[The following is the full manuscript of my sermon delivered on the 14th of February, 2016. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel, http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Today is the first Sunday of Lent, that season when we reflect on the great sacrifice our Lord Jesus made on our behalf. This reflection should lead us to self-examination, peering inward at our own response to that sacrifice, as individuals and as a church family.
To help with that process, we’re looking at how Jesus addressed the seven churches of Asia in His Revelation to the Apostle John. When we’ve completed the series, we should have a clearer understanding of what kind of church we are so that we can determine if that is the church we should be, and how to become that church if we find ourselves falling short of the goal.
So far we’re examined the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. Jesus was quite complimentary of both, noting only that the Ephesians had lost that inner fire to serve the Lord that they once enjoyed. Jesus could find no fault with the church in Smyrna, even though they thought of themselves as less than successful, from a financial standpoint. Our Lord instructed them both to keep up the good work, adding that the Ephesians also needed to repent of their lost love.
Today we’ll look at a church not held in quite as high a regard by our Lord. Listen and follow along to what the Apostle John recorded as Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamos, in the Book of Revelation chapter 2 verses 12 through 17, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
To help with that process, we’re looking at how Jesus addressed the seven churches of Asia in His Revelation to the Apostle John. When we’ve completed the series, we should have a clearer understanding of what kind of church we are so that we can determine if that is the church we should be, and how to become that church if we find ourselves falling short of the goal.
So far we’re examined the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. Jesus was quite complimentary of both, noting only that the Ephesians had lost that inner fire to serve the Lord that they once enjoyed. Jesus could find no fault with the church in Smyrna, even though they thought of themselves as less than successful, from a financial standpoint. Our Lord instructed them both to keep up the good work, adding that the Ephesians also needed to repent of their lost love.
Today we’ll look at a church not held in quite as high a regard by our Lord. Listen and follow along to what the Apostle John recorded as Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamos, in the Book of Revelation chapter 2 verses 12 through 17, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’”
--Revelation 2:12-17 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, Your Holy Spirit fills us, speaks to us, guides us. Let Him touch our very hearts now, Lord, and write there the message You have for us this day, as we contemplate all that Your Son Jesus gave for us. Help us to better see and follow Your will for us, Lord, as individuals and as members of this Pilgrim church family. In the glorious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Back in 1931, Irving Thalberg of MGM decided he wanted to buy the film rights to “Tarzan”, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. So Thalberg sent Sam Marx to negotiate with Burroughs, telling Marx not to spend more than $100,000, which in those days was a huge sum. Marx contacted Burroughs and asked how much he wanted for the film rights. "$100,000," said Burroughs. When Marx offered him $25,000, Burroughs walked out of the meeting. However, Marx and Burroughs continued to negotiate throughout the summer. Burroughs eventually settled for $40,000. After signing the contract, Burroughs admitted that he had wanted MGM and Thalberg to make the picture so badly, they could have had it for nothing if they had insisted. "Mr. Burroughs," replied Marx, "If you had held out, you would have gotten $100,000!"
And then there was this New York family that bought a ranch out West where they intended to raise cattle. Friends visited and asked if the ranch had a name. "Well," said the would-be cattleman, "I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy-Q, one son liked the Flying-W, and the other wanted the Lazy-Y. So we're calling it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y." "But where are all your cattle?", the visitors asked. The man replied, "None survived the branding."
Both of those short illustrations are examples of compromise. The first one is a negotiation over the cost of a “product” – something most of us are probably familiar with, especially if we frequent yard sales or flea markets or any time we’re buying a car. Usually we look at negotiations as working toward a win-win situation, where both sides give a little so that ultimately they are both satisfied with the deal. In this case, though, Mr. Marx coerced a compromise out of Mr. Burroughs that benefitted only Mr. Marx and his interests: Mr. Thalberg and MGM. It seems Mr. Burroughs was satisfied, though, because he wanted Mr. Thalberg and MGM to make the movie from his book regardless of payment. But I believe most of us would agree that he was effectively cheated out of $60,000 he could have had.
The second example is more of a compromise of principles. Each member of the family wanted to give the ranch a different name. Rather than settle for one, leaving three people unhappy with the decision, they simply lumped all the names into one, making it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y Ranch. So everyone would be satisfied, right? Well, to a degree, but what about the poor cattle?
That’s the problem with compromise – it generally does not make everyone happy, or even fully satisfied. Whether it’s compromising over the price of a new car or compromising one ideal to reach another, we’re always going to be left with a taste of something missing.
Why am I focusing so much on that word “compromise”? Because this is what Jesus has against the church in Pergamos – they compromised their principles.
This letter to the church family in the city of Pergamos is similar in structure to the others. It opens with a word about Who is sending it, in this case it is “He who has the sharp two-edged sword”. That sword has already been mentioned once in this book of Revelation, back in chapter 1, and it will play a prominent role later, in chapter 19 when Jesus comes to battle the forces of the evil one. That sword is the Word of God, and it is indeed sharp. Jesus wants the church, and us, to understand exactly where these words originate, and under Whose authority they are delivered.
