Today’s reading is Revelation 1:1-2:29.

I’m going to branch out a bit and cover some things in Monday’s reading as well. Regrettably, the way the reading schedule falls it divides up the letters to the seven churches of Asia and today I simply have some questions and thoughts about those seven churches.

First, I can’t help but notice the contrast between the church in Ephesus and the church in Pergamum. The Ephesians hated the work of the Nicolaitans. The Pergamumites, Pergamumonians, whatever, allowed those who held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans to be members of the congregation. I wonder if the the Christians at Ephesus ever talked about the Christians at Pergamum. Of course, they might not talk about them directly, but in hushed undertones. They might talk about them in veiled allusions. They might talk about how pitiful the church at Pergamum was. After all, Ephesus must have committed, godly, faithful members. They were enduring patiently and bearing up for Jesus’ name’s sake. They most definitely had distinctive preaching and strong leaders who would not allow error to creep its way in. They even tested men who claimed to be apostles. They wouldn’t put up with false apostles.

I can easily see how the Ephesian church would look at Pergamum and see them as a weak and flailing congregation. Surely no one should be a member of that pathetic church when they could be part of a strong congregation like Ephesus. And yet, Ephesus had a problem. They had left their first love. They weren’t actually as great as they thought. In fact, they weren’t really any better than Pergamum. They had different problems, but they had problems nonetheless. Both were in danger of discipline from God. What both needed to do instead of looking out at other churches, was work on their own internal problems, correcting them.

What I learn from this is that I shouldn’t sit on my high horse about how much better my congregation is than other congregations. Maybe we aren’t the dead church or the lukewarm church or the left its first love church or the in fellowship with error church (then again, maybe we are). But we have our problems. We need to look inside and work on us.

Now to the questions. I don’t know how often I get asked by people, “When should I leave a church?” Perhaps you have been asked the same question. Surely if something is being taught or being practiced that is a sin, we should go. That seems like a no-brainer. And yet, I can’t help but notice both Thyatire and Sardis. Thyatira was in fellowship with Jezebel. That can’t be good. She was a false prophet. She was seducing Christians to practice sexual immorality and eat things offered to idols. I assume that means they were doing this in a way to serve idols. Surely I should leave any church that is in fellowship with a false prophet seducing Christians to commit sexual immorality. And yet, what did Jesus say to those who didn’t hold her teaching? “I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.” What’s up with that?

Then there is Sardis. This is a dead church. They have a reputation for life, but they are deader than a coffin nail. Their works were incomplete and they were about to die. However, there were a few who had not soiled their garments. What did Jesus say to them? Did he advise them to leave and find a church like Smyrna or Philadelphia? Actually, he didn’t say anything to them other than that they would walk with him in white for they were worthy. What’s up with that?

So, here’s my question. Are we asking the wrong question when we ask when we should leave? Maybe the right question is how do we stay and help strengthen the church we’re in. What do you think?

***Question: What do you do to help strengthen the church you are in?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC