Everyone Wants to be a Reformer

There is far too much individualism in the church today and not enough loyalty to the body, with all its faults and failings. I sigh when I hear yet another conversation peppered with, 'the trouble with the church.' The trouble with that statement is that you are talking about yourself when you say it. It is ironic that people will insist that the church is 'the people, not the building,' but then stand apart, as though they are not part of that people, and say, 'the trouble with the church.'

I have lost count of the individuals I know who appear to be waiting for the church to catch up with them. These are often the ones who go off on a tangent, start a church in the bottom of a skip, or up a tree, or some such place, and then land on a town or city and, without so much as a nod to what is already there, upset the established community with their 'anointing.' Then, sadly, they don't go where the need is greatest but where the takings are richest.

Everyone, it seems, wants to be a Reformer, with the church, in their minds, bent to their particular way of looking at things as they start again, again, again. Like Petrocelli's house (that dates me) their church is all foundation and no superstructure, all fundamentals, no discipleship and growing. I have friends who have come out of cults and who look back with regret at what they were caught up in, yet look forward with reproach at the church that doesn't quite fit with the model of church in their imagination. But its the only place they will find that church, in their imagination.

The church is a saved people, not a correct people. We are not always right, we are right with God because of Christ.

Have you been hurt? Felt rejected? Join the club, we all of us who have been around long enough know about the 'happenings' in church and have felt that way too. I have been defamed, lied to and lied about, misunderstood, looked on with suspicion, and even driven out of one church whose members still treat me with contempt because of the lies of a leader. I have punched the wall, screamed at the sky, and reproved the offenders in my time. But one thing I find, the church is God's plan.

It includes some right clowns, numptys, and downright mischief-makers, but it is God's plan. Even among those who seem like they pretty much have it together, there are blind spots, prejudices, compromises, phobias, fears, and failures. There are 'heart Christians' and 'head Christians,' those who insist on one form of church organisation over another, and those who seem beyond organising, those who steam ahead without a thought for the effect they have, and those who are so timid they would never grow if they weren't discipled and led..

Leaders are the best and the worst of us all. They are due double honour the Bible tells us, and they do sterling work that goes mostly unnoticed and unappreciated. They are also clay vessels, like the rest of us. From their position of leadership, they can hide their failings behind pulpits, agendas, and programmes. They can make enormous sacrifices for the good of the church, and they can demand unreasonable loyalty when what they need is love and friendship in their frailty. They disappoint us mostly because we expected too much of them in the first place.

I am reminded of two things about the church. Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, and Paul, for all the trouble 'the church' gave him, wrote of her with affection and pride. At a time when every religious story seems negative, and every negative story, turns people against Christians, we should be proud of the church, fiercely defending her, being honest about her faults but vocal about her virtues. She is the people I meet every Sunday morning, the eyes I look into as they look back at me searching for assurance and hope, the encouragers and those seeking encouragement, the sacrificial servants of the saints, the quiet workers, house group leaders, Sunday Club teachers, evangelists and door-knockers, welcomers, deacons, elders, preachers, teachers, friends and helpers who care so much they make a difference.

If we stopped looking at the church as an institution, which is not what I mean when I used the word established, and started looking at it as one church with many facets, and those made up of flawed, broken, sinners, then we will learn to exercise more patience, have more ambition for her. In all that, there still must be guardianship and correction, challenges to error, and restoration to truth, but it is family business and leaving the family helps no one.

My point (see previous post Not Another Church) stands, in that the church is established in an area and those coming in should have the Christian decency to talk to those 'established' churches, while those 'established' churches should do all they can to encourage any legitimate initiative to to further the work of the kingdom. There is a good model to follow in Acts 15.

I was asked recently what lessons I had learned from leadership.

I have learned that just because I think something is a good idea doesn't mean God thinks it is. Some problems could be solved simply by realising that one thing.

I have learned that God speaks through the leadership to the church and through the church to the leadership. We are in this together and when we walk away (and I have had my moments) we simply disqualify ourselves from that process and end up justifying our non-involvement by insisting that God speaks through neither because the world and his wife are apostate; but he speaks through me and my mates at the bottom of this skip where we are starting again without all the fuss of accountability.

