Jesus’
Advice to the Church
I am often asked, “What needs to change in the church for it
to be what God wants it to be?” To answer this question, I turn
to Jesus’ words in
Revelation 2-3 where the seven churches mentioned are representative
of the strengths and weaknesses which characterize the church in every
era.
The church must rouse itself from stale orthodoxy. (Rev. 2:1-7)
Jesus told the Ephesian Christians, “You have forsaken your
first love.” Anything familiar runs the risk of being taken
for granted — and Christ is very familiar to many Christians
in a perfunctory sort of way. We know about Him and do what we think
is His bidding, but in so doing we leave little time or energy to
fuel our passion for Jesus himself. Busyness squeezes us into a
stale state of mind and heart — we become passionless, distracted,
and are often engulfed by our culture. Jesus says we can easily
lose our first love for Him. Jesus says, “Repent.”
The church must suffer persecution. (Rev. 2:8-11) Jesus told believers
in Smyrna, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.”
The American church can hardly fathom a cultural shift so vast that
it would bring persecution, but such has happened numerous times
in history. The blood of martyrs has always renewed the heart of
the church. It appears that a good dose of persecution could do
a lot for us — a suffering church is usually a stronger church.
And when persecution comes we probably should listen to Jesus: “Be
faithful.”
The church must protect pure doctrine. (Rev. 2:12-17) Some of the
Christians in Pergamum heard Jesus say, “You remain true to
my name.” Yet He noted that others were following false teachers.
Can it happen here? Has it happened here? American society says,
“Tolerance is a virtue.” In this quagmire, the church
shies from hard sayings (such as “Jesus is the only way to
salvation”). The church suffocates on universalism (the idea
that all will ultimately be saved regardless of personal responses
or obedience) and the missionary enterprise dies because of it.
The American church also waffles on the call to sexual purity and
redefines voyeuristic infidelity (via the Internet and movies) as
acceptable — marriages die because of it. The American church
fears to confront those who teach heresy — and mainline denominations
wither. Jesus confronts our lack of courage with, “Repent.”
The church must stop moral compromise. (Rev. 2:18-29) Christians
in Thyatira heard Jesus charge them with tolerating sin in the church.
There’s a lot of hanky-panky going on. People often make choices
based on expediency (i.e. what I like, what feels good, what’s
convenient and what’s socially acceptable). Far fewer offer
simple obedience in response to clear biblical teaching, and a disconcertingly
low percentage of Christians operate on strong moral convictions
and biblical principles. Studies tell us that there is less and
less attitudinal and behavioral distinction between believers and
secularists. Jesus says, “Repent.”
The church must admit that it is spiritually dead. (Rev. 3:1-6)
Jesus labeled the believers in Sardis as hypocrites. A reputation
for world missions and compassion ministries deceives us today.
We point to the works of our grandparents (the “Greatest Generation”)
and yawn. Even though millions of us have never had a life-transforming
encounter with Jesus, we consider ourselves Christian and spiritually
vital. Living off the past and the works or faith of others is hypocrisy.
It is self-deception. It is the inability to be self-critical. Jesus
says, “Wake up, and repent.”
The church must step through open doors. (Rev. 3:7-13) Jesus reminded
Christians in Philadelphia that He had placed an open door before
them. Just like then, churches today play it safe — having
a high aversion to risk. Thus, when Jesus opens a door of opportunity,
churches fail to evangelize and minister. This disappoints the Lord
but those who respond to His mission will know His pleasure.
The church must rise above its affluence. (Rev. 3:14-22) Laodicean
Christians were rich materially and lukewarm spiritually. Know anyone
like that? God’s work in setting us free from sin and self
brings change, renewal and stability. But we can also be lifted
into upwardly mobile comfort. As we get better-educated and wealthier
our zeal for God can cool. Affluence breeds complacency. Personal
happiness and security become our “gods.” Jesus says,
“Repent.”
What needs to change in the church for it to please God? It would
be easy to answer that question by sharing from my 70 or 80 file
folders on church health and growth. I have deliberately chosen
not to do that. I think the bottom-line answer is a spiritual one.
Why? Because whenever I find a group of passionate believers who
are hungry to know Jesus and do His will, their church just seems
to be healthy, strong and servant-oriented.
Don’t you think Jesus’ counsel is enough? I do. This time
around, I will keep my file drawer closed.
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