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 Many
"good" brethren tell me they know the congregation of
which they are members is engaged in practices for which there
is no divine authority. They deplore the situation -- to hear
them tell it -- but are horrified at any suggestion that they
may have to worship elsewhere. Were there not a "few -- in
Sardis" acceptable to God -- and they were not told to
leave??
The
severing of congregational ties is not a thing to be taken
lightly. Much harm has been done by self-willed people who run
hither and yon, too immature to establish a happy working
relationship with others. If those who play hide-and-seek with
the mythical "perfect" local church could find such a
group, their admittance would change its status.
"Perfection" for saints, individually and
collectively, consists of a striving -- forgetting the
past and "pressing" toward the divine goal. (Phil.
3:13-15)
But
when it becomes apparent that such an attitude toward God's word
has been abandoned -- when brethren make no effort to
"prove all things" by the scriptures, and resist
honest efforts to study the "issues" in the light of
God's word -- does the situation in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) justify
my condoning, supporting, and being a part of this church in
error?
Rev.
3:1-6 describe conditions in a church "ready to die";
a church being warned that God will not long tolerate such
conditions. It is ridiculous to think God would ask the
"few" to accept, condone and support on a permanent
basis, what He would soon deny. Acknowledging the
"few" who had not "defiled their garments"
shows
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that we are judged as individuals; and
certainly does not relieve these "few" of individual
responsibility to fight error. On the contrary, it indicates
that they must have been
"fighting the good fight"
-- opposing the error, and seeking to restore the fallen.
In
the previous letter (Rev. 2:18-f) Christ censured the brethren
at Thyatira "because thou sufferest that woman
Jezebel--". To "suffer" is to "allow",
to refuse to oppose. The Lord gave time to repent; but said that
if they did not repent "I will kill her children with
death." Does this teach that we may "allow" sin
to go unopposed in the church today, and reap no ill effect? It
certainly does not!
Rev.
2:1-7 records the status of the church in Ephesus -- at the
time of the writing. For that
time the Lord continued to recognize this congregation, but
said, "repent, and do the first works; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his
place, except thou repent."
The
fact that there were a "faithful few" in Sardis -- at
the time that letter was given -- offers no solace to those who
compromise convictions, and refuse to accept their individual
responsibilities to serve the Lord. A Jezebel, or Diotrephes, (3
Jn. 9) can control a church only because these so- called
"good" brethren allow and support their action. These
robes are not white. They are stained with the blood of martyrs
whose plea for purity was drowned in the hypocritical cry, “Preserve
the Party!!"
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