Inward Looking and In Denial
This week we are looking at the bad habits of unhealthy churches, here's the second one...| To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation3:14-22) |
There is something rather uncomfortable about being confronted with a truth we would prefer not to acknowledge. There is a tendency to see ourselves in a favourable light, to focus on what is going well while overlooking what needs attention. Sometimes we become so comfortable with our circumstances that we convince ourselves everything is fine, even when the reality tells a different story.
This was precisely the problem with the church in Laodicea. They considered themselves wealthy, successful, and self-sufficient. From their perspective, they lacked nothing. Yet Christ's assessment was completely different. Beneath their outward prosperity was a troubling spiritual poverty. They had become lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, and perhaps most concerning was that they did not even recognize their condition.
There is an important lesson here for us as individuals and as the Church. It is possible to become so inward-looking that we measure our spiritual health by our own standards. We look at our achievements, our activities, our traditions, and even our material blessings, and assume that all must be well. Meanwhile, we may be neglecting the very things that matter most to Christ: genuine faith, love, obedience, and a living relationship with Him.
What makes spiritual complacency particularly dangerous is that it often comes with denial. When we believe we have everything we need, we stop recognizing our need for God. We become less willing to examine ourselves, less receptive to correction, and less attentive to the needs of others.
Yet Christ's message to Laodicea is not simply one of condemnation. In verse 19, He reminds them that those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines. His correction is an expression of love, an invitation to repentance and renewal. Even after exposing their spiritual condition, Christ stands at the door and knocks, offering restored fellowship to those willing to respond.
Perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves today is not simply, "Are we doing well?" but rather, "How does Christ see us?" Are we willing to allow Him to challenge the comfortable picture we have created of ourselves?
True spiritual renewal begins when we stop defending our condition and humbly acknowledge our need for Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the areas of our lives where we have become complacent or unwilling to recognize the truth. Help us to receive Your correction with humility, turn away from self-sufficiency, and renew our dependence on You. Amen.
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Allan Paskwababiri, a history enthusiast, husband to Ursula, and serving at St Francis Presbyterian Church, Waterkloof.
