May the mumbling commence!
We, as a church, can look at the things we are doing and find many things going right – most things actually. From the outside, the church can appear to be healthy – like the Church of Ephesus in Revelation chapter two. Read the letter to that church:
"Write this to the angel of the Church in Ephesus:
'These words are spoken by the one who holds the seven stars safe in his right hand, and who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and what you have endured. I know that you will not tolerate wicked men, that you have put to the test self-styled 'apostles', who are nothing of the sort, and have found them to be liars. I know your powers of endurance – how you have suffered for the sake of my name and have not grown weary.
But I hold this against you, that you do not love as you did at first. Remember then how far you have fallen. Repent and live as you lived at first. Otherwise, if your heart remains unchanged, I shall come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Yet you have this to your credit that you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I myself detest.
Let every listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches: 'To the victorious I will give the right to eat from the tree of life which grows in the paradise of God.' (Verses 1-7)
Ephesus is a hardworking church. Ephesus is a church that has endured for the sake of the Name. Through all of this, the church of Ephesus has not grown weary. They see wicked people for what they are. They test all those people who claim to speak for Christ – and find the liars, among whom are the Nicolaitans.
This letter seems like a glowing recommendation when we focus on these things. Other churches might see this vital and growing church and be envious and wish to emulate their apparent success. Not so fast!
Look at what is not said about the Ephesus church. They know wicked people for who they are. They uncover the liars among the apostles that come to them. But nothing is said of recognizing true messengers from God!
And there is one fly in the ointment. You do NOT love as you first did. All that hard work and suffering has taken its toll. The Ephesus church has become jaded.
They have fallen hard and far. They are called to repent. It seems that most things are going fine, but the most important element is missing – LOVE.
And this is serious business. If we do not repent of a loveless existence, our place as a lampstand is in jeopardy. What is a lampstand anyway? Well, the Revelation tells us a little earlier: “The secret meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and of the seven golden lampstands is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches and the lampstands are the Churches themselves. (1:20)"
The status of the church as a church is at stake. The identifying mark of the Church that follows Christ is lost. And that identifying mark is love. Christians will be known by their love. Christ will walk alongside a church that loves.
Light and love and life always come from following Christ. The other things that a church does are important, sure; but the only essential thing is love.
Let us never forget this truth.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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