I have learned that local church is the hope of our families, friends, neighbours, community, city and world. Here is where God speaks to us and through us to everyone else.

I have learned that its hard to let go of my own cherished ideas, to serve a bigger cause by putting unity above the flavour I prefer. But no one said it would be easy, on the contrary, we have been sufficiently warned. Christianity is not for wimps that's for sure. What was said is that it would be worth it.

Balancing Faith and Culture

In my role as a leading figure in Reachout Trust, a ministry to the cults, and given my Welsh nationality, I have drawn comments and questions on discussion boards about the Welsh national cultural event known as the Eisteddfod. People are puzzled that even “so-called Christian leaders” attend and take part in what is so “obviously a Pagan festival.” It is culturally Celtic (the first ‘c’ is a hard ‘c’, not like the Scottish football club) has a circle of druids, an Archdruid, flower dances, oak leaves, a sword, a stone, and a throne – O,my word it just gets worse.

This year (1-9 August 2014) it is being held in the West Wales town of llanelli (Llan means church and Elli is the name of a leading Christian figure associated with the place, hence Llan – the church of, Elli – St Elli) You can get a lot of useful information about the Eisteddfod, its history and form here. It is a festival that celebrates Welsh language and culture and is conducted in Welsh, though very welcoming and accessible to non-Welsh speakers. But there is also an international Eisteddfod which is multilingual, multicultural, welcomes visitors and contestants from all over the world and is the biggest cultural festival in Europe.

When people ask the answer is always the same. It has nothing to do with authentic druidism, and what people see as ‘pagan’ is nothing more than the fanciful cultural trappings of an otherwise innocent cultural festival. It celebrates culture and talent in many forms, music, dance, poetry and literature, academic achievements, civic service, charity work. There is a regular Christian presence at the festival and every opportunity to share the gospel. Still, there will be those who will struggle with the question of faith and culture, some taking the purist view.

With our very seasons and times named with the names of pagan gods (think days of the week, months and seasons of the year) and pagan customs marking our every day lives, from the wedding ring, through carols, flowers on graves, and so much more, how do we balance faith and culture?

Simply because something has a pagan origin does not mean that it is sinful to use it, even for a religious purpose. The early church met in houses but when Christianity became an official religion of the empire Christians modelled their public buildings on what was already there in society, the basilica. At a time when your social status was reflected in your dress, church officials dressed like government officials. Today, when we see priests wearing church vestments, we are looking at the continuation of this form of dress which originated with the Roman nobility.

Our practices, dress and customs, both religious and civic, have developed over generations and reflect that history, as also our attitudes. People who complain today about drums and guitars in church should realise that the church organ, so beloved of many, was seen as worldly when it was brought into the church a thousand years ago. Think of the so-called gothic revival of the nineteenth century, which has bequeathed us a heritage of cold, drafty and pretty but pretty useless buildings, but at the time regarded as God honouring.

Even today, we find ourselves doing things that our forebears might find odd. How would those of just a generation or two ago make of our casual dress in so many churches today? And what do we regard as acceptable today that might appear unacceptable to those that come after us?  It might be said that culture both helps and harms the church, but either way culture contributes to how the church is defined and how Christians live.

When it comes to a Welsh cultural festival Christians must, as with so much of being ‘in the world,’ decide for themselves what to get involved in and how involved to get. We can’t avoid a day of the week named for Saturn in a month of the year named for Augustus, or an innocent but ultimately ‘unbiblical’ birthday celebration. We can be wise in our choices as we interact with our own cultures. As for the church in the world, Christianity has a history of ‘baptising’ pre-existing customs into the church, from Christmas, through Harvest Thanksgiving, to music and the way we dress.

What is important is that we are slow to judge, eager to learn, anxious to understand, wise and charitable in our judgements, and honouring to God and culture in our choices. A religious attitude doesn’t sanctify us any more than customs need desecrate.

Thinking as Christ Jesus Thought: Philippians 2:1-11

This is one of the most magnificent texts in the Bible and countless sermons have been preached from it. It has been most popular, perhaps, as an apologetics piece to argue the case for the divinity of the Saviour, and it certainly does make that case compellingly.

Philip.2: 6 speaks of his life in eternities past, telling us Jesus was and is “in very nature God,”the NIV capturing particularly well the meaning of the text.