Then the Lord offers praise to the church family and commends them for keeping their faith in Him. Even though they are located in a city that has a grand temple built to the false god Zeus - a city filled with idol worshippers - this church has stayed faithful to Christ. They still identify themselves as believers even when one of their own, Antipas, is martyred, leaving others to fear the same fate.
But then, as with Ephesus, the letter turns into a reprimand. Jesus finds fault with the Pergamum Christians, and it is not pretty.
Pergamos, also known by the name Pergamum, is the place where parchment was first used, and the city boasted one of the finest libraries throughout antiquity. The word “Pergamum” itself means “married”, and sadly that pretty well describes the relationship between the Christian church there and the world.
All the attitudes and value systems of the unbelieving world had made their way into the processes and rituals and even the hearts of the church. They had come to tolerate a cult of idolatry and immorality. Jesus points out that they adopted the ways of those who follow Balaam and Nicholas. Balaam taught that it was OK to commit sexual immorality, and the Nicolaitans accepted and practiced free love. There can be no mistaking how Jesus feels about that last, can there, when He adds, “which thing I hate”.
But then, just as He did for the Ephesians, Jesus gives the church family in Pergamos a way out of the mess they’ve gotten themselves into. Repent. It’s as simple as that: repent. Turn away from this sinful way of living and turn back to God. Stop doing all these wrong-headed things! Kick the world out of the church and bar the doors to it!
Now this isn’t to say that the church should not go into the world, seeking to make disciples and spreading the Good News, just as Jesus commands us. It means we must do as Paul told the church in Rome. Even though we must live in the world, we must not allow ourselves to be conformed to it. We must go out into the world to change it - not let it change us!
My greatest fear is that too many churches in the US today, and maybe across the globe, have become like the church in Pergamos. Too many have allowed the world to influence their practices, both in their private lives and in their worship. Too many have become houses of entertainment rather than houses of worship. Now there’s nothing wrong with entertaining people, but we should come together here, as a family of Jesus, to worship our Father God.
Too many have abandoned their Christian ideals, at least partially, for the sake of compromise and convenience. And before we say we would never compromise our principles, we would never compromise our standards, we need to realize that we do indeed do just that at times. Sure, it’s often only over little things.
We’re willing to accept language or scenes in a TV show because we like the humor in it, so we compromise one Christian principle for the sake of enjoying the show. We swallow hard and vote for a candidate whose character and ideals are noticeably not Christian because they promise great things for us, or worse, because they’re of the same political party as us. We silently stand by and allow a very vocal minority to decide how our children are to be taught, in an environment where Christ is not allowed to enter. We let someone take charge of a task who does not practice self-control or self-discipline just because no one else wants to do it. We play follow-the-leader, even when that leader shows signs of being morally bankrupt, just because they are popular or effective or simply likeable. We choose to hold to some Biblical guidelines while forsaking others, especially those that might interfere with our lifestyle, with the way of life we have come to know and enjoy. We compromise our heavenly rewards
for the sake of a few earthly pleasures. And sometimes we run the risk of compromising our eternal souls.
Jesus’ instruction to that church in Pergamos was simple: repent. Repent, or He will wage war against them with His mighty and sharp two-edged sword. Well, folks, He has issued that same command and warning to us, the church family in Pilgrim, and to all churches that bear His name. Repent! Stop compromising with the world. Stop being a tool of Satan. We have our user’s manual right here in our Holy Bible. We know what’s right and what’s wrong. We just need to stop doing the wrong and keep doing the right! It really is that simple. And what better time is there to stop doing the wrong stuff than at Lent, the time of personal sacrifice and reflection.
Jesus sacrificed Himself for us! He gave His all for us! Can’t we give up some of our worldly pleasures that He says are wrong? Can’t we do that for Him?
As He did for the Ephesians, Jesus also promised the church in Pergamos that if they would repent and turn from their wicked ways, they would be rewarded. Just as the children of Israel were fed all they needed by manna from heaven, the church family would have all their needs seen to by a loving Father in heaven.
This is the promise to us as well. If we truly repent and change our ways, He will see to all our needs. And not only that, He will give us a tiny white stone with a name etched in it, a name just for us, a name that no one knows but Jesus - His special name for us alone. This may seem a little silly, getting a small stone with a name on it. But its significance can be seen in the words of God delivered through His prophet Isaiah, in the 2nd verse of the chapter 62 of his book…
Back in 1931, Irving Thalberg of MGM decided he wanted to buy the film rights to “Tarzan”, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. So Thalberg sent Sam Marx to negotiate with Burroughs, telling Marx not to spend more than $100,000, which in those days was a huge sum. Marx contacted Burroughs and asked how much he wanted for the film rights. "$100,000," said Burroughs. When Marx offered him $25,000, Burroughs walked out of the meeting. However, Marx and Burroughs continued to negotiate throughout the summer. Burroughs eventually settled for $40,000. After signing the contract, Burroughs admitted that he had wanted MGM and Thalberg to make the picture so badly, they could have had it for nothing if they had insisted. "Mr. Burroughs," replied Marx, "If you had held out, you would have gotten $100,000!"
