THE COMPROMISING CHURCH

Over two decades ago, Alan Bloom, in his highly controversial book, THE CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND, spoke to what he saw as the situation among the students of his day. I don’t think it’s changed much since then.

He says, on page 25: “There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative. … The danger they have been taught to fear from absolutism is not error but intolerance. Relativism is necessary to openness.”

He talks about how young people can’t even understand it being any other way. The most horrible moral danger, as they see it, is to hold to absolute values. Absolutism leads to intolerance, which is the cardinal (or only) sin.

Well, those who were students when Bloom wrote are the leaders in today’s society. I’m sure that Bloom was painting with a broad brush and not all of the generation he speaks of are relativists, but it’s still frightening.

I know too that this sort of thinking has penetrated the church. Christians bring it to their worship, to their study of Scriptures (see WHAT IS TRUTH, 4/10/2006).

If I question students as to what beliefs are held by the churches they attend, I sometimes receive puzzled looks. The question makes no sense to them. Churches don’t believe! They worship. They have programs. They are “tolerant” of others’ beliefs. It’s no big deal!

But, lack of correct belief can be fatal spiritually. And this is not just a current problem. The third church which Christ addresses in the book of Revelation nearly 2,000 years ago, the church at Pergamum had a problem similar to that of many churches today.

Revelation 2:12-17:
12. And to the messenger of the church in Pergamum write: These thing says the One who has the sword, double-edged, sharp:
13. I know where your home is, where the throne of Satan is, and that you’re holding tight to my Name and you haven’t denied your faith in me – even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan’s home is.
14. But I have a few things against you: that you have there those who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block in front of the sons of Israel: to eat idol sacrifices and to commit fornication.
15. In the same way you have also – you - those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
16. So then, repent. And if not, I am coming to you quickly and I’ll wage war with them with the sword of my mouth.
17. The one who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: To the overcomer I will give the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it.

This was a church on the cutting edge of missionary activity. They had planted themselves right in the middle of Satan’s territory (verse 13). Pergamum was a center of idolatry at the time this letter was written. There were temples to Asklepius, to Zeus and even a center of emperor worship. Yet they’d held tight to Christ’s Name. They’d “kept the faith.” Jesus says he understands their tough working conditions and praises them for their boldness. They had already lost one of their own – a martyr because of his faithful witness.

But when we work close to the enemy, there’s danger. Perhaps new believers were coming into the church carrying their previous beliefs and lifestyles. Perhaps the church folks were simply trying to be open and tolerant toward the members of their community.

There were within the church, two groups holding to false and dangerous beliefs: “Those who hold to the teaching of Balaam,” and “those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” Not all of the church people were in these parties, but apparently all tolerated them.

Balaam was a “prophet for profit” who had lived 1,500 years earlier, who was hired by the king of Moab to curse Israel. When he was prevented from this, he counseled, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Satan has many strategies. If outright persecution doesn’t work, he uses compromise and in this way, nearly destroyed Israel. Those who held his teaching in the church apparently taught that freedom in Christ is freedom to sin.

Who the Nicolaitans are, we don’t know, but we’ve already seen their “works” in the church at Ephesus (verse 6).

Jesus give an “or else” threat. Repent! Deal with these people! Stop being so tolerant! His threat is that He will judge by warring with the sword of His mouth. He doesn’t say exactly how He’s going to do this, but if the sword as elsewhere (Hebrews 4:12) represents the written Word of God, then He is applying it to the problem.

All teaching in the church must be judged by the Scripture. Right theology is the basis for right behavior. Sin is always (among other things) a violation of the Word of God.

Jesus ends this letter, however, not with the treat, but with a promise (verse 17). Though there is much symbolism here, it seems to all point to intimacy with Christ.

Intimacy, however, demands a conformity to His Word.

Bill Ball
1/22/2007

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

To listen to some of my Christian friends, one would think that the church in America is suffering terrible persecution. Often particular groups are pointed out as the persecutors.

