United We Stand
For the past few weeks, several have joined in a study of seven churches described in the opening pages of John’s Revelation. This has been a thought-provoking and challenging study, as attention was focused on the Lord’s words to these groups of saints who lived over 2,000 years ago. In studies such as this, it is very easy to simply approach the topic academically, with a focus on definitions, links to other parts of the Bible, and the place the topic holds within its respective book. To do so, however, fails to understand that these were real churches comprised of real people who faced the daily challenge of faithful living amidst a pagan culture. Churches of the 21st-century do well to heed the words spoken by the Lord to these churches that belonged to Him.
One of the more striking aspects of His message to these churches is the collective nature of His words. Though composed of individuals, He spoke of their commendations or condemnations as a whole. He warned Ephesus of removing its candlestick, encouraged Smyrna to stay faithful to death, and admonished Laodicea to open the door. All seven groups were given an evaluation based on their collective action or inaction. This concept is reminiscent of Paul’s message to the Corinthians: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (I Corinthians 12:27). This should remind all people of God that “church” is not somewhere we go or something we do; instead, it is a collective group of saints who seek to please God through the good work it is given to do.
Most Americans have a strong independence streak, which can serve one well when it comes to accepting personal responsibility. Still, what is helpful in one area can be challenging in another. When a church is made up of members focused solely on themselves, the unity that God desires for a church is nowhere present. Such an attitude will manifest itself in a lack of interest in the church’s work, lack of consideration for brethren, and the misguided belief that a few minutes in an auditorium satisfies God’s “church” requirement. A scan of the New Testament will quickly dissipate any idea that this is an acceptable view of “church.”
A church that is acceptable seeks to please Him, the Head, in every way. As well, He is pleased when brethren take a keen interest in one another, guided by the same type of love He displayed to humanity. All the “one another” passages of the New Testament present a composite picture of the attitudes He expects His people to hold. When this type of love is manifested in a church, the work of God will flourish, problems can be solved, and each member will know they are loved. This means a commitment from every member to mature into the kind of person in whom Christ lives.
How does one know whether the type of maturity described above has been achieved? Honest answers to the following questions will help in finding the answer:
- Do I love God above everyone and everything else?
- Do I study God’s word to become more like Jesus Christ?
- Do I actively work to help my church accomplish its God-given responsibilities?
- Am I known for my hospitality to the saints?
- Am I easily approachable when a brother or sister needs assistance?
- Am I pleasant to be around?
- Are my comments helpful or critical?
Numerous other questions could be added to this list; however, these provide a good start in evaluating one’s level of maturity.
Typically, unity is most appreciated only after it has been lost. How much better to realize that unity based on adherence to God’s commands and love for one another is a great blessing and one to be highly protected. With sobriety, each Christian should understand that part of God’s judgment on his or her life will be based on the place held within a church. With zeal, each Christian should seek to actively build up the church through keen interest and participation in its work. With love, each Christian should demonstrate selflessness in building up brothers and sisters in the Lord. When these are the attitudes of each member of a church, its candlestick remains firmly in place as a church belonging to Christ.