And then there was this New York family that bought a ranch out West where they intended to raise cattle. Friends visited and asked if the ranch had a name. "Well," said the would-be cattleman, "I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy-Q, one son liked the Flying-W, and the other wanted the Lazy-Y. So we're calling it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y." "But where are all your cattle?", the visitors asked. The man replied, "None survived the branding."
Both of those short illustrations are examples of compromise. The first one is a negotiation over the cost of a “product” – something most of us are probably familiar with, especially if we frequent yard sales or flea markets or any time we’re buying a car. Usually we look at negotiations as working toward a win-win situation, where both sides give a little so that ultimately they are both satisfied with the deal. In this case, though, Mr. Marx coerced a compromise out of Mr. Burroughs that benefitted only Mr. Marx and his interests: Mr. Thalberg and MGM. It seems Mr. Burroughs was satisfied, though, because he wanted Mr. Thalberg and MGM to make the movie from his book regardless of payment. But I believe most of us would agree that he was effectively cheated out of $60,000 he could have had.
The second example is more of a compromise of principles. Each member of the family wanted to give the ranch a different name. Rather than settle for one, leaving three people unhappy with the decision, they simply lumped all the names into one, making it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y Ranch. So everyone would be satisfied, right? Well, to a degree, but what about the poor cattle?
That’s the problem with compromise – it generally does not make everyone happy, or even fully satisfied. Whether it’s compromising over the price of a new car or compromising one ideal to reach another, we’re always going to be left with a taste of something missing.
Why am I focusing so much on that word “compromise”? Because this is what Jesus has against the church in Pergamos – they compromised their principles.
This letter to the church family in the city of Pergamos is similar in structure to the others. It opens with a word about Who is sending it, in this case it is “He who has the sharp two-edged sword”. That sword has already been mentioned once in this book of Revelation, back in chapter 1, and it will play a prominent role later, in chapter 19 when Jesus comes to battle the forces of the evil one. That sword is the Word of God, and it is indeed sharp. Jesus wants the church, and us, to understand exactly where these words originate, and under Whose authority they are delivered.
Then the Lord offers praise to the church family and commends them for keeping their faith in Him. Even though they are located in a city that has a grand temple built to the false god Zeus - a city filled with idol worshippers - this church has stayed faithful to Christ. They still identify themselves as believers even when one of their own, Antipas, is martyred, leaving others to fear the same fate.
But then, as with Ephesus, the letter turns into a reprimand. Jesus finds fault with the Pergamum Christians, and it is not pretty.
Pergamos, also known by the name Pergamum, is the place where parchment was first used, and the city boasted one of the finest libraries throughout antiquity. The word “Pergamum” itself means “married”, and sadly that pretty well describes the relationship between the Christian church there and the world.
All the attitudes and value systems of the unbelieving world had made their way into the processes and rituals and even the hearts of the church. They had come to tolerate a cult of idolatry and immorality. Jesus points out that they adopted the ways of those who follow Balaam and Nicholas. Balaam taught that it was OK to commit sexual immorality, and the Nicolaitans accepted and practiced free love. There can be no mistaking how Jesus feels about that last, can there, when He adds, “which thing I hate”.
But then, just as He did for the Ephesians, Jesus gives the church family in Pergamos a way out of the mess they’ve gotten themselves into. Repent. It’s as simple as that: repent. Turn away from this sinful way of living and turn back to God. Stop doing all these wrong-headed things! Kick the world out of the church and bar the doors to it!
Now this isn’t to say that the church should not go into the world, seeking to make disciples and spreading the Good News, just as Jesus commands us. It means we must do as Paul told the church in Rome. Even though we must live in the world, we must not allow ourselves to be conformed to it. We must go out into the world to change it - not let it change us!
My greatest fear is that too many churches in the US today, and maybe across the globe, have become like the church in Pergamos. Too many have allowed the world to influence their practices, both in their private lives and in their worship. Too many have become houses of entertainment rather than houses of worship. Now there’s nothing wrong with entertaining people, but we should come together here, as a family of Jesus, to worship our Father God.
Too many have abandoned their Christian ideals, at least partially, for the sake of compromise and convenience. And before we say we would never compromise our principles, we would never compromise our standards, we need to realize that we do indeed do just that at times. Sure, it’s often only over little things.
We’re willing to accept language or scenes in a TV show because we like the humor in it, so we compromise one Christian principle for the sake of enjoying the show. We swallow hard and vote for a candidate whose character and ideals are noticeably not Christian because they promise great things for us, or worse, because they’re of the same political party as us. We silently stand by and allow a very vocal minority to decide how our children are to be taught, in an environment where Christ is not allowed to enter. We let someone take charge of a task who does not practice self-control or self-discipline just because no one else wants to do it. We play follow-the-leader, even when that leader shows signs of being morally bankrupt, just because they are popular or effective or simply likeable. We choose to hold to some Biblical guidelines while forsaking others, especially those that might interfere with our lifestyle, with the way of life we have come to know and enjoy. We compromise our heavenly rewards
for the sake of a few earthly pleasures. And sometimes we run the risk of compromising our eternal souls.
Jesus’ instruction to that church in Pergamos was simple: repent. Repent, or He will wage war against them with His mighty and