As Revelation is addressed to the called out, and Jesus
wanted the seven assemblies to understand a few things, it is helpful to take a
wider view of the seven churches. While there are many layers and one can
either spiritualize the churches or understand them concretely, there is a view
that combines both. It is the evolution of a church, from seed church to a
large tree congregation. The progression of the life cycle of a church is not
the same for every church but more so than not all churches go through these
phases. Solomon went through these
phases as well and the comparison to today is interesting to look at. Although
Solomon built the Temple and surrounding communities, a church or assembly is
truly a community of likeminded people. Our assemblies are an organism that is
living and changing. If we become aware of this progression of the life cycle
of a church group we can do our best to avoid these mistakes.
I’ve known of many people who build, plant, and start
churches. Their stories are usually similar. Inspired by God, a young
individual gathers a few people to meet in a home or coffee shop, and inevitably
more and more people are drawn in until they all locate to a bigger building.
Eventually, thousands of people are attending the group and along the way something
fundamentally changes. Once the group grows large, the pastor transitions from
offense to defense. When the church group was small, love was intense and
evangelizing progressive. Taking risks are normal in a small group. People go
to various places such as bars, pool halls and strip clubs, and put their faith
on the line by witnessing and ministering to the people in need. It is not
unheard of to find the poor being brought into a newly formed small church
group. Those poor may be homeless and practically homeless, maybe they collect
worms after a rain storm to sell to fishermen, or maybe they collect bottles
and cans from dumpsters and garbage cans to make money from recycling. People
who may be uncomfortable to be around in a large and successful church. This
kind of risky evangelism and loving everyone no matter who they are
successfully grows the group. Yet once a church is grown the opposite happens,
everyone is fat and happy, often ministering to themselves, and the pastors go
from cutting edge to protective posturing trying to figure out how to keep what
they have. Solomon did that.
Once David died, Solomon set out to build a permanent
home for the Ark of the Covenant. Instead of a movable tabernacle/tent, Solomon
built a structure that was not to be moved. It was ornate, see 1 Kings 6 and 2
Chronicles 3. Then Solomon built his own house, and the surrounding cities
became support cities for the palace and temple. People all over the region
heard about Solomon’s great achievements. Solomon had been living on the edge,
building, constructing, and organizing Israel’s cities. But when he was done
with the temple, he recognized something he had not considered. In order to
protect what he built he had to become a politician. In order to ensure that
other nations would not attack, steal, or destroy what he had built, he married
princesses from other cultures. This was to keep the other nations from making
war with them. The idea worked. Solomon went from offense to defense.
At some point, in every church’s development, the
organization moves from offense to defense.
Sometimes it is for selfish reasons, the pastor has a nice house and
nice things and he wants to keep his standard of living. But pastors may also
want to ensure that the church group can continue to meet without resistance
and therefore compromises are made along the way. Compromises come in the form
of joining a denomination, or a church association. They also come in the form
of outward appearance. The members all must look and dress a certain way. A
culture develops where the worm collectors or the trash recyclers are no longer
welcome. Instead “outreach programs” are developed to help the less fortunate.
Just to point out a bit of history, the Apostle Paul was
appalled that the first century church had become like this, he sternly
criticized people for their behavior during the love feasts. The love feast was
not evil or sexual, but a community pot luck in the church. The rich started
separating themselves to eat together and get drunk together leaving the poor
with nothing to eat and no one to fellowship with. Paul was upset that the rich who always had
food, ate and drank, while the poor went hungry; he wanted the rich to eat at
home, and at church, to serve the poor. Today, we have programs to feed the
poor which somehow is better than actually eating together with the poor in our
church basement. This special program ensures that we don’t actually have to
associate with the poor. That was not the way the seedling church started.
