Church

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2-3

Today’s Scripture reading is lengthy; two chapters. You might be familiar with them. These are the two chapters in which Jesus addresses the seven churches of Asia Minor. Without going into the specific details of each letter, something far too involved for a brief devotional, allow me to make a general point from these letters.

Church is hard.

It is hard getting it right and it is hard keeping it right.

Consider the fact that these seven churches were relatively close to the beginning point of the church age. These were not churches that had years and years of time and multiple generations that resulted in their struggles. They were, in relative terms, new churches. They even still had the benefit of existing in the Apostolic Era. John was still alive, although exiled when the letters were written.

Not all of them were in trouble. There were a couple of bright spots. But most of them had significant issues to one degree or another.

There is a lot one could say about these churches and what it means for us today, but let me generalize:

No church is what it will always be. That can be concerning or hopeful. If you are as close to perfect as a church can be, you can’t sit on your spiritual laurels and think nothing would ever threaten that status. That should concern you and cause you to pray and be alert. On the other hand, if your church is messed up, Jesus gives hope. He says to each of the churches with problems, “repent.” In other words, there is a way back to health and spiritual wholeness.

Church is a battle. There are forces – spiritual, cultural, and moral – aligned to undermine the church. It is Christ’s body, and is, therefore, hated by the devil. He wants to attack and destroy it. He will use whatever and whomever he can to do so. Every healthy church is in a battle to keep what they have, and every unhealthy church is in a battle to get back to where they need to be. It is a battle to do it right and a battle to keep it right.

The Lord Jesus takes your church seriously, and so should you. Jesus himself addresses each church individually. He speaks directly to their issues. He warns them. He calls them to repent. Since Jesus takes your church seriously, you should as well.