Philip.2: 7 refers to his birth, how he emptied himself and became a man. He didn't stop being God but emptied himself of his glory, made himself of no reputation.

Philip.2: 8 speaks of his being humbled even to the extent of dying a shameful death

Philip.2:99 tells us of his resurrection

Philip.2:10-11 tells us of his exalted position in eternities to come

The case for his deity is well made here, where he is described as being “in very nature God”; as being given “the name that is above all names.” Name here meaning not simply a title but a reputation, an indication of his person and character, and that name is the name of God. And we are told that at his name “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” This refers back to what God says of himself in Isaiah 45:22-24.

But this text is not arguing a case, it is affirming a truth already accepted by Christians:

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Paul writes in his letter to believers in Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart to God.” (Col.3:16)

This passage in Philippians 2 is probably a hymn, or part of a hymn, and dates back to within thirty years of Jesus' execution. This is what the earliest Christians believed. It was possibly used as a creed to teach new Christians some foundational facts of the Christian faith and may have been used at baptism and communion services. If you are a new Christian, a young Christian, you would benefit from reading and thinking about these eleven verses, in your devotions, and in your prayers.

In our NIV it helpfully comes in six stanzas of three verses each indicating its creedal form, its hymnal nature. These New Testament letters would have been read aloud in the congregation and this text may well have been repeated by a congregation as a confession. So Paul is appealing to what Christians already know and understand to be true and urging us to live it out with Christ as our model.

The key verse for our understanding is verse 5 - “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” or “Think the same way that Christ Jesus did.”

Thinking is imperative to the Christian life. Paul reminds us in his letter to Rome that the Christian life is a life transformed by the renewing of your mind (Ro.12:2) where he goes on to write about discernment. In a world that lays such store by feelings this is a clarion call to be intelligent about our faith. Later on in Philippians he writes:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philip.4:8)

Another way of putting it is, be like Christ even in your very thought life! Paul is making clear that theology (thinking) and Christian living (doing) belong together. James urges us, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

What does that 'doing' look like?

In Colossians 3 there is a passage headed in the NIV, Rules for Holy Living. In the ESV it is headed, Put On the New Self. This passage begins with these wonderful words:

“Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col.3:1-4)

It begins with being united with Christ, raised with him. It is in our being united with Christ that our hearts and minds are set on things above. It is in this way that we know the encouragement of his fellowship, the comfort of his love, the fellowship of his Spirit that Paul writes about to the Philippians. If we are united with Christ, Paul is saying, we will think the way Christ thinks, and this will lead to our practising our faith by being one in spirit and purpose (Philip.2:2)

This is not a call to be some bland, homogeneous crowd, not a blind uniformity. It means being united even as we hold different views. Differences that exist because of our imperfect understanding shouldn't rob us of our unity in Christ.

This unity is achieved, Paul tells us, by considering others better than ourselves, looking to the interests of others. Paul is writing against any party spirit in the church, urging us to achieve unity by means of humility with Jesus as our great example.

The Old Adam and The New

There is a parallel here with Adam, the man who sought to be like God. Jesus is God yet didn't grasp his glory but humbled himself, making himself nothing, a servant. Paul explains in his letter to the Romans that man is sinful because he is “in Adam,” that is, has inherited sin and death from Adam, his head. But in Christ we have new life and he becomes our head (Ro.5:12-20)

Christ’s sacrifice was complete as he obeyed even to the point of dying on a cross. We are so used to hearing the story that its original impact can escape us but this was a truly horrible death. It was a death of unimaginable shame to the Jews. In Galatians Paul writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'” (Gal.3:13; Deut.21:23)

To a Roman the cross was such an offence it was not even mentioned in polite company. The Roman philosopher Cicero wrote, “Far be the very name of the cross, not only from the body, but even from the thought, the eyes, the ears of Roman citizens.”

“Therefore,” Paul goes on to write, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name...” (Philip.2:9) In consequence of his great sacrifice, God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name above all names. That is not to say Jesus wasn't God before. In his prayer before Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (Jn.17:5)

Just as Jesus was restored to his true glory, so we, through faith in him, will be restored to our true nature. But the journey to that point is the journey demonstrated by Christ, a life of humility, sacrifice, and service to the glory of God.

