In the last two meditations on this theme, we will finish our search for answers to questions like “How could a local church bring sorrow to God’s Spirit?” and “How could a local church even stifle Him in His work of Christlike transformation?”
Since meditation 49 we have asked ourselves, why God’s Spirit might be hindered in starting or continuing the Christlike transformation of a local church? Why might this transformation process even come to a premature halt? Today we start our last topic:
When my church resembles the churches in the book of Revelation....
In the last book of the Bible, the apostle John gives us a picture of the life style of some of the churches in the region of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). One of them (or even some of them) might reflect the way my church works.
Our first question is: Who speaks here to the churches in Asia Minor? All seven letters start with the introduction “This is the message from...” (Revelation 2:1.8.12.18. and 3:1.7.14).
It is clear from what follows that in all cases it is Jesus the Messiah [the Christ], the Son of God, who lectures His churches.
Yet, from all seven letters it is also clear, that the Lord of the Church, who is enthroned in heaven, delivers His messages through His Spirit. It is He who represents Jesus to the local churches.
It is God’s Spirit through whom Jesus Christ wants to prepare every local church for the glorious end-time wedding celebration (See meditations 45-47).
Therefore, every letter to the churches in Asia Minor closes with the words: “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Revelation 2:7.11.17.29 and 3:13.22).
Our second question is: In what way did these churches bring sorrow to God’s Spirit or even stifle Him in His ministry of transforming them into the likeness of Christ?
Let us see how the Lord lectures those churches through His Spirit:
1) The zealous church of Ephesus:
The Lord tenderly affirms the zeal of this dynamic church in Ephesus, the largest city of Asia Minor and the centre of the Roman administration in that province:
"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people.
You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting” (Revelation 2:2-3).
Yet, their arduous work and nit-picking attitude did not stop the Lord to reprimand them for having lost their passionate love for Him and for each other:
“But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love!
Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches" (Revelation 2:4-5).
The Lord closes His letter to the Ephesian church with a threatening remark: “If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches” (Revelation 2:5).
‘The removing of the lampstand’ might be an expression that announces the end of the Spirit’s involvement in the church’s transformation into the likeness of Christ.
When passionate love for the Lord and for each other dies in a church, the church’s business may continue as usual, but the governing and transforming presence of God’s Spirit is stifled and gone.
Yet, the Lord also comforts those Christians within a dead or dying church who swim against the stream and continue to love Him and their Christian brothers and sisters passionately.
He encourages them by saying: “Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
2) The permissive church of Pergamum:
The city of Pergamum was the centre of idolatry and Emperor worship in Asia Minor.
The Lord starts His message to the church there by showing appreciation for their faithfulness to Him in the midst of fierce persecution:
“I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained loyal to me. And you refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you by Satan's followers” (Revelation 2:13).
Yet, the Lord also rebukes them as He objects to the way they tolerate ungodly behaviour and false teaching in their church:
“And yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.
He taught them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you-- people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins” (Revelation 2:14-15).
It might be easier for a church to stand strong in times of persecution then in times of subtle seduction by an anti-godly culture. The Lord’s reproach to this church is: “you tolerate...”
The church in Pergamum as a whole needs to show regret and get their act together again: “Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16). Otherwise, the Lord will do what the church should all the way have done.
Again, like with the church in Ephesus, the Lord encourages the individual church members in Pergamum to remain faithful even when the church as a whole strays.
He promises them a royal entrance into God’s eternal Kingdom: “Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.
And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
In the West we also live in a permissive society. In how far has a liberal attitude to ungodly morals and values influenced your way of thinking? And your church’s way of thinking?
3) The compromising church of Thyatira:
Thyatira was an industrial city with many trade guilds (to be compared with our modern trade unions). To do business in town meant to be a member of one of those guilds and partake in their festivities, which often lead to licentiousness and debauchery.
Those members of the church in Thyatira who were involved in the town’s commercial activities, were expected to take part in those festivities and in danger to compromise their loyalty to the Lord.
The Lord praises all the honourable activities of the church:
“I know all the things you do-- your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things” (Revelation 2:19).
However, the Lord severely condemns the church in Thyatira for condoning those who preach, practise and promote libertinism and debauchery:
“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman-- that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet-- to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin.
I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds.
I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve” (Revelation 2:20-23).
Again, the Lord reassures those in the church who remain faithful to Him and to His Word:
“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching ('deeper truths,' as they call them-- depths of Satan, really).
I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. "To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations.
They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.
They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!” (Revelation 2:24-28).
How tempting it is sometimes to compromise our Christian standards when we are in business or make a career. How tempting it is sometimes for a church to condone humanistic practices in order to be respected by secular society.
Indeed, we constantly need to choose between the ways of the world or the ways of God’s Spirit.
The apostle Paul warns every local church and each of Jesus' followers:
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:16-17).
(to be continued)
The Bible verse Galatians 5:16-17 is a quote of the New International Version. The other texts are all quoted from the New Living Translation.
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