Renewing the Church (8)

Letters for all time
In the seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), we have a divine assessment of the church composite at any given time. Depending upon historical and cultural pressures, one of these seven models is likely to be more predominant than another for a season or two in a given region, but all seven models will always be present.

Because of this, pastors and congregants can assess the health and inclinations of their own local church by evaluating it in light of these seven letters.

All seven letters as well as the entire prophecy were written in a single book and sent to the seven churches (Rev. 1:11). In 2:1, Jesus declares that he “holds the seven stars in his right hand [and He] walks among the seven golden lampstands.” The right hand always signifies the position of highest honor. Because each church is represented as a “golden lampstand,” the “gold” signifies that it is of value and precious to the One who walks above it.

Because Jesus walks among the lampstands, He is constantly in their midst looking down upon them. He is aware at all times as to what is going on in the midst of each church. How much more would we be on our guard if we truly believed this?

As a lampstand, each local church contains the precious oil and light of the Holy Spirit. Each golden lampstand is to be “the light of the world” (Mat. 5:14) in its given community. It is a sad commentary on today’s American church, but rarely does it appear as light to the many increasingly un-churched people in our communities. Its light is more often than not hidden under a bushel—that is, if it is even burning at all! And when it does shine, it often “shines” to the un-churched in a condemnatory way rather than in an enticing way.

To the pastor of the church in Ephesus
Jesus tells John to address the first letter to “the angel of the church in Ephesus.” A question arises: “Who is this angel?” The Greek word angelos means “messenger”; this messenger can be either human or heavenly. Kendell H. Easley in the Homan New Testament Commentary: Revelation suggests that the “messenger” is the pastor of the church. Earlier in this series we discussed the role of the pastor as given by Paul in Ephesians 4: the pastor is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12).

The Ephesus church, located in the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire at the time of this writing, possessed a missionary zeal which resulted in the founding of the other six churches to which the letters are addressed. Because Christianity challenged the primary businesses in Ephesus, the selling of idols and mementos to the pilgrims who came to worship at the Temple of Artemis (Diana) – a magnificent edifice that was four times the size of the Athenian Parthenon and considered to be one of the seven Wonders of the World – Christians were persona non grata and subject to persecution by the pagan residents of Ephesus. This is why our Lord says, “I know your works, your toil, and your patient endurance…” The word “toil” implies working to the point of weariness. The “patient endurance” was the way the Ephesian Christians persevered through their ostracism and persecution. They “have not grown weary” (2:3).

Toiling and testing
Not only did the Ephesians toil, they also “tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false” (Eph. 2:2). They were doctrinally savvy. They “tested” the truth claims of those who claimed to speak with divine-ordained authority. The Greek word used here for “tested” implies the penetrating probing to unearth the true character of someone’s beliefs. Robert H. Mounce, in his NICNT: The Book of Revelation, states: “Every virtue carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction.” In Ephesus, doctrinal purity became more important than the vision that should be behind the desire for solid doctrine, namely the fervent love for the reigning Christ and the fervent love of one another. Jesus’ chilling words state:

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (Rev. 2:4-5)

A love lost
The vision of Christ in His full majesty and glory, in His total holiness seated at the right hand of the Father, should be that which compels the local church to adore Him, to seek others to adore Him, and to minister to and edify one another in love. Biblically based sacrificial love (see Phil. 2:1-12) is not avuncular or jolly; it does not wink at “weaknesses” (never sins and trespasses), but it can be gentle as well as tough, holy, and pure. It is the love of One who is truly awesome and even terrifying.

Yet it is also the love of One who understands what it is to be truly human and who experienced everything we have experienced, was tempted in every way we can be tempted, yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15). It is precisely this love which the Christians in Ephesus had lost, and to which the Lord Jesus called them to return.

Here is a list to evaluate what Christ thinks of your local church as extracted from this letter:

• Is my pastor equipping me for my role in ministering to the world and to the church?
• Is my church doctrinally sound? Does it teach Scripture? Does it build the basic doctrines of the faith into its congregants?
• Does it test the spirits in light of Biblical revelation?
• Is it so interested in the jots and tittles of doctrine that it has lost sight of its vision and mission?
• Does it patiently endure as it seeks to be light within the community in which it is placed?
• Is it fervent in its love of Christ?
• Is it fervent in the way its members love one another?

Pray for your local church, that, to the extent it is needed, your church will repent and return to its first love. If your local church will not repent, it is in jeopardy of judgment. But if it does, then Jesus offers this promise: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).

Next steps

Use the questions provided above to evaluate your own church on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the best rating you could give. Ask several of your fellow church members to join you in this. Then talk about what you learn from this activity. Together, seek the Lord, that you might each find an area where you can begin to contribute toward helping your church improve in her calling as the light of the Lord.

For more insight to the Church and its ministry, order a copy of Chuck Colson’s book, Being the Body, from our online store. You might also read the article, “God’s Vision for His Church: A New Year’s Plea to Church Leaders,” by T. M. Moore.

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