preached at BuxMont Christian Church... a suburban congregation in the shadow of Philadelphia –– Pennsylvania not Asia Minor.
A BOLD SERMON preached on behalf of our Lord...
Direct link to the MP3 file
BuxMont Christian Church Home Page...
A BOLD PREACHER’S Blog: http://fromapreacher.wordpress.com
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