It is the example of Christ that defines, not just our journey in this life, but the very society, the economy of heaven. Living like this is to become as natural to us as sinning was before our redemption. With such a future won for us at such a cost

What are you willing to let go of for the glory of God?

Are you willing to be a servant?

Are you willing to humble yourself?

Are you prepared to sacrifice self?

Those who “are raised with Christ” live this way. Those who live this way, when he appears, will appear with him in glory.

Religious Liberty Monitoring: PERSECUTION, whatever that is.

A thoughtful and intelligent blog on the nature of persecution asking whether we are being “persecuted” in the UK. Elizabeth Kendal’s Religious Liberty Monitoring blog is well worth the time to visit.

“When it comes to showing what we believe about the Lordship of the Risen Christ, I advocate that the Church stop wasting time appealing to "Pharaoh" (Exodus 5:15) and instead, look to the Lord, our crowing glory, for the "strength to turn back the battle at the gate" (Isaiah 28:5-6).”

Religious Liberty Monitoring: PERSECUTION, whatever that is.

e100 challenge - The Program

This is an initiative by Wycliffe to encourage Bible reading. The Bible reading habit has declined alarmingly among Christians and it is a cause of great concern. This looks like a great programme from the real experts in Bible translation and distribution.

WHAT IS THE E100 CHALLENGE?
The Essential 100 Challenge™ (The E100) is an effective Bible reading program built around 100 carefully selected short Bible passages — 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament. It enables people in your church to get the big picture of God's Word and in the process develop a daily Bible reading habit.

e100 challenge - The Program

Charity in a Moral Vacuum?

By last night (20/03/’10) the popular charity initiative Sport Relief had raised almost £30 million for charitable causes both abroad and in the UK. Via telethons and sponsored events such as running the Sport Relief Mile huge sums have flooded into the charity and much more is expected to be raised in events up and down the country this weekend.

You would have to be churlish to the point of perverse to not celebrate the good-hearted generosity of people and the great and practical good that is done as a result of such events. From the now historic Band Aid concert, through the well established British institution Comic Relief to Sport Relief and even the money raised for causes by the National Lottery  much good is done.

However, I can’t help but think that when we look back at 19th century missionary societies and, indeed, their 21st century counterparts, and consider how they are represented in our social and cultural histories they don’t come out well. Yet they did, and continue to do much the same in raising resources to help developing societies, feed the hungry, teach the ill-educated, protect the vulnerable – and share the gospel. This last is what our secular society finds little to celebrate about, being suspicious about the fact that what they do is done in the name of Christianity. But what is the difference between going into a country in the name of liberal democracy and insisting that something must be done and things have to change and doing the same in the name of Christian charity?

Christian teaching, building, nursing and, yes, evangelistic missions are carried out by people who have chosen to serve a moral cause because they have committed their lives to a moral course. Unlike the celebrities who front events like Sport Relief and who fly in for a few days filming and then fly out to talk endlessly into a camera about how harrowing and moving was their experience, Christian missionaries devote years, sometimes their whole lives in the cause to which they are committed. Sometimes they sacrifice their lives to serve their God by serving “the least of these” (Mt.25:45)

The difference, it seems to me, and the great advantage to a secular society of such charitable events as Sport Relief is that, where Christian missionaries serve a moral cause because committed to a moral course, here people can serve a moral cause without making a commitment to a moral course. In this way they can salve their conscience, feel they are doing some good, but make no fundamental change to the way they live their daily lives.

It looks as though they are living their lives in a morally neutral world. One in which they can give and serve if it suits but pass on the other side if not. But this is not a morally neutral world and the requirements, indeed commandments of the God who made us apply equally to everyone in it. That is why mission exists in its most fundamental, evangelistic form. It is ironic that, while many perhaps feel that charity without religion is the best of all possible worlds, the greatest good that can be done them in this world is to remind them of their obligations to God and of what he requires of them “in these last days” (Acts 17:29-30)

Every effort at helping and serving the needy and vulnerable is to be applauded but as Christians the greatest help we could ever offer is to pray for and be involved in the mission of the church to “go into all the world and tell the good news” (Mt.28:16-20) It is not always popular but we may as well nail our colours to the mast – the world has.

