Blog
“Learning from the Church in Sardis”
Categories: Bulletin Articles, M. W. Bassford
Of the letters to the seven churches in the early part of Revelation, by far the most negative is the missive to Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6. Thankfully, the Jackson Heights church as a whole is not like the church in Sardis, but in any larger congregation of the Lord’s people, it’s likely that the lives of some individual Christians match the description. Though it’s unpleasant, each of us ought to soberly consider whether these words apply to us.
They had the name of being alive. The Christians in Sardis continued to meet. Others regarded them as faithful, but the reality was tragically different. Sadly, our reputation among brethren may not reflect our true spiritual state either.
They were doing some things right. Even though Jesus’ tone is harshly condemnatory, some parts of their former spiritual health remained. They still were doing a few good works that could be strengthened and completed. However, such remnants of righteousness can foster a dangerous attitude of complacency. When others question our spiritual health, it’s easy to defensively point to the things we’re still doing rather than being honest about the decline in our discipleship.
They were dead. It is possible to have the name and some of the works of being a Christian yet be headed for spiritual disaster. One of the characteristics of a living organism is its ability to grow and change, and the same is true of a living, healthy disciple. We must learn to assess the way we have changed spiritually over time so we can know whether we are growing or dying.
The beginning of COVID in March 2020 makes a handy benchmark. Since that time, a living disciple will have grown. They will have learned to bear more fruit for the Master. They will have won victories in the war against sin. They will have become more committed to assembling, Bible study, and prayer. By contrast, the dead disciple will have become stagnant or lost ground in these areas.
Which one describes us?
They needed to wake up. The devil rejoices in every Christian who needs to change but doesn’t see the need. He loves to lull us into a false sense of security so that we don’t confront our spiritual problems until it’s too late.
It’s pleasant to hear the soothing lies of the devil, but it’s very unpleasant to hear warnings from the word and our brethren. Nobody loves the sound of an alarm clock! However, if we reject those warnings, if we roll over and continue to sleep on our dangerous condition, eternal disaster is the certain result. The obnoxious Christians who keep harping on our shortcomings really are the best friends we have.
They needed to repent. The hard part of discipleship isn’t the knowing. It’s the doing. It’s the determining to change and then changing. Satan is amazing at providing us with excuses not to change. If we are in decline, we will have no trouble coming up with reasons why our decline is inconsequential or even necessary: “I just can’t make Sunday evening services anymore because. . .”
That voice is not the voice of our Master. Instead, He summons us to repent, to make the hard choices, to pluck out the offending eye, to sacrifice earthly comfort for the sake of an eternal reward. If we find discipleship comfortable, we aren’t doing it right. Repentance is never enjoyable, but it’s the only path that leads to life.