Rev 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
KJV
Jesus says to Ephesus that he will remove their position
as a church that he holds in his hands if they don’t repent. The first love
every church has is for the lost. Later their love grows cold for the lost
unless the lost come to Jesus on their (the churches) terms. Dress like us, behave like us, talk like us,
worship like us, then we like having you at our church. Solomon had a similar problem. From the
dedication of the temple, Solomon set up the temple and the surrounding cities
to support the temple and the palace. But the fire in Solomon’s heart wore down
as things became more important to
him. Solomon probably felt like most pastors and changed to become defensive
and protective of what he already had.
The next step in church evolution is persecution. Smyrna
was not to fear being persecuted. It seems that persecution makes churches grow,
and a young church group fares better at persecution than an old church group.
But typically persecutions bring compromise so that everyone in a community can
get along. Whether it is an issue with too many cars parked in the
neighborhood, or using a local river for baptisms, or even an outreach program,
the community the church resides in will always find a reason to persecute the
church. When the church is bigger, it can wield more authority, but even still
on a national level there will always be persecution and compromise.
Rev 2:9-10 I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they
are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.10 Fear none of those
things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. KJV
When we are young, we have a warrior attitude towards
persecution, no compromise. When we are old and we have something to protect,
we fear persecutions and become less dynamic in ministry. (Oh no, the outsiders
think our worship is too loud, and too many speak in tongues and dance, and our
healing services are too wild, we have
to tone it all down so we all look more respectable). We would all rather look
wild and have the power of the Holy Spirit in operation than look respectable
and have no miracle working power in our assemblies. Notice the people say they
are Jews but are from the synagogue of satan; persecution seems to start coming
from religious people first rather than from the non-religious people.
Solomon feared the surrounding nations enough to marry
their important women. The threat of losing what was built lead to the
compromise of marriage to many wives who brought their own religions into
Israel. Eventually witchcraft enters into the assembly; Pergamos.
Rev 2:13-16 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest,
even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied
my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was
slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.14 But I have a few things against thee,
because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac
to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.15 So hast thou also them that
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.16 Repent; or else I
will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my
mouth.KJV
Balaam was a prophet who knew God. He was a Midianite who
heard from God, and wouldn’t speak what God didn’t want him to speak, however
that didn’t stop him from teaching Balak how to manipulate the children of
Israel. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham, Jethro was a Midianite
priest and Moses’ father-in-law, and Midian was where Moses learned about God.
Balak was trying to stop Israel from destroying his people in Moab, as the
Israelites destroyed the other communities they passed through. Using spiritual
weaponry was Balak’s idea to stop them, but Balaam could not curse them,
instead he used seduction to lead them astray.
Pastors sometime consult with other spiritual leaders in
a community, but not everyone in the community leadership has Godly intent. Sometimes
alliances lead to watering down the spirituality of a church. All of a sudden
people start attending the church who try to destroy it from the inside,
enticing people to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Some of those people
schmooze their way into leadership positions and dominate over the church body.
Who let’s these people in? Compromise. Compromise says, we will let everyone
in, and everyone can lead. Then the dominators/Nicolaitans allow the Balak’s to
influence people in personal sin. The evolutionary stage after persecution is
internal sin that starts to wear down the assembly. Once the dominators and the
ones who have evil spiritual intent have a hold, they won’t be confronted publicly
because that would cause a commotion in the assembly; instead the attitude is
to pray it away and keep it as quiet as possible. The assembly loses its
backbone and other things creep in.
Solomon had that problem. While it was customary in the
Middle East to intermarry for alliances, Solomon went way overboard. Yet how
else could he protect what he had? Seven hundred wives and princesses, and
three hundred concubines, meant that Solomon took multiple women from the
surrounding nations and polygamy became acceptable among all the people. While
conversion was acceptable for foreigners of Israel to Israel’s God, these women
kept their own religions rather than being converted. Solomon didn’t convert them, he didn’t forbid
the worship of other gods. The next progression is full blown sin in the
congregation.
