Allen Raynor Weblog:
“Pergamos: The Compromising Church” (Pt. 2)
(July 16, 2019)
The Apostle
Paul gave strong warnings about mixing the Word of God with error and entanglement
with non-believers. In 2 Corinthians
6:14-17 he writes “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with
lawlessness? And what communion has
light with darkness? And what accord has
Christ with Belial? Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For ‘you’ are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and
walk among them. I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.’ Therefore
‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will
receive you.’”
Sadly, some
at the Pergamos church believed a person could attend pagan feasts, engage in
debauchery and sexual immorality and still be a part of Christ’s church and
worship! But, as James 4:4 puts it
“Friendship with the world is hostility toward God. Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of
the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
The second
heresy at Pergamos, the Nicolaitans, were already mentioned when He addressed the
church at Ephesus. Nicolaitans taught
that Christians could participate in pagan rituals, particularly sexual
ones. The majority of the church as
Pergamos remained faithful, but still many were seduced into compromise and
error.
Jesus offers
corrections by pointing them toward the one and only remedy for their condition
– repentance. The word “repent,” as it
is used in Scripture, describes a change of mind that results in a change of
behavior. In our culture, compromise,
tolerance, etc. is celebrated; however compromising the eternal truths and
principles of God is not cause for celebration!
John MacArthur writes “Error will never be suppressed by compromising
with it. Today’s non-confrontive church
is largely repeating the error of the Pergamos church on a grand scale, and
faces the judgment of the Lord of the church (John MacArthur; New Testament Commentary; Revelation
Vol. 1; 90) For the unrepentant, Jesus
will use His power for the purpose of judgment.
The Lord
concludes by offering encouragement to the congregation. To overcomers He will give to eat of “the
hidden manna.” “Manna” was the
honey-flavored bread God fed the Israelites with during their years of
wilderness wanderings. This was so
important in Israel’s history that a jar of it was to be kept inside the ark of
the Covenant as they traveled. The
“hidden manna” represents Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life who came down from
Heaven (John 6:48-51). The “white
stones” Jesus spoke of refer to the Roman custom of awarding white stones to
victors in athletic contests. A white
stone, inscribed with the athlete’s name served as his ticket to a special
awards banquet. So, by saying this,
Christ is promising these “overcomers” entrance into the eternal victory
celebration in Heaven. The question each
person must answer for themselves its “Will I be handed one of these white
stones by Jesus or be given of the hidden manna to eat?” If you truly know Christ as your personal
Lord and Savior, then the answer if yes, but if you do not know Him as personal
Lord and Savior, then the answer is no.
The
dangerous compromises of the modern church are almost incalculable. While the church has been arguing over
minutia like paint and carpet colors, worship styles, and programs Satan has
moved in and started fooling people.
When people are fooled they start compromising on the wrong things. Not all compromise is good. In fact, much of it is bad. We cannot compromise on essential doctrine or
we are right there with the church at Pergamos and the hard words of Jesus
apply to us as well.
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
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