Latest News - Gospel for Asia UK

How would you feel if you were met with this threat? How strong is your faith and how much do you love Jesus? Please read this story and see how much Christians in India love him and what it costs them. Please pray for them.

“If you don't leave Jesus, we will come back on Sunday and burn you alive.”

Latest News - Gospel for Asia UK

Christians being ‘sidelined’, says head of Asian Christian Fellowship

“Christians in this country are being sidelined and discriminated and even some pastors have been threatened and beaten, because of preaching the Gospel,” he said.

“I believe it is time for Christians to raise our voices and stand up for our rights and values, which are being sacrificed in the name of political correctness.”

Who is speaking and which country does he have in mind? The speaker is Canon Yaqub Masih of the Asian Christian Fellowship so you might expect his concern would be for an Asian country but no. He is addressing the problem of growing persecution of Christians in the UK.

It is reported that one in five Christians now complain of discrimination because of their faith. Have you noticed that people hate Christ now? Say you are a Christian and often people will screw their faces up in a sneer and exclaim, “Don’t ram your religion down my throat!” Defend your faith and they speak disparagingly of Christian superstition and ignorance. The reaction is positively violent and they will speak of anything but Christ.

I think it is time we stopped apologising for being Christians. You may look through all of Scripture and never find a text prescribing political correctness or niceness (that bane of Western Christianity). By all means let us have the fruit of the Spirit, peace, love, etc, but always remembering that it is to make our Christianity more real and challenging not more respectable and accommodating.

Turning the other cheek does not mean turning our back on the truth; neither does loving your neighbour mean not warning them of impending judgement for fear of offending. Standing for truth necessarily means exposing and refuting error and while we do it with love we do it nevertheless.

Christians being ‘sidelined’, says head of Asian Christian Fellowship

Dumbing Down

Following on from my previous post bemoaning the ongoing dumbing down in some Christian circles (see also Thinking about Thinking) I found this excellent quote that sums up very well the problems that arise when we treat people as incapable of understanding as we understand, in this instance in relation to the dumbing down of language.

"It is easy to choose to dumb down when you are suitably equipped with all the skills and tools you need to navigate your way around the language. What tends to be forgotten is that those who are 'dumbed down' to, have no choice but to take the educational mane that is offered them. Those encouraged to take this inferior educational diet will never hope to achieve the literacy skills that their 'dumbing down' masters already possess. To sum up, a student once said to me,: 'I want to know what you know.'"

(Anonymous quote from a former teacher, cited in John Humphrys' book, Lost for Words, Hodder & Staughton, 2004)

If we are not prepared to share fully with others what we know and continue to learn guess what? They will go elsewhere and find substance without truth, satisfaction without a Saviour and challenge without the change of the new birth.

Dear Saints

Dear Saints (Revelation 2:1-3:22)

The letters to the churches in Revelation, which we have been looking at these past seven weeks, were addressed to real 1st Century churches and they find their parallels in today’s churches. Each was marked by distinctive characteristics, each commended, censured and warned according to what Jesus saw in that church. The most important thing to remember is that this is “A revelation of Jesus Christ” and the letters are concerned with the relationship of the churches to him. It is still so today and, although we might not see him, we remember that John’s vision shows Jesus, our Lord and Judge, present among the churches (Rev.2:1). We face the same challenges as those early churches, wealth, poverty, persecution, and need a vision of Jesus among us if we are to respond appropriately and live faithfully in the face of these challenges of which we are surely aware today.

If Jesus were writing a letter to the churches in your area today what might he write? What strengths would he commend, what weaknesses condemn, what actions would he insist you take? As we look at each letter we may well see our church reflected there, even as we may see ourselves in Scripture.

“Ephesus”: The church in Ephesus (Rev,2:1-7) was a steadfast church, enduring hardship, combating the work of false apostles and persevering. Yet they were charged that they had “forsaken your first love”. To them the one “who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands” says, “Repent and do the things you did at first”. Jesus is intimately involved with his church and cares for everything we endure as well as jealous for our love.