Rev 2:19-24 I know thy works, and charity, and service,
and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the
first.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou
sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and
to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto
idols.21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented
not.22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with
her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.23 And I will
kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he
which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you
according to your works.24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira,
as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of
Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.KJV
On the one hand, the assembly at Thyatira was doing great
things, but on the other hand they allowed people to be seduced exactly the way
Balak seduced Israel, and exactly as it was taking place in Pergamos. The body
of people end up sick and in tribulation or in great trouble. Notice that Jesus
gives the church headed down a slippery slope the space to repent. This is not
just sexual sin but all types of sin, however sexual sins are the most prevalent.
Sexual sin is the easiest to hide for the longest period of time. Think back to
Jesus speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 23, he was telling them that they search
for people to make them twice as much a son of hell as they are. This is the
leading of a group of people within the church into a different and sinful way
of doing things. What this is, is proselytizing from within the assembly. Not everyone gets “in on the group” and some
don’t even know it’s happening.
Most groups start out with good intent and then end up in
strange sins. Sort of like the Messianic groups who preach polygamy or that
mistresses are allowable. Sexual sin is just one way to lead people into a “new
way of thinking”, such as the domineering church leader who coaxes young men
and/or women into sex. Or the “man of God” who tells his prey it’s all right
because he has needs. These sub groups within the church are usually hidden from
the majority of people. Since Jesus has the keys to hell and death, he is
explaining that the proselytes of this sub group will not be eligible for
paradise or resurrection at the end of the millennial reign, they’ll only be
eligible for the second death.
Solomon had the same problem, his wives brought various
religions into Israel and I’m sure he was around their numerous practices
enough to enjoy some rituals. Solomon built a high place for Chemosh a Moabite
god, as well as a place for Molech which was for child and human sacrifice. That
is a shame as he was once excited for God and saw the fire of God fall in the
temple. As we previously studied regarding male prostitution in the temple, we
don’t know exactly when that started, but we know that in 1 Kings 11, Solomon’s
wives had some places to worship in Israel. At some point in the future,
idolatry ended up in the temple, right alongside the glory of God. The Glory
didn’t leave the temple or leave Israel until the time of Ezekiel.
The majority of people either don’t know or never know
this type of sin takes place within the assemblies. What evolves is a group
that becomes fundamentally dead. By the time we get to Sardis, there are fewer
and fewer people who are not defiled. Once the rotting starts from within, the
knowledge of God and power of the Holy Spirit are shut down. I read a story of
someone who had a lot of questions concerning the Bible. As he read his Bible
he found out that Abraham was the father of eight sons, and that God promised
Abraham would be the father of many goyim,
or nations. Considering those things, the man wondered why Christians were
shunned by Jews, and why Arabs who were Abraham’s seed, were also shunned.
Apparently he had too many questions and was told to not to talk about the
Bible. Really? Don’t talk about the Bible in church?
Eventually, church leaders will compromise scripture to
be a part of a group or association. Maybe the compromise is simply just to
stay comfortable. This affords greater protection from losing everything that
has been built. In exchange for protection (sort of like the mob), pastors
teach a watered down version of the Bible and erase or dilute history. When was
the last time someone talked about booths for prostitution in the temple? Look,
that is in the Bible, it is clear from scripture that before the northern and
southern kingdoms went into exile there was male and female prostitution in
booths in the temple. The reality is that God is merciful, very merciful. God
is patient, God is longsuffering. And thankfully God is forgiving.
Rev 3:2-4 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God.3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.4 Thou hast a few names
even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with
me in white: for they are worthy. KJV
How have we received? Remember the days when the church
was just starting, the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit brought miracles.
People loved each other and served each other. It is hard to change from being
an assembly that is on the defensive, to an assembly on the offensive. It can
happen, but usually because the small group of faithful people separate
themselves. That small group yearns for the power of the Holy Spirit, but the
majority of people left are in the phase of Sardis that are content.
Contentment breeds apathy. People start to hear how we all worship the same
God, it doesn’t matter what he’s called.
It mattered in Solomon’s time. The incredible things
Solomon did for God became marred by his concessions. Solomon conceded to
polygamy and idolatry, and to child sacrifice. I’m sure he thought it was
alright because they all really worshipped the same God. By not holding fast to
God as his father David, God said he would snatch the kingdom away from him,
but for the sake of David, he would wait until Solomon was dead. There would
only be one tribe left for Solomon’s heir to rule.
