Most of the letters contain a verbal spanking.” That is how one Baptist pastor described the letters to the seven churches recorded in Revelation 2:1–3:22.
The church at Ephesus was chided for abandoning its first love. Pergamum was scolded for tolerating false teaching. Thyatira’s problem was allowing false leadership to wreak havoc in the fellowship.
Sardis had been lulled into apathy by its abundance of material possessions. Laodicea was complacent, arrogant and blind to its situation.
Only Smyrna and Philadelphia escaped condemnation. That is two of seven.
But the letters were more than the writer giving vent to his disappointment, even anger, over the conditions of these churches. The letters offered direction from God about what people in the various churches should do to correct their shortcomings. In each case, the goals of the actions called for were for Christians to love God and one another and hold steadfast to their faith.
God wanted Christians to be zealous for Him. He called for a commitment that not even persecution could shake. God challenged believers in the seven churches to let their faith in Him and relationships with one another be more important than material possessions or social positions.
Now jump forward 19 centuries since the writing of Revelation. What if God were writing letters to the Christian churches in the United States? What would He see and what might He write to today’s churches?
First God would see a nation where it is popular to be identified as a Christian. About 80 percent of all U.S. citizens self-identify as Christians, according to pollster George Barna. About 11 percent call themselves skeptics. The other 9 percent is divided among Jews, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others.
Of the Christians, almost 90 percent confess to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Nearly as many affirm that Jesus is alive today and the ultimate purpose of life is to love God with heart, soul, strength and mind as Jesus taught in Luke 10:27–28.
God would see some Christians reflecting the faith of those who once worshiped in Smyrna and Philadelphia. These are people whose lives have been changed significantly by their faith in God, through “a personal, hope-restoring relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
For these, faith is not a once-a-week experience. Nor is it primarily designed as a feel-good experience.
For these, faith is the heart of their existence. Pleasing God is their daily purpose.
Unfortunately the numbers for this group are not large — about one in five of those who call themselves Christians, according to Barna.
The other 80 percent reflects a far different approach to Christianity. In fact, a lack of intimacy with God is one of the defining characteristics of this largest group of so-called Christians. Less than one in five attends church, reads the Bible and prays in the same week.
About one in 20 tithes his or her income through the church. God’s desire for these people’s lives is that they be happy, not holy, most of them believe. When they do read the Bible, it is for comfort, not instruction.
Of this group called “casual Christians,” Barna said, “They are comfortable with themselves, open to a wide array of moral perspectives and lifestyles, prefer to stay connected with people rather than hold to moral truth, value loyalty more than being right.”
Casual Christians do not get excited about their faith. They have no passion for vocally representing God and His ways in the world. Few respond to life situations according to what the Bible teaches. They are more interested in happiness and fulfillment than faith-based truth and righteousness.
Casual Christians do not set cultural norms. They reflect them. Barna wrote, “Even their participation in activities like smoking, getting drunk, committing adultery, viewing pornography, buying lottery tickets, visiting psychics and gossiping is indistinguishable from the nationwide averages.”
Evidently God would see that in the United States, the word “Christian” is used to describe a lot of different understandings and practices.
It is hard to miss the similarities between the seven churches of Revelation and the Christian churches of the United States. Immorality and idolatry are symptoms of both. Spiritual arrogance and complacency can be found in both groups. False teachings and teachers are tolerated and inflict wounds on the churches.
More importantly, a zealous love of God and the fellowship is hard to find. Prayer and Bible study have declined in proportion to the loss of love for God and His Word.
Like the Laodiceans, some so-called Christians go on today oblivious that they are “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.”
To the churches at Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis and Laodicea, God said repent. To the church at Thyatira, God said enough time had already been given to repent; now it was time for Him to act.
To the churches of the United States, would God say repent?
To the faithful churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia, God said hold fast and do not be afraid. Would God have a similar message for some churches today?
Popular psychology defines insanity as doing the same thing but expecting a different result. It would be insane to conclude that Christians of today can continue the same patterns and behaviors of the seven churches of Revelation without God acting.
Galatians 6:7–8 makes it clear. God is not mocked. To think otherwise only deceives. The things God demanded of the seven churches of Revelation are the same things He wants for churches of today: to be zealous for Him, have a faith that can stand against trials and persecution and have a relationship with Him and one another that is more important than material possessions or social positions.
It would be good to remember that God promised the seven churches that He would act in forgiveness if they repented but would act in judgment if they did not.
The same message is undoubtedly true for churches today.
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