0982. The Church at Sardis
The Church at Sardis
"And onto the angel of the Church in Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev_3:1)
The word, Sardis, means "the things that remain." This is most significant.
The historical interpretation looks upon this church as depicting the times of the reformation, when Luther, Zwingli and Calvin stood in the forefront, and called the Church back to God. While we believe that there are other interpretations worthy of consideration, yet we believe that the Spirit of God intended just such an application of this message as we are now suggesting.
The reformation marked new signs of life–"Thou hast a name that thou livest"–but the reformation as a whole lacked so much in real spiritual life, that we read–"Thou art dead."
1. To Sardis Christ said: "I have not found thy works perfect (complete) before God." The reformation did not go far enough. As we now look back upon those days, we behold, with grief, the bitterness that marked the very ones who protested against errors of Rome.
Among the Protestants themselves there was not then, and there never has been since any real unity, either of faith or of protest. Rome stood united in bold array. Protestantism was divided upon varied questions of doctrine: Various groups differed as to grace, as to the Lord's Supper, as to baptism, as to the security of the believer, as to Divine sovereignty and freewill agency. It was not long after Luther until the reformers themselves were divided into various sects and denominations; they were rent with discussions and bitter controversies that wrecked the spiritual power of the church.
No wonder we read the words: "I have not found thy works perfect before God."
2. To Sardis Christ also said: "Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die." These words refer to the truth and the good that Sardis still retained. These words contain all the commendation that Sardis, as a whole, received.
The churches of the Reformation were formed for the most part by recruits from papacy. There seems to have been much well-directed stir and commotion against the hierarchy of Rome–in all of this, the Reformation had a name that it lived, yet in the tender and spiritual ministration of the Word, and in real soul-winning it was dead.
We believe a word of caution for our present-day "fundamentalists" is needed just here. The writer is himself a fundamentalist, and needs to ponder this same truth.
Conditions in Protestantism have arisen which have once more brought the orthodox to their feet in solemn protest. Cries against the encroachments of modernistic radicalism that is seeking to dominate the church, have arisen on every hand. In all of this contention we are in danger of side-stepping our "salvation testimony," and of becoming harsh in our contending for the faith.
Fighting error will give us a name that we live, yet it may cause our God to say "Ye are dead."
Fundamentalists must contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered; but why should they seek to root out the tares? Would it not be more acceptable to God, for us to stand aloof from error, while we preach the whole Gospel, and keep the revival fires burning, pressing our message to the uttermost part of the earth?
3. To the ones who fail in Sardis, Christ says, "I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee."
This is, indeed, a serious charge. Saints who know God and who walk in Him, are not in the darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief (see 1Th_5:4-5). Those who are made alive in Christ, will not be so taken by surprise.
Among us, however, as always, there will be found those who enter the ranks as "fighters for the faith;" who are not truly "in Christ"–they will say, "Have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have done many wonderful works," yet to such Christ will say, "Ye are dead," "I know you not."
Let the church watch her spirit lest she hear from Christ the word of condemnation instead of commendation.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR