It strikes me that this church has a reputation for being a good, healthy, alive group of believers - but God sees through the outward appearance to their hearts, and it's not good (remember how He described Himself having "eyes like blazing fire"?). And yet even in that, He gives a glimmer of hope - "Strengthen what remains and is about to die." How? Hear the Word, be in the Word, repent and turn to Him for forgiveness!
And then such a picture He gives for those who remain in Him in verses 4-6!
The church at Sardis couldn't blame a false doctrine or religious persecution for their troubles. They "suffered from internal spiritual decay that had reached advanced stages. They responded to external peace with internal apathy." (People's Bible on Revelation, pg 47)
Profound, isn't it? It makes me recall a workshop I attended at the 2013 LWMS convention in LaCrosse, WI. I was listening to a missionary who had served in Indonesia and I wrote these words:
How do I describe seeing a picture of the decapitated heads of teen Christian girls murdered on their way to school - A story no newspaper or tv reported on or a crime that was never prosecuted. There are no apathetic, lukewarm Christian in Indonesia and other Muslim dominated countries because frankly, they can’t afford to be. They either boldly declare Christ as their Saviour or they don’t at all.
The enemy of persecution is pretty in your face there. But apathy can be just as insidious in it's destruction. A good warning for today too. As we celebrate our Saviour's birth, we are encouraged and built up in our faith with the message it brings! "Joy to the World, the Lord has Come!"
5 comments:
With each of the churches we have read about thus far, our merciful God is calling out to them, either via a loving but direct rebuke or promises of His peace and grace. He does the same for us. Lately I have thought how good we often are at church acrivities such as dinners and pot lucks but how we often neglect the spiritual food that is put before us to sustain our faith. We, like the church of Sardis look active and alive and yet Bible studies and dedicated, regular worship attendance, family and personal study show otherwise. Praise God that He is a faithful and merciful God even when we are idolatrous and do things our way. Praise ge to our Advent King that renewal is only as far away as repentance. We have His clear, rock solid promise of forgiveness of sins and that our names are forever written in the Book of Life.
Not only do I need a Guide.....I need spell check!
All of these warnings for the churches are a reminder how easy it is to slip. It is true that often we equate "active" with flourishing. Jesus' warnings make me shiver. Do we ever consciously or unconsciously "audit" our church activities or just get caught up in the fervor? Where are we slipping? Where are we too tolerant? Are the activities serving a higher good or something we just always do? If we slip, do we just go with the flow, or drop out, or speak up (in love)? Oh so easy to fall! Thanks be to God for His love and patience.
Even individuals (I, for example) can have a "reputation of being alive," spiritually, but not really be alive as we seem. How often have I let my personal Bible study and prayer habits slip for a day or two - or a week or two? Before too long I can sense the effects. The connection between my Lord and me weakens. My motives become more selfish and worldly. Can others see it? Probably not. They probably think I'm just as spiritually alive as ever.
Death is a separation. Spiritual death is separation from God. So when my connection with my Lord weakens, spiritually I am dying!
"Wake up!" Jesus says to me. "I will come like a thief."
And this is exactly the message I need during Advent. Jesus' coming as a baby in Bethlehem - just as God's words of prophecy promised - reminds us that he will come again in glory, just as his word promises. When he comes he will not be looking at my reputation for being spiritually alive. He'll be looking at my heart.
Gracious Jesus, thank you for the wake-up call. Thank you for the gift of your righteousness through your blood that covers the sins of my dead heart. Holy Spirit, continue your work in me so that my heart may always be turned toward you - fully alive.
All of the thoughtful comments posted here make me cry for joy! Each of them reflect some honest insight into your own lives - whether at church or personally in your spiritual life - and then you've shared them openly here with us. You've asked some good questions for us all to ask of ourselves and our church families and have taken "His loving but direct rebuke and promises of His peace and grace" to heart. Thank you for sharing this with your sisters-in-Christ!
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