Allen Raynor Weblog:
“Ephesus: The Loveless Church” (Pt. 1)
(May 16, 2019)
The famed
“Seven Churches” in Revelation 2-3 are “types” of churches as well as literal churches in literal cities, which Jesus addressed. The issues covered in chapters 2-3 with the
seven churches of Asia Minor are characteristics/tendencies of “the church”
throughout time. Each of the letters to
these churches are addressed to “The angel of the church of . . .” The “angel” or “messenger” of the church is,
most likely, referring to the pastors of these churches. The letters are, with only minor exceptions,
organized in a particular pattern. 1) A
description of Christ based on the vision in Revelation 1. 2) A compliment(s) of the congregation. 3) A rebuke of a problem(s) or spiritual
deficiency. 4) A correction of the
problem or wrong. 5) A promise to those
who overcome.
The word
“love,” and the concept of “love,” saturate our modern culture, but many only partially understand what love really
means. Those who have no real background
in church, for instance, do not understand Christian (Christ-like) love. Further, they do not understand the fact God
sent His Son to die on the cross for the sins of people, therein demonstrating
an incomprehensible love, for which all are undeserved. The world’s understanding of love is severely
limited. Often lust is mistaken for love.
Frequently sentimentality is
mistaken for love. It is not unusual for
warm and fuzzy feelings to be mistaken
for love. Even when there is
real/genuine love it often lacks the depth it could have if Christ were
involved.
Children,
beginning at an early age, have an understanding of love that is
developing. It can be comical to listen
to how they understand it, but there is also an unmistakable seriousness. Ideally, children are simultaneously learning
love by experiencing love given to them in their home by their parents and
other family members. Simply by
observing the love between parents and other adults, children can potentially
learn a lot about God’s love for them and people in general. Children, even with limited knowledge and
understanding, would really struggle to understand a “loveless” marriage,
knowing it was just not supposed to be that way. What about a “loveless” church (not loving
one another), or a church that no longer loves Christ supremely? These would seem like glaring contradictions! Indeed this is a contradiction and it was exactly the problem identified by the
first church Jesus addressed - Ephesus.
In
Revelation 2:1-7 we read Jesus’ Words “To the angel of the church of Ephesus
write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who
walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your
labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are
apostles and are not, and have found them liars, and you have persevered and
have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become
weary. Nevertheless I have this against
you, that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first
works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its
place – unless you repent. But, this you
have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the
Paradise of God.’”
Ephesus was
the most important city in Asia Minor at the time Revelation was written. It was the center/hub of the worship of
Artemis (or Diana; Acts 19:28), who was the goddess of fertility. It was a strategic commercial center and
great seaport much like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, or San Francisco would
be today. Because of these realities,
the Apostle Paul had invested a lot of time there. Nearly 3 years he had spent establishing the
church at Ephesus. By the time of John’s
writing, Ephesus had obviously declined from where it was when Ephesians was
written and Timothy had been the pastor there.
The second half of vs. 1 clearly points back to the vision of chapter 1
of the book and points directly to the person of Christ. Christ’s position was to be front and center,
or in the place of the most prominence within that church and in all the
churches. Yet, often He is not. Christ can be crowded out much easier than
many realize.
In verses
2-3 the Lord pays a compliment to the congregation. As the judge of everything, Jesus
particularly mentions that He has evaluated their works, their labor, their
patience, and the fact they could not
bear those who are evil. Evidently, they were hard-working
people. They exhibited a great level of
patience, or long-suffering. And, they
recognized and dealt with evil, or evil people very swiftly. Further, they had held firm (persevered) with
patient determination all in the name of Christ and had displayed no signs of
weariness in doing so. In modern terms,
they were a church very busy with all sorts of programs and activities which
were all done in the name of Christ.
They had sincere desire to see great things happen. Jesus wants that from the modern church. After all, He commends the Ephesian church
for it all. But, there is just one
problem, and beginning in verse 4 we will see what it was.
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor
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