“Smyrna”: The church in Smyrna (Rev.2:8-11) was a persecuted church, enduring suffering and poverty. They are reminded by “him who is the First and Last, who died and came to life” that they are rich in the things of heaven and encouraged to continue in faith, not fearing, and the crown of life would be theirs. Jesus is “the First and the Last”, the Maker and the Judge of everyone, standing above and ruling over all things. He has suffered with us and can identify with our own struggles, holding out the crown of life that he has won so dearly for those who endure in faith.

“Pergamum”: The church at Pergamum (Rev.2:12-17) was commended for doctrinal correctness yet censured for questionable practices and immoral conduct; they were morally compromised. “He who has the sharp, double-edged sword” warns them “Repent therefore!” Jesus is our Judge and he will bring judgement on all those who compromise in the practical way they live, or fail to live their faith.

“Thyatira”: The church in Thyatira (Rev.2:18-29) was commended for their love and faith, service and perseverance yet they were doctrinally compromised. They tolerated a false prophetess called Jezebel and who led them into sexual immorality and questionable religious practices. “These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (who has penetrating insight and whose feet are swift to pursue evil and tread it down); Don’t tolerate false teaching or follow secret ways. Only hold to what you have.

“Sardis”: The church in Sardis (Rev.3:1-6) was a counterfeit church. It looked good and had a reputation for life; but it was dead! “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars...Wake up! This church was on its death bed and didn’t even know. They were told to “strengthen what remains and is about to die”. They were counselled to go back to first principles, to remember what they had received and heard, obey it and repent.

“Philadelphia”: The church in Philadelphia (Rev.3:7-13) was an obedient church. They had kept God’s word and not denied his name. To these the One “who is holy and true, who holds the key of David” promises an open door that no one can shut, the bringing low of their enemies and the promise of being kept in him from the hour of trial which is to come. They are advised to hold on to what they have and they will see the New Jerusalem.

“Laodicea”: The church in Laodicea (Rev.3:14-22) was a materialistic church that boasted in its wealth and yet was described as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”. To these “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” brings an invitation to become rich in the things of heaven, gold refined in fire, white clothes and eye salve that they may see where true wealth lies. It is here, among the Saints in Laodicea, that Jesus stands at the door of each heart, seeking entry.

As we read the letters we find time and again an emphasis on Kingdom priorities: first principles; enduring faith; faithfulness in doctrine and practice, determination in denying error any place and a life of repentance and obedience. Whatever we are doing, as a church or as individuals, we must not abandon our first love, must always remember and obey what we received and heard, must be prepared to persevere in the faith and be true to the name of the one who bought us at such great cost. We will not be especially popular or well thought of for doing so but the one whose assessment of us is paramount holds out to us a crown of life.

Previous Posts in this Series:

A Message of Hope
Remember Your First Love
Be Faithful
Be True
Hold On!
Wake Up!
A New name
The Real Thing

Dear Saints - Wake Up!

Wake Up! (Revelation 3:1-6)

A parable is told of two angels travelling on the Lord’s business. They sought shelter for the night and, seeing two cities on a plain, noted that one of the cities was watched over by a demon, the other by a legion of demons. The less experienced angel suggested they stay in the first but the more experienced angel insisted on staying at the second. Surprised, the young angel asked why his companion wanted to stay where there were so many demons and the older angel explained that the righteousness of that city was great, as evidenced by the fact that so many demons were trying to corrupt it, while the other city was so spiritually complacent that it took but one demon to hold demonic sway. This describes somewhat the city of Sardis.

Complacency was endemic in Sardis and was to be its downfall on more than one occasion. It was a wealthy commercial centre and at one time the capital of Croesus, last king of Lydia (560-546 BC), who was so rich and powerful that his name became proverbial for wealth – “As rich as Croesus”. He was finally overthrown by Cyrus of Persia (2 Chr.36:22). Built on a hill that seemed impregnable and enjoying fabulous wealth, its citizens appear to have entertained an overconfidence that was to be their downfall, being conquered in 549 BC by Cyrus and again in 218 BC by Antiochus.

It is a pity that there are Christians who convince themselves that, in the new life they have in Christ they remain untouched by zeitgeist, or the general spirit of the society and age in which they live. That was the trouble at Sardis. John does not mention anything like the persecutions and error typical of other of his letters, giving the impression that the church had not suffered such disturbances. Rather, the problems appear to have stemmed from within, from their sheltered and relatively safe lives. The Christians of Sardis were typical of the citizens of Sardis!