At this point in the evolutionary process of most churches,
if any of the sins of the leaders are made known, there will be a struggle,
maybe a split or maybe a change in leadership. This is how we evolve. Once sins
are revealed it may be that things change for the better, but maybe not.
Sometimes a new program of outreach can inspire or revive those who have remained
faithful to God. That takes us to the Philadelphia assembly. Everyone thinks
their church is the Philadelphia church but maybe that isn’t good.
If a church as evolved to this point where the word of
God and the Spirit of God are no longer living and dynamic, the legislators
will come in. If we notice Jesus’ words, “thou hast a little strength”, the
population of those truly pursuing God has dropped significantly. People start
trumpeting a new doctrine of legalism and out voice everyone else. Here we see
that those from the synagogue of satan are now within the leadership of the assembly.
The leaders have sold out to the devil himself to keep and preserve what they
have. Maybe the house, cars, and other luxuries and benefits, are the things
pastors can’t bear to lose and the fear of not being able to support their
families weighs on them. But the entire congregation suffers because the rules
become more important than the people.
Rev 3:8-10 I know thy works: behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and
hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.9 Behold, I will make them of
the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie;
behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that
I have loved thee.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. KJV
Just to take a rational approach here, why were people
coming into the church saying that they were Jews? Who cares if they were or
not? The temple by this time had been destroyed for about twenty years. What
significance was it to be a Jew at this point in history? It is what we see
today. Somehow people who say they are Jews expect to be heard and followed, as
if they have some special connection or knowledge of God. People come into
churches saying they are Jews and bring in the law. In reality, they are
looking for people to join their group and give them money. What seems to
happen is that the people who say they are Jews claim everyone in the church is
“doing it wrong”, and they know the “right” way to live. They take people out
of the church into their group. They don’t evangelize the lost, the heathen, or
the Jew, they only sell the saved their brand of religion. Oh brother. They are
of the synagogue of satan. They are not of Jesus. Again, it is religious people
who want to change things by bringing in the law.
Sometimes legalism enters into an assembly because there
has been a split or someone wants to exercise more control over the called out.
People are told they have to “do these things”, especially pay their tithe.
More “rules” are established over tithes than anything else, because we have to
pay for the building, the new desks, chairs, carpets, and televisions in the
lobby, but most of all there are the salaries. Just a quick note, the Levites
were not to own property or possessions, and the tithe was a once or twice
yearly offering. Just thought I’d mention that because if leaders drive nicer
cars than the rest of the people, or live in bigger houses and own property and
toys, they have to become defensive so that they don’t lose what they have.
There is nothing wrong with a pastor receiving a salary, but an overinflated
salary is another matter. There are other rules the people must follow as well and
the second big area involves legislating the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prophecies are controlled, ministry is controlled, and there simply can’t be
any messy casting out of demons. Once a church is into “rule-setting” it
spirals out of control. Then from within the church group the rule followers
don’t like the non-rule followers and use their ability to follow rules and
laws against the ones who don’t. People become nitpickers of each other rather
than showing their love for each other. Pastors are now judges of rules rather
than shepherds.
After Solomon died, we find out a few more facts about
life surrounding the Temple. Solomon had forced labor, not only to build, but
to also maintain everything he already built, 1 Kings 5:13-ff. We also notice
there was a caste system in place here. When the people came to Rehoboam after
Solomon’s death and asked for a lighter work load, Rehoboam consulted with the
chief government officials who used to consult with Solomon. How did these
people get these government jobs? The elders were not lifting stones, neither
were Solomon’s sons. Then Rehoboam consults with his friends who grew up
alongside of him. They weren’t doing manual labor either, and in their
ignorance of the working conditions, the young men advised Rehoboam to whip
people with scourges. Solomon was using whips, Rehoboam now used whips with
multiple tails that had pieces of bone on the ends of the leather. Rules, laws,
force. How is it that people were treated with laws and whips rather than with
love and freedom?
