The Dead Church

Revelation 3:1-6
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 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. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Having been read this verse, it made me think “This pictures a familiar situation…”

Recently I have been reminded again by this verse after Rev. Acne (sorry if it’s a wrong spelling, don’t actually know his full name.. hehehe!), just shared a message at our Morning Service last November 16, 2008. He actually preached about the church and how he perceives the churches of today as deteriorating, esp. in the place of what we always look to as the land of greener pasture. Perhaps the same perspective I have, even observing the churches here in our nation itself, seemingly just following after the churches who once were active in preaching and reaching other nations. He reminded us of the purpose of the church and why it exists, of course that is to preach the gospel and also for edification of believers, so that they who are edified may go out and reach and preach the gospel as well. Somehow indeed I don’t often see that no more. We are so engrossed with worldly things and focused more on other things more than God and His will.

The situation of churches these days seem to be well pictured by the churches of yesterdays, even from the time of John the Revelator, to whom God revealed a sighting mystery. Reading the book of Revelations, although it’s a prophetic book, spoke at first about 7 different churches, with different kinds of backgrounds. I’m sure it’s really hard to understand the book itself but it is so clear that such churches exist before, and still can exist today. And therefore can act as a warning and reminder to our churches.

Previously I talked about the “dead me”, which explains that all Christian should really be dead to oneself but live for Christ. As the apostle Paul has been explaining in the verse of Galatians 2:20. But being a dead church, I don’t think that, that is God’s will. Just by reading the verse above surely shows a big warning and reminder. Shall we look to the verse above?

First the verse indeed addresses the church of Sardis and declares its status as “having a name, and that it lives but dead.” I’m sure this is understandable that Sardis Church is a very well known church and that it exist but it is actually spiritually dead. But I wonder why it is spiritually dead? On the consecutive verses, it gives a warning or instruction. That is, to be watchful or perhaps to observe and strengthen the things which remain and that are ready to die. Now what are these things that are ready to die? Possibly people? Or possibly ministries? Or possibly fellowships? No matter it is, it is inside the church and one can only know if it is ready to die, if one watches and observes. Meaning, one must have “The Godly discernment” to see these things that are dying. Now I wonder if Christians these days have this kind of discernment.

Indeed in God’s eyes, God found the church of Sardis’ works not perfect, or perhaps not worth it. I wonder why? An instruction is then followed by this statement. “Remember how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent” In other words remember the day when you we’re saved. If I am to remember the day I was saved, what do I remember? Perhaps I remember what Christ has done for me. I remember His grace and His unconditional love, these things which are very essential in us, being a Christian. For without these things, we would never be called “Christian”, but doomed for eternity.

Remembering Grace from the verse Eph. 2:8 & 9, that it is not us who worked for our Salvation nor have any part of it, but God alone. And indeed because of that, God truly gave us a gift we don’t ever deserve, for we don’t have to work for it, but only receive it. It would never be so called “Grace”, if we had a part of earning our own salvation. God’s love in John 3:16, the love without condition, is one thing we should take note of. God does not require you to become rich or poor, to be a famous person or nobody. But simply because He loves us, He gave His only begotten Son to die for us.

These things we ought to remember. But for what reason? I believe that in every work we do, in every decision we make, we ought to do what God has done for us. I John 3:16 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Laying down our lives for others, no matter who they are, whether rich or poor, whether your enemy or friend, whether the ugliest person or the beautiful. A one called Christian should relay the message of Salvation through his life, as Christ has done in His.

It is indeed sad, that we forget what Christ has done for us; No longer recognizing the martyr Stephen who cried “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60), while being stoned to death; No longer recognizing the death of many missionaries or the persecution of Christians who steadfastly moved forward reaching the lost. No longer desiring to hear one soul saying “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

But may this be an encouragement and a challenge, for the verse itself declares:

“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. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

In the church of Sarids’ there are still those who continue to be steadfast in serving God, in doing God’s will and therefore, God will not let their labor be in vain. Even from the situation of Sardis, God still extends His grace, by challenging them to change, and that whoever “overcometh” or perhaps change their ways, Christ will stand and declare him as His own.