You can see how people in such circumstances might be very busy, managing their church, enjoying fellowship, congratulating each other on how the Lord is surely blessing their lives, but John writes:

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!”

There was no shortage of ‘stuff going on’ and Jesus saw this activity, but he was not to be fooled. Christians here were slack – “I have not found your works complete” - and, what was worse, the majority fell into this category. John writes, “Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.” This was a reference to an ancient belief that dirty clothing was held to dishonour the deity. These people “will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy”. This does not mean that they have merited justification but that they have walked according to the justification they have in Christ. What does that walk look like? This is vital because Jesus promises, “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.”

It is popular these days to think that such a church needs a ‘shot in the arm’, a ‘blessing’, a ‘revival preacher’ to bring ‘refreshing’. John’s prescription for this church is somewhat more – basic. There are three things prescribed in John’s letter for those whose faith is complacent and whose walk is incomplete:

1. “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard”

This means ‘bear in mind’ rather than ‘recall’. They hadn’t forgotten so much as failed to keep in mind the things of God, how they had heard the good news and from whom these things had come. If you have ever questioned the worth of regular Bible reading, Christian fellowship and mutual encouragement consider how God directed the church in Sardis.

2. “Obey it”

This is more in the sense of ‘keep’, making it a continuing activity; a constancy in attending to the things of God. Novelty is no solution to complacency but faithfulness.

3. “Repent”

There is an urgency in this word and we can see why when we read, “Strengthen what remains and is about to die.” Paul tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are ‘in the faith’. Such self-examination will make us aware of where we need to strengthen what we have.

It is easy when involved in ‘doing good’, running programmes, doing ‘deeds’ to forget why we are doing it and what we have heard and received; to have the appearance of life while being close to death, and sometimes it is good to be challenged to “Wake up!” Only those who pay attention to such things will be acknowledged by Jesus before the Father and his angels and only those who know this are truly equipped to reach out to the lost.

Previous Posts in this Series:
A Message of Hope
Remember Your First Love
Be Faithful
Be True

Hold On!

Dear Saints - Hold On!

Hold onto what you Have (Revelation 2:18-29)

It is a problem that has faced Christians through the centuries; how do I get on in the world while keeping my Christian principles? I know I am not to be of the world but cannot deny that I am in the world and retreating from the real world is not an option (although many have tried); as a Christian I am supposed to engage with the society around me, of which I am a part, but how am I to do that while remaining unsullied by contemporary standards?

Paul’s advice to the Roman church was, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Ro.12:18). He goes on in Ro.13 to write about being submissive to authorities, paying taxes and giving honour where it is due, but how far does this accommodation with the world go before it becomes compromise?

Some Christians will insist on an uncompromising stand on every single issue, even going so far as to separate into communities that remain as exclusive as possible, keeping themselves untouched by anything to do with the world. Paul addresses something of this kind when he deals with meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Cor.8 and makes clear that, in many such instances, it is the individual conscience of ‘the weaker brother’ that is the only consideration.

Some Christians get along so well with the world, however, that we can begin to doubt their credentials as Christians and that is the problem facing believers here. Thyatira was a small but busy centre of commerce, the smallest town among the seven to whom John writes. As a thriving commercial centre it entertained many trade guilds, including wool-workers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers (Lydia was originally from Thyatira, Acts 16:14), leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze-smiths.

It would have been very difficult for any Christian to make a living without belonging to one of these guilds and that would mean eating at trade banquets where meat offered to idols was served up and the religious elements of such an offering perhaps included in the banquet. Whoever Jezebel may have been it seems that she convinced some that this was alright. But it didn’t stop there and such banquets could degenerate into parties of the kind Christians should not been seen attending.

Having someone who is considered a prophetess to condone such things leant weight to the argument that “while in Rome” etc. and being so encouraged Christians would very quickly lose sight of their identity and, more importantly, whose they were. Jezebel also offered secret knowledge to those who followed her, what Jesus calls ‘Satan’s so-called deep secrets’.

