There is a stark similarity between the seventh church in the book of Revelation and today’s modern church. In the early part of that book John records the words that Jesus instructed him. (Revelation 3: 14-22) Consider what Jesus said and what is happening in our lifetime.
Let me offer an explanation before I go further into this blog. I am not trying to discredit legitimate evangelical ministers. I am not trying to turn people away from churches. I am not trying to second-guess what so many churches are doing today. The purpose of this blog is to point out that the modern church as a whole has become wrapped up in itself and it has likely lost a burden for souls.
After I retired from the pulpit as a pastor, I was seeking a church to call my home. One stands out to me in particular. It was so involved in displaying their talents from the platform and expanding the number of buildings that, if I were not there, no one would notice and no one would care. That’s the definition of a lukewarm church. It has all the bells and whistles, it has much to brag about, but I saw little concern for the individuals. I saw no follow-up for training and teaching what a new convert needed to know. To be honest, I found it exceedingly difficult to find a church that was Bible based and cared about people. That may not be the case for you. It may not be the case for people you know. However, it is the case for many others. There are more people who call themselves Christians that don’t go to church than there are people sitting in the pews. I asked myself, “Why?” The answer is found in the book of Revelation.
Our Lord had specific complaints against the church named Laodicea. He said that the people of the church had a lukewarm attitude no doubt about the gospel, winning souls, taking a stand in the world as a witness for God, and indifference to their own problems. Lukewarm water is worthless for making tea or coffee. No one wants to go to a restaurant and be served a lukewarm meal. No one wants to be involved in a relationship that at best could be described as lukewarm. Jesus shared his reaction to lukewarm by saying that it makes him vomit. Yet, he said the Laodicean church was lukewarm. In an analogous manner, ask yourself what you could take away from the sermon after church. Ask yourself if your soul was stirred.
Then Jesus observed that the last church of history has convinced itself that they have need of nothing because they are rich and increased with goods. Unfortunately, they deceived themselves, being unaware that they are wretched. (Which means worthless, despicable, inadequate, inferior, vile, miserable, and desolate). It is so sad about the expansive buildings of churches today. Why do they need them to be so monumental other than for the ego of the people and the pastor? Oh, they may have money, but has it been effectively used? Has the program and budget of the church been conducted in a biblical manner?
Christ offers a solution for the redemption of the modern church. In verse eighteen he says an interesting point by asking them to, “buy from me.” The Laodicean church needs a financial standing that has been tried in fire or a budget that has been put to the spiritual test. Then he says they need to wear white raiment which in biblical terms means to display righteousness since their reputation in the world has diminished like that of a person being naked. Finally, he offers a divine healing so that this church would see properly what is going on around them. An example to me is how many of us are out in public and have concern for those we see even as strangers and are concerned if they are going to heaven or hell? How many of us have talked to people about their souls? Several words stand out that Jesus levels against the wayward church. He reminds them that he loves them. Because of this love he has rebuked and chastened them. He tells them to have a higher motivation which leads to repentance. Yes, Jesus is asking church members to repent!
This letter to the Laodicean church concludes with the last three verses that are taken out of context by most people. While winning someone to Christ, the person sharing the spiritual journey misquotes versus twenty to twenty-two. Our Lord describes himself as having been put outside and knocking on the church door for entrance. My friend, that is Jesus knocking on the church door, not the heart of a person coming to Christ. A case in point is that the modern church has become so highly likely wrapped up in itself that there’s no room for Christ, no room for revival, no room for spiritual depth in sermon or lesson, and no room for concern about the spiritual welfare of anyone inside or outside the church.
This is a sad documentary, isn’t it? We have churches that are wealthy with large buildings and much to brag about. This is not to say that the church building should be small, or the congregation contain only a few people. A small church can be just as guilty as a mega church. To support my thesis, look at the statistics in the surveys. Fewer people are going to church. Fewer people hold the ministry to high regard. Fewer people even think about the possibility of Hell or Heaven. We are wrapped up in a society of fun and games that has even extended into the church. Even the number of weddings conducted in churches has diminished in favor of venues or outdoor weddings .
This blog goes to many countries around the world. Some of those people that are reading this blog may be located in a country that persecutes Christians. For them we should pray earnestly. To them we should express appreciation for their higher likelihood of being true to the gospel as originally detailed in the New Testament .But look at the churches across America and in Great Britain and in France and elsewhere in the European vicinity. Church buildings are fancy, and they are empty mausoleums. With the tumbling down of what a church is supposed to be according to Jesus, so has fallen the morals and standards of the general population. The only answers are what Jesus said in his letter to the Laodicean church. He said to turn to him and surrender what needs to be surrendered in favor of gaining a higher quality of spiritual life.
Christian Writer 