Bad Habits #5 - Spiritually Dead - No Impact
This week we are looking at the bad habits of unhealthy churches, here's the fifth one...| To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation3:1-6) |
A reputation of being alive but dead spiritually seems to be the state of the current church, where only a few are living faithfully with very little or no impact. Christian lives that are not only pretentious but compromised with worldly customs and desires. Today we explore the state of being Spiritually dead based on the letter to the church of Sardis which was fifty Kilometers from south of Thyatira. A Prosperous city where five important roads met and gave the city strategic importance in terms of trade.
Similar to our times majority of Christians in Sardis were spiritually weak and only a few were commended for their faithfulness to the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ our savior and master who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars knows those who are spiritually dead and a few who are faithful to Him. The Christians in Sardis seemed spiritually alive but they were in fact spiritually dead. They had not faced severe trials nor persecution. The church had become so much like the surrounding community such that it was no longer possible to distinguish between Christians and non Christians.
Their witness to Christ had become dull. They chose not to be different from their non-Christian neighbours. They chose not to oppose the customs and traditions of the community. While they were at peace and content with everything they wanted, their spirits had become weak as good as dead. Their Christian lives were empty, not complete and Christ was not pleased with such Christians.
As we face the month of mission, it's time to reflect on how we have lived our Christian lives. Are we alive or we are spiritually dead? Our call is to please the Lord in every aspect and to be awake and strengthen that which is about to die. It could be the love for the Lord, love for one another, love for the truth, thirst and hunger for righteousness. Jesus warns of judgment to come and the punishment he brings upon the people in this present life. May the Lord help us to strengthen that which is about to die that we may be among those he will dress in white. Those declared righteous in the sight of God, whose names will never be erased from the book of life and will inherit eternal life. And this promise is to those who stand firm to the end.
In this mission month through this reflection we are being reminded to avoid the habits of declining churches of being spiritually dead, weak with very little or no impact. We must ask the Lord to revive us once again, grant us strength, wisdom, courage and the spirit of truth.
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Sonye Banda, married to Wiza. Dad to Kumbutso, Dalitso, Shekinah and Deborah. A Minister serving at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church in Chipata Eastern province, Zambia. Mission & Convenor in Eastern Zambia Presbytery.