Now I know that many of us have in some way experienced this – job discrimination, ostracism or taunting by family and/or acquaintances. Many also fear the possibilities and the unforeseen future (see FEAR, 11/15/2006). I’d like to say a few things to put our fears and sufferings in perspective. One of the best ways, I believe is to look at a biblical suffering church, the second of the seven churches that Jesus addressed in the book of Revelation (2:8-11):

8. And to the messenger of the church in Smyrna write: These things says the First and the Last, who became dead and came to life:
9. I know your affliction and your poverty – but you are rich – and the slander from those who say themselves to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10. Don’t be afraid of the things you’re going to suffer. Look, the devil is going to cast some of you into prison so that you may be tested and you will have affliction ten days. Become faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.
11. The one who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: The overcomer will in no way be harmed by the second death.

This is a church that was really going through it. They were going through affliction. They were poor – the Greek word is ptocheia – it had the idea of abject poverty, having nothing, reduced to begging. From what follows, it appears that poverty is not caused by those forces which are usually blamed, but by the external persecution they were experiencing. Perhaps because of their faith they were ostracized by those who had formerly done business with them. Perhaps they had lost jobs or been ejected from the family business.

They were slandered – and this by those who professed to be followers of a God-given religion. History has shown that what happened in Smyrna has happened elsewhere and is still going on today. Jesus told us this would happen: “ … an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2b).

And Jesus doesn’t give them a lot of hope for avoiding future suffering. He rather promises imprisonment and even death as awaiting them in the future.

Jesus does give hope, but hope of a different kind.

1. First, He tells them that He has gone through what they are going through – all the way to death – and He’s triumphed. He became dead and came to life (verse 8).
2. Secondly, He knows. He doesn’t ignore those who suffer, even though at times we may think He does (verse 9).
3. He tells them that they are actually rich. Their wealth, however, is not wealth as measured by the standards of this age.
4. He promises a reward for the sufferer – the crown of life. (He’s not promising eternal life here. That’s already ours through faith in Him – His death for our sins and His resurrection). This is a reward that He will give those who are faithful through testings (verse 10; James 1:12).
5. He promises that though the believer will go through physical death, he will never suffer the second death (verse 11; cf. 20:6, 14; 21:8). We will spend eternity with Him.

I believe much of our worrying as American Christians is caused by the fear that we may have to suffer, coupled with the hope that we won’t. But look at what Paul told Timothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Or what Peter told his readers: “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14). It’s coming!

And there are many Christians, many churches, throughout the world, who are suffering imprisonment, ostracism, even death for merely being Christians. In North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, other Communist and Islamic countries. Christ is not popular in this world. And He told His disciples: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

Paul told us that, as members of one body we all suffer with these: “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (2 Corinthians 12:26).

How can we join them in their suffering? By recognizing the fact that others in the body do suffer horribly and that our relative ease here is not the norm. By spending time in prayer for those who are persecuted and for their persecutors. By giving to those organizations that aid the sufferers and their families. By telling others what is going on.

NOTE: For more on today’s persecuted church see: http://www.win1040.com/; http://gfa.org/gospelforasia; http://persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=vom

Bill Ball
1/10/2007

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER

I grew up listening to country music. The Grand Old Opry was on our radio on Saturday nights. Later, in my teens, I was exposed to R & B. (We had to stay up late and listen to it on our local radio station, however, because it wasn’t played till after 11 P.M., when the older white folks had gone to bed.) Then came Rock & Roll. All three of these musical styles, though had one theme in common: unrequited or spurned love: ”my baby done left me,” “faded love,” etc., etc. Bob wills, Hank Williams, B. B. King, Bill Haley – all moaned similar complaints.

Jesus has a similar complaint. In the book of Revelation He voices it. Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven unusual letters, dictated by the risen glorified Christ to the apostle John and addressed to the “messenger” of each individual church. In each of these He makes some reference to Himself, commends something good, complains about something bad and gives counsel.

The first letter is to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7):

1. To the messenger of the church in Ephesus write: These things says the One who grips the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks in the middle of the seven gold lampstands:
2. I know your works and toil and your endurance and that you are not able to put up with evil persons and you have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and you have found them liars
3. and you have endurance and you have put up with a lot for the sake of my name and you have not grown weary.
4. But I have this against you that you have forsaken your first love.
5. So then, remember from where you’ve fallen and repent and do again the first works. And if not, I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent.
6. But you do have this: that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. The one who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: To the overcomer I will grant to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.

I want to focus on the complaint in verse 4. This church had forsaken her first love. Just like all those women in all those country and blues songs.

