In Revelation 2-3, Jesus wrote letters
to seven churches in different cities. These letters (recorded by the apostle
John) were to be delivered to those churches so they could make corrections. It
made we wonder—what would He write to
today’s churches? Here are some facts
about those letters:
1. Each church had an opinion about itself that was inaccurate. “Groupthink” is the conformity of thinking within a group, which typically doesn’t allow differing points of view. Laodicea thought they were wealthy and didn’t need anything. But Jesus corrected their false opinions, “You don’t know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17).
2.
Jesus praised them for what they were doing right. He told the
church at Ephesus, “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that
you cannot tolerate evil…and have not grown weary” (Rev. 2:2-3).
3.
Jesus rebuked them for what they were doing wrong. He also told
Ephesus, “But I have this against you, you have abandoned the love you had at
first” (Rev. 2:4)
4.
Jesus told them how to make corrections. “Remember
how far you have fallen, repent, and do the works you did at first” (Rev. 2:5).
IF JESUS WROTE TO CHURCHES TODAY, He might say something like this:
To
the Liberal church: “I know your compassion for all broken and
rejected people, and will accept them into your church. But I have this against
you—you have ignored My Word about the need for repentance, and you will not
allow Me to change their hearts and behavior.”
To the Traditional church: “I know that you do not compromise My Word, that you are teaching it to all ages in your Sunday School classes, and you support missions. But I have this against you—you hold on to man-made traditions and rituals, many that I want you to abandon. You’re doing them because you’ve always done it that way, and not because I told you to do them.”
To the Contemporary church: “I know that you have changed the atmosphere to make your church more inviting to the younger generation. You’ve updated your music, made your sanctuaries more comfortable, and even serve donuts and coffee. But I have this against you—entertaining the congregation has become more important than making disciples and worshipping Me. You have abandoned discipleship programs for all ages (like Sunday school), which has made your congregation spiritually shallow.”
Okay, I’ll admit that I’m just speculating about what He might say. Your church might be perfect. Or it might need a letter written to it. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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