While today we aren’t physically whipped in our
assemblies, we may be mentally and emotionally abused with manipulation tactics.
People can be made to feel badly for not serving, or giving money, or chastised
for not behaving or dressing like everyone else. Solomon was forcing the masses
into working. Have you ever noticed that in a church, the people who serve and
give are the ones who have day jobs and families, while the people who get paid
by the congregation to work at the church simply administrate or organize the coerced
volunteers? Just like the caste system Solomon and Rehoboam had in place, many
of our assemblies function the same way. The labor intensive jobs are given to
the masses, while the upper echelon of church employees watch. The funny thing
is Solomon could not have built the temple and all he accomplished without the
backs of the people doing the labor. And the people paid taxes and tithes while
Solomon enjoyed his comforts. The regular called out member of a church has
built, witnessed, and supported the assembly and it all starts to function to serve
the leaders. Sooner or later there are revolts in churches, just like in Israel,
and the people become numb to it all. It didn’t start out that way, in the
beginning of the churches life cycle everyone worked together; now, instead of
leadership washing the feet of the congregation, the member’s clean, wash,
build, and serve the leaders.
The last phase in the life of a church is the fat and
happy group. People start to covet an easier life but that makes them apathetic
to the unsaved. Pastors quit aspiring to growth and continue in the defensive
or “maintenance” position. No one studies what the Bible says, religious
compromises have taken root, and no one really cares to upset the apple cart.
The entire group is lukewarm, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. How
could the people not notice? It’s the Emperor’s new clothes. Everyone is fat
and happy together, and anyone who steps up to say something is immediately
beaten down.
Rev 3:15-19 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16 So then because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17 Because thou
sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest
be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore,
and repent. KJV
Once it used to be important to seek out the lost from
all areas of a community, now it is more important to make a living, relax
some, and never, ever, invite those who don’t look like you to your church
group. Serving or self-serving within the church group is the norm. If the
group must serve non-members, it is at arm’s length. In other words, it’s
better to build a structure to feed the poor than invite the poor inside the
church building. It’s better to buy Bibles to give to the homeless, rather than
teach the homeless how to work. This is easy ministry, low risk, and low love.
There is no power or dynamic ministry. Serving the leadership and keeping
“programs” within the assembly take up all the time of the members. More money
is spent inside the church building to make it comfortable than on missions and
evangelism. What once was a pot luck type of group is now a catered affair, and
no one invites the worm collectors or the trash recyclers.
Let’s speculate for a moment on Solomon. What if Solomon
built a temple for God out of regular rocks and materials? Solomon would not
have needed to protect his work. No one would have wanted to steal the rocks
out of the temple. Solomon would not have needed to guard Israel because of her
wealth. He would not have had to make alliances, or compromises. Solomon would
not have had to whip people to make them work, and he would not have had to
build places for other gods to appease his many wives. Israel would not have
split, and male prostitution would not have been going on in the temple. There
might have been male prostitution somewhere in Israel, but it wouldn’t have
been in the temple. The temple and palace were such grand structures they were
coveted by many people who did not want to worship God.
What if our assemblies and churches are not grown into
huge structures, but instead stay small, keeping their first love for the lost?
What if everyone knew each other and
served together? If there are no things to lose, there is no reason for
compromise. The assembly can stay edgy and progressive. If people came in that
tried to seduce others into sin, it would be known and handled quickly and
loudly. If people came in to control, dominate, or manipulate, in a small church
everyone would know. Legalism would have no ability to worm its way in either.
No one would squash the Holy Spirit or ministries in the body because that is
the dynamic of the group. If Jesus washed people’s feet, the message is that
leaders should be servants, not served. The seven churches of revelation, as
well as Solomon, show us the life cycle of a church assembly. With this
knowledge it is never too late to make changes to the way things are run so
that our groups stay dynamic and outward focused rather than comfortable,
self-serving, and inward focused.
