Persecution

Religious freedom under attack in the United States

In the first 4 posts in this series, I made the following points:

• Religious freedom in the United States is under attack.
• Christians are the primary target of this hostile culture.
• Persecution of Christians is likely.
• Some churches will surrender to the culture (some already have) and will even take part in the attack.
• Churches committed to Christ will resist the coming persecution, but the churches co-opted by the world continue in their apostasy.

In this post, we go to the biblical Book of Revelation, particularly at Christ’s letters to the seven churches, to seek wisdom when the time of persecution comes.

Letters to the Churches of Revelation Chapters 2 & 3: A Warning to the Church Today

In chapters 2 & 3 of the Book of Revelation the risen Christ dictates letters to seven churches using John as his scribe. As we read these letters, we can see that churches today can display the same mix of strengths and weaknesses. Also, these churches lived during a time when false teaching challenged sound doctrine and persecution was real.

In this section, I will highlight key lessons from Jesus’s words to these 1^st century churches and briefly apply them to churches today.

Ephesus

Their doctrine was sound, and they rejected the false apostles who came among them. Yet, they had lost their first love. Many commentators think this was both a waning of love for Christ and for one another.

Today there are believers who fill the pews every Sunday out of habit and obligation. Then hurrying home to catch the kickoff of their favorite NFL team. Ask them to volunteer to serve in the church or serve others in need, don’t bother them. Just too busy.

How strong will they be when they face persecution, however light, for their faith?

Smyrna

In terms of earthly possessions, this church is poor, but they are spiritually rich. They are being slandered (beginning of persecution) and intense persecution is coming. Faced with this, Christ offers them encouragement to remain faithful and receive their reward.

Some churches today are materially wealthy, with their pastors flying about in private jets. When we examine the teachings of these churches, they are spiritually poor. Thus, they have no foundation on which to stand firm against persecution to come.

As for the church at Smyrna, Jesus doesn’t tell them to fear persecution. Rather, He encourages them to remain faithful and promises a reward far greater than any the world could give.

Pergamum

This church has endured persecution and martyrdom but continued to confess Christ. However, some members imbibe false teaching, idolatry, and sexual sin.

Today, this is a church where leadership has adopted postmodern moral relativism. Anything you feel is right is okay.

Note that even a church like this is not exempt from persecution.

One wonders why faithful believers remain. Is it the eloquence of the pastor? Are the services entertaining?

A warning to those believers. Leave before caught up in the perversion!

Thyatira

Once faithful, this church tolerates Jezebel and her sexually immoral teachings. Even though this church wallows in Jezebel’s teachings, some among them have not succumbed and remain faithful. For those who follow Jezebel, Christ’s words are not comforting.

Today, denominations like the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) fit this description. Given they approve of abortion on demand and support the LBGTQ agenda, they are practicing the teachings of Jezebel.

These apostate churches are just like the decaying worldly culture and will avoid persecution, but lose their souls to hell.

To those within these denominations who remain faithful to Christ, now is the time to leave the apostates behind!

Sardis

Christ calls this a dead church. They were once alive and now are dead or dying. Some in this church remain alive, but not all.

This is a church that just goes through the motions of being a church. They hold services, and some attend. There is little or no teaching ministry. No reaching out to the community.

I once belonged to a large (3,000 member) congregation. I volunteered to help start an adult Bible class on Sunday mornings with a retired pastor. It was the only adult Bible class offered, and we never had over 10 people attend.

How do you think these “Christians” will respond to the loss of religious freedom and persecution?

Philadelphia

This is a faithful church. Their doctrine is true. They have endured their share of slander and abuse. Jesus gives them this promise:

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10 ESV)

Are there churches that fit this description today? While no church is perfect, there are many congregations that fit this description. What are some of the distinguishing marks of these churches? Here are some:

• They believe the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God.
• Both Law and Gospel are preached.
• They believe the gospel that Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins and physically rose from the dead.
• The doctrines they teach are based entirely on Scripture.
• They faithfully administer the means of grace, including the sacraments and the Word of God.
• They refuse to be co-opted by the world. This means they hold to these truths among others.
  • Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman.
  • The practice of homosexuality is a sin.
  • God created two sexes, male and female, thus transgenderism is an affront to the Creator.
  • Abortion murders a living human person.

Laodicea

Here I will quote from Christ’s letter:

‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:15–19 ESV)

This may be the worst viable position for a church. Here’s why:

• No outright false teachings, but only tepid teaching that does nothing to feed them spiritually.
• Frankly, they are fat, dumb, and happy, with their heads in the sand, not recognizing what is happening all around them.
• Their faith is not cold, nor is it hot. It is lukewarm, and lukewarm is useless.

Churches who are lukewarm in the Christian faith cannot withstand the attacks and lies of the secular culture. How can they face persecution without bowing the knee to Caesar?

What Do We Need to Learn from the Letters to the Churches?

• False Christians and false teachings are in the church today. Consider these resources:
  • “God, Greed and the (Prosperity) Gospel,” by Costi Hinn 
  • “Christianity in Crisis: The 21^st Century,” by Hank Hanegraaff
• Not all false teachings are as blatant as those depicted in the above books. Support for abortion, transgenderism, and the LBGTQ agenda are also false teachings.
• If you are a member of a compromised congregation, get out! Find a vibrant, biblically sound church and get involved.
• If you can do it, identify the false teachers in your church and oust them.

Comfort from Psalm 37

This Psalm speaks to the distress believers experience when false teachers and worldly people gain success.

It provides us with comfort and reminds us that, ultimately, the wicked will come to an awful end, while God rewards the faithful.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:1–4 ESV)

These first four verses characterize the entire prayer. In these troublesome times, we would do well to meditate and pray this psalm regularly.

Considering this series of posts, I offer two important points from this psalm.

• We must place our faith in God and His Word, not in our government, or even in our nation’s governing documents.
• Understand that we are ultimately engaged in a spiritual battle, not a battle of the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV)

Next in this series: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Coming Persecution