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This week Michael writes: To spend time in the South of the United States of America is an immersion in "Southern Comfort." Church is such an important part of Southern culture that in some towns, there's a church on every corner. If you're from the South, it's assumed that you're a church-going Christian. However, “Down South” the danger is that you'll become a "casual Christian." The undercurrent of southern culture will carry along casual and nominal Christians. |
In
the book of Revelation chapters 2
and 3, John addresses the distinct
cultures of the seven churches of Asia Minor. These churches are examples
of churches in every age and in every culture. The problem with the church
of Ephesus is that they lacked pure love. Although they thought that they
loved God, they didn't realize that they were lacking in true love. You
can be in the dark, lacking and not even realizing it. When the truth of
the light of the Word of God shines, it reveals the root of the
problem. Their problem is that they didn't know the absolute love of
God. The love of God, “agape” in
the Greek, is the only type of love that doesn't require reciprocity. It
requires nothing in return. Agape love is characterized by the pure act
of giving unconditionally.
John
3:16 “God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son.”
The
problem in Laodicea was a lukewarm and spiritually dead church. The
message beginning in Revelation 3:14 says, “And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of the creation of God.” Jesus Christ himself is “the Amen”, the
last true Word of God. He is the true witness of the truth. There was
an old heresy that said Jesus Christ was not the true and faithful gospel
message of the truth of the Word of God. No church is in the dark so deep that
they think that they're in the light, but they're really in the dark. The Laodicea
church thought that they were doing fine, but they had become "casual
Christians." They had become complacent and had forsaken and abandoned
the true and faithful word, Jesus Christ himself.
Revelation
2:15-16 “I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of
my mouth.”
The
Laodicea church had become "lukewarm". They fell into compromise
with the doctrines, teachings and traditions of the secular world around them
that they were supposed to impact of the Lord. Now, the question is,
"What is the condition of your soul?" On a scale of one to ten, a
one means that you don't really care. Ten means that you're on fire with
the spirit of the Lord. The church at Laodicea was a one on that scale: they
had lost their zeal, their passion, and their dependence on God. How did
they become complacent? Laodicea was a banking center and had great
natural resources. They thought that they had “need of
nothing."
Revelation
2:17-18 “Because you say, I
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you
are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel you to
buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that
you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and
anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
The
Laodicea church had a critical spirit. They thought that they were
"self sufficient" and could make it on their own. A prideful and
haughty spirit cannot approach the throne of God. The wealth and
prosperity of the city dazzled and blinded its citizens. Because they
were rich in material things, they did not realize that they were poor, blind,
naked and wretched in spiritual things. In contrast to the riches of this
world, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Humility is the prerequisite for turning to the Lord. Therefore humble thyself under the mighty
hand of God that he may exalt you in due time.
The
church at Laodicea was lukewarm and apathetic in the things of the Spirit. They
were half-hearted and without conviction. Jesus always condemns
indifference. The Laodicea church had no enthusiasm or zeal for the things
of the spirit. They had become "casual Christians." They
were unconcerned, nonchalant and had lost feeling, conviction, and passion for
the Lord. Casual Christians become casualties of the spiritual battle.
The
exhortation to the church at Laodicea was "quench not the Spirit."
As David said, “I will remember the works
of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and
talk of thy doings.” We need to be in the Word of God like the Apostle
Paul's charge to the Thessalonians. Our responsibility is to "keep
the fire stoked." Quench not the spirit. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. In everything
give thanks.
Part Two tomorrow.
May
God richly bless you!
Your
brother in Christ, Michael
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