This is a heady mix of ambition, pleasure and esoteric insight and not so far removed from the problems facing Christians today, certainly in the developed world. The world seems preoccupied with itself and its ambitions, is increasingly liberal and experimental in enjoying pleasures and seems willing to follow anyone promising them initiation into the meaning of life (preferably secret) and the secrets of success. Prophets and prophetesses abound and the truth available to anyone willing to pay their dues and join up.

Jesus’ answer to all this, his counsel to Christians concerned about these things is simple:

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first...Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you); Only hold on to what you have until I come” (VV19, 24-25)

This is the burden of the concerned Christian, to hold on to what you have, “guard what has been entrusted to your care” (1 Tim.6:20); “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us” (2 Tim.1:14). God’s promise is, “I will impose no other burden on you”; other than what? No other burden than the Christian service and faithfulness to truth already enjoined on us. This is our burden as it has been the burden of all believers in all ages; may we bear it faithfully because:

“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – ‘He will rule them with an iron sceptre; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ – just as I have received authority from the Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

Previous Posts in this Series:

A Message of Hope

Remember Your First Love

Be Faithful

Be True

Dear Saints - Be True

Be True to the Name (Revelation 2:12-17)

Pergamum was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and the place of residence of the proconsul of the area. It is significant that this letter contains, “The words of him who has the sharp double-edged sword” since the sword was the symbol of the proconsul’s authority (Ro.13:4), demonstrating his power over life and death. The opening words of the letter are a reminder that there is a greater power than that of an earthly governor.

The city boasted a vast library said to have contained over 200,000 parchment scrolls. The word ‘parchment’ derives from the name ‘Pergamum’, although parchment itself was around long before this time. As the provincial capital Pergamum eventually boasted not one but three temples dedicated to the worship of the Emperor and was an important religious centre. It has been described by some as, ‘the Lourdes of the ancient world’ and people travelled from all over the world to be healed by the god Asclepius. It also had important temples dedicated to Zeus, Dinonysos and Athene, alongside a multitude of heathen temples, as well as being the principal centre of the imperial cult in the region.

When Jesus said, “I know where you live – where Satan has his throne” this was not mere hyperbole; Satan ruled this place and, while Christians counted it as their permanent earthly home, the Lord knew that this was where Satan lived. “Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me” says the Lord. There had been times, and there would be again, when Christians would face spasmodic periods of persecution but here, in Pergamum, they faced a continuing crisis and challenge to their faith (the first martyr of the region, Antipas, was tortured to death here) and yet they had remained faithful.

Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth:

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test” (2 Cor.13:5)

Of course, the saints in Pergamum had not failed the test for the Lord had already commended them for being true to his name. “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you” said the Lord; and the problems were inside the church. It was not so much that the church was steeped in idolatry as that “you have people there who hold to the teaching...” There is something insidious about this type of tolerance, a tolerance that is popular in today’s liberal world and all-too-often manifest in today’s church. Tolerance of error in whatever form is a trap.

The particular example given of Balaam illustrates this very well. Balaam was the one who advised the king of Moab that the way to get the Israelites to forfeit God’s protection was to induce them to worship idols (Nu.31:16). This is what is meant here in the reference to Balak enticing the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols. This was not merely a reference to food purchased in the market place that was previously sacrificed to idols (1 Cor.8) but an involvement in sacrificial worship to foreign gods. “Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans.”

The answer is a call to repentance. It is Jeremiah, the probable writer of Lamentations, who wrote:

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and our hands to God in heaven and say: ‘We have sinned and rebelled...” (Lam.3:40)

Despite its role as a seat of learning with a great library and its reputation as a religious centre and place of healing this was the home of Satan. Even Christians of whom the Lord could say, “You have been true to my name” could fall into the trap of compromise with false teaching and were reminded that judgement will come on those who teach error. It is a timely reminder that correct doctrine is important and sound teaching vital. Religion itself is worthless if it is built on unsound foundations; healings and miracles are worthless if they are predicated on lies. People are capable of justifying all and any sins, including sexual immorality and strange worship if they are not grounded in the word of God. That is why we teach as we do and urge others to be true to the name of him who has saved us and who will one day judge us.

Previous Posts in this Series:
A Message of Hope
Remember Your First Love
Be Faithful