Thought of the Day - 01/04/07

Dying Christianity
A Prevailing Churches’ Decease
Revelation 3:1 – 6

There are many things that are in the book of Revelation that are unexplainable. If you poll many church members in your church on a book of the Bible that they would like to have a, scripture by scripture, through the book study on, you will find that the book of Revelation is the number 1 book asked for. The book of Genesis and John run distant seconds or thirds. I’m one that is no less interested in the book of Revelation. I call it the book of the unknown stuff. Of course, I hold it just as holy as any part of the Holy Bible. I love to read it and study it too. I’m not an expert on the book of Revelation, and if most preachers, theologians, or just your everyday Christians would be truthful you would find out that would tell you they weren’t either. There are things that you can figure out, but the big picture may not be complete. However, in reading something this morning, I came across a very interesting passage, which I’d love to share with you. If you have opinions about it, I’d love to hear them.
In chapters 2 and 3, we find that Jesus is addressing the seven churches. The church at Smyrna is one that HE exhorted and seemed not to have anything against them. The church that really caught my eye was the church at Sardis. Jesus knows all these churches and their works. This church was no different. I did note to myself that Jesus didn’t say, ‘I have somewhat against thee.’ One might assume that HE didn’t have anything against the church at Sardis, but that would be a big mistake. This church looked alive from outside, but inwardly they were dead. Jesus said, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. All too often churches get so focused in one or two areas and miss a big thing. That thing is this; EVERY CHURCH ROLL IS NOT MADE UP OF JUST CHRISTIANS. This fact should not shock any of us. There are many reasons for this. People thinking baptism is what saves them instead of Christ, people not really repenting, but just going through the motions, and of course the old statement, ‘I was raised in this church,’ just to name a few. I guess that why Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them, (Matt.7:20). In Revelation 3:4, the Lord told Sardis, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” Sardis also probably thought that their works where great. They may have thought they were doing everything right. However, the Lord said, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” The saved people in this church may have become influenced by the world. They had decided that it was okay to live the ways of the world and go to church too. They weren’t being watchful of HIS church. They had a ‘don’t care’ attitude.
In the United States we can see that Christianity and our churches have weakened. I can remember in the 60’s and 70’s when churches were strong and Christianity was the motivation of the land. I’ve heard of how much stronger they were before then, but I’m not old enough to remember that. However, I can remember when Christians stood firm on God’s Word and things that were right. Today, I believe our churches to be weaker and more accepting to things of this world that are slowly killing churches. I would be one that agrees that this is not the only thing that is killing churches either. One thing that this preacher believes is a big key element of churches dying is that Christians do not study God’s Word for themselves and just take preachers’ and teachers’ teachings at face value. After all they ‘know what God’s Word says more than I do.’ Sin is a prevailing factor in churches, that much of the time goes unnamed or ignored. After all, we want numbers and money, and the more people we have in church and the more money we get, means that we can build bigger buildings and be seen more. I agree that Christians absolutely need to be seen more. However, building bigger buildings is not a way to grow. A church must grow spiritually before it can grow in numbers. Think about it. Constructing bigger buildings is the wrong motivation. The only church I’ve ever pastored was a great lesson for me, in many ways. The one that stands out the most was how many members of that church that were on that roll that were saved by God’s grace while I was there. Even more so I saw God move in many other lives there. Why? Those people were really seeking God at that time. God used me, but I wasn’t the factor for these decisions. I really believe that we, as saved people, have stopped seeking God. You can argue that statement, but our nation shows that many Christians have stopped really seeking God’s will in their lives, in their churches, and as a spiritual guidance. We are so busy doing what we want too, that God and HIS direction are put on the back burner, so to speak.
This church at Sardis had good works. Not everything they were doing had died. The Christians that were there had good works! However, they were between a rock and a hard place. They were probably trying to straddle the fence. Live for the world and God at the same time. This was a wrong decision by them. The Lord told them, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent, vs. 3.” Churches seem to hold fast to traditional beliefs more than they do scriptural teachings. Many saved people believe, by the show of our actions, that being the quiet majority is best. I’ve wondered what would happen, in the little town I live in, if preachers started preaching on the corners of the streets and Christians were more vocal in their stands for God. It is a huge possibility that the preacher or preachers that decided to do this everyday would eventually be told to leave or even get arrested for disturbing the peace. Why would this happen? People in the world simply don’t want to hear it. The preaching of the gospel is foolishness to the world. Paul talked about that in 1 Corinthians. Of course if Christians are living with the world and doing the same thing as the world, the lost would listen anyway. They would use those Christians as excuses, don’t you think?
We all know that Christian people gathered together in a common bond to serve God make up individual churches. Today, Christians, in general, have totally lost focus on what we should or shouldn’t do. The church at Sardis apparently lost focus too. The Lord went on to tell the church at Sardis, in laymen’s terms, “If you don’t change I will come as a thief and you will not know when.” What is meant by that? I am a man that believes if a church does some things wrong continually that God can, will, and has removed His Spirit from that church. How can you tell when God’s Spirit is removed? One thing is the church is completely dead. People aren’t being saved. The few saved people in that church are stifled. There is coldness in that church. Just because there are big numbers and lots of money in a church building doesn’t mean that this church is really serving God. There is no Spiritual leadership there. Can a church that is dead come back to life? It can if it chooses too. REPENTANCE and a desire to serve the LORD is the only way. Not every church comes back though. Many churches shut the door simply because they locked God out. God must be allowed in the individual churches to really grow.
So, what is the cure for a sick church? His name is Jesus Christ! We’ve got to be willing to serve Him with our all. Real Christian men and women need to separate themselves from the world. We need to stop trying to straddle the fence. We cannot serve God and the world at the same time. Churches need to be separate from the world. We need to be about God’s business. The lost in our churches need to hear the gospel, because it ‘is the power unto salvation.’ How do we know whether we are separate or not? If we know it is wrong, then stop doing it. Ask God to prevail in our lives, and be serious about it. Allow HIM to prevail. Encourage members of your church to stand against sin and stand up for what is right. This is the beginning of good and perfect works in serving a great KING. Remember: There are no gray areas with God; it’s all black and white.