Jesus is complaining like a jilted lover. Now the church at Ephesus was not a new church. If my understanding of New Testament dating is correct, this church had been around for about 40 years. A 40-year love relationship! There just aren’t many like that around. Uni and I have been married for 50 years. We’ve seen many marriages break up and what’s just as bad, we’ve seen many that have just grown cold.


According to verses 2 and 3, the church at Ephesus was externally quite a church. They were a hard working church. They had endurance through all their trials. They were doctrinally sound. They hated and rejected false teaching and bad behavior.

But they’d forsaken their first love. Their “lips were warm but their heart was cold as ice.” Who was their first love? It was Jesus Himself. See Paul’s letter to the Ephesians written over 30 years earlier. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love” (6:24).

We’ve known churches like that: busy, programs and activities for all ages; evangelistic; but they seem to be just going through the motions. It seems as if Jesus is missing from it all. They’re like those marriages where the husband and wife just go through the motions but the passion is gone.

We have to ask, is our church like this? Whether or not it appears to be this way, the next questions should be, is my own life like this? Am I just going through the motions? Am I a busy, active Christian, “serving the Lord,” without the passion? Is my Christian activity simply activity?

In verse 5, Jesus gives us a three-step program for restoring that first love:

1. “Remember from where you have fallen.” Recall when you first “fell in love” with Jesus. Just as in a marriage, there are undoubtedly some great memories tucked away somewhere. That knowledge of forgiveness, of acceptance, of freedom that you had.
2. “Repent.” Repentance has been defined as “a change of mind leading to a change of direction.” Recognize that you’re headed in the wrong direction, confess it and ask the Lord for restoration.
3. Repeat. ” . . . do again the first works.” Don’t stop all your “Christian activity” (though it may be necessary to drop much of it). Get back to those “first works,” the time spent in the Word and prayer – not as a duty, but as a desire.

Though verse 5 contains a threat, verse 7 ends it with a promise: a restoration to not only our original relationship, but to a future in paradise itself.

Bill Ball
1/9/2007

SEVENTY YEARS

Every new year I find myself meditating on the 90th Psalm. It’s a Psalm about time – about the brevity of our lives as compared with God’s eternity.

The title, which is part of the original text, tells us that it is “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God.” The Hebrew word translated prayer is “Tephilah” which has the idea of an intercessory prayer.

I have often wondered just when Moses wrote this prayer. After all, he lived to be 120 years old – 40 years as a prince in Egypt, 40 years as a fugitive murderer and a shepherd in the desert of Sinai and 40 years as the leader of the nation of Israel as they wandered in that same desert. He had plenty of time to write, and a number of sad circumstances which could have moved him to write this rather melancholy bit of poetry. However, the references to the brevity of life seem to fit best within the last period, perhaps in the last few years of his life.

At that time, Moses would have witnessed the deaths of all of his contemporaries. The Bible tells us that the whole generation that left Egypt died in the desert (except for 2 people). How depressing! Somewhere I read that Harry Truman complained that the worst thing about living long was that you have to attend all your friends’ funerals.

But it’s the 10th verse that especially grabbed my thinking this year:

“As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years.”

In Moses’ day, 70 years was a good life span and we haven’t hit that as an average until only recently. And in a few weeks, I’ll hit that number. It’s sobering. Those 10 year increments always seem to hit the hardest, but 70 years! It looks like I’ll make it to my allotted time, maybe even more. The last half of the verse, however, puts it in perspective:

“Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.”

Life is fleeting. Moses saw that. I can see that. Life is short. Moses didn’t even get to enter the promised land, but died before his goal was reached. I haven’t reached all of my goals yet and I doubt if I ever will. As a matter of fact, I’ve learned to give up setting goals. As someone has said, I’ve reached the age where I don’t buy green bananas.

But Moses did pray for some goals and I believe I can honestly say that God has answered these requests in my life:

“Do return, O LORD; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants” (verse 13).
-- Let me experience God’s compassion. And I have.

“O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness” (verse 14).
-- Let me be satisfied with God’s love. I am.

“Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, and the years we have seen evil” (verse 15)
-- Let me have as much joy as trouble. I’ve had more.

“Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children” (verse 16).
-- Let me know what God is doing in my life. I’m still learning this.

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands” (verse 17).
-- Let me see a permanence in my work. I’ve seen examples of this.

I thank God that when I look at life from this perspective – nearing the end, I have seen the answers to all these requests.

Thank You, Lord.

Bill Ball
1/3/2007