And to the angel of the church in Sardis, write: These things says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have a name that you are alive, yet you are dead. Be continually watchful and begin to strengthen the things which remain, which are about to die. For I have not found your works complete before my God. Rev. 3:1, 2.
From this testimony of Jesus it is clear that a church can have a great name and yet die. Just because it was faithful in times past doesn't mean it will always remain that way. God can approve of a religious movement at one point in time, and yet it can lose its way.
Scripture offers an interesting example from biblical times. John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets and a faithful man. He baptized Jesus when He came and introduced his own disciples to Him. Without question God approved of his ministry. Jesus even considered him to be a fulfillment of prophecy. He was the Elijah to come predicted by Malachi (Matt. 11:11-14; Luke 1:13-17; cf. Mal. 4:5-6).
But scholars have noticed that the Gospel of John treats the Baptist a bit differently than those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke do. Matthew, Mark, and Luke present John as the exalted prophet who plays the role of Elijah in preparing the way for the Messiah. But the later Gospel of John has John the Baptist constantly lowering himself in comparison with Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, John says such things as "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30, KJV), and "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me (John 1:30, NIV).
Why does the Gospel of John highlight John's self-depreciating statements? Because we have evidence that many of the followers of the Baptist failed to follow Jesus. They considered John greater than Christ because in the Jewish theology of the time earlier was better. The one who comes first is the greatest. So at the end of the first century a number of people still clung to the Baptist. The author of the Fourth Gospel challenges them to move on and follow Jesus all the way. To continue to be just a disciple of the Baptist was really not to follow him. It was to be part of a religious movement that had served its purpose and was now outmoded from God's point of view.
Clinging to a religious tradition simply because we have always done so or because our parents did so is a dangerous thing. Sometimes movements fall back or God moves on. We are each responsible to search out God's ways for ourselves--we cannot trust just in the findings of our spiritual forbearers.
Lord, help me to follow You wherever You may lead, even when You head in directions I didn't think You would go. Keep me close to Your Word and moved by Your Spirit.
From this testimony of Jesus it is clear that a church can have a great name and yet die. Just because it was faithful in times past doesn't mean it will always remain that way. God can approve of a religious movement at one point in time, and yet it can lose its way.
Scripture offers an interesting example from biblical times. John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets and a faithful man. He baptized Jesus when He came and introduced his own disciples to Him. Without question God approved of his ministry. Jesus even considered him to be a fulfillment of prophecy. He was the Elijah to come predicted by Malachi (Matt. 11:11-14; Luke 1:13-17; cf. Mal. 4:5-6).
But scholars have noticed that the Gospel of John treats the Baptist a bit differently than those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke do. Matthew, Mark, and Luke present John as the exalted prophet who plays the role of Elijah in preparing the way for the Messiah. But the later Gospel of John has John the Baptist constantly lowering himself in comparison with Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, John says such things as "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30, KJV), and "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me (John 1:30, NIV).
Why does the Gospel of John highlight John's self-depreciating statements? Because we have evidence that many of the followers of the Baptist failed to follow Jesus. They considered John greater than Christ because in the Jewish theology of the time earlier was better. The one who comes first is the greatest. So at the end of the first century a number of people still clung to the Baptist. The author of the Fourth Gospel challenges them to move on and follow Jesus all the way. To continue to be just a disciple of the Baptist was really not to follow him. It was to be part of a religious movement that had served its purpose and was now outmoded from God's point of view.
Clinging to a religious tradition simply because we have always done so or because our parents did so is a dangerous thing. Sometimes movements fall back or God moves on. We are each responsible to search out God's ways for ourselves--we cannot trust just in the findings of our spiritual forbearers.
Lord, help me to follow You wherever You may lead, even when You head in directions I didn't think You would go. Keep me close to Your Word and moved by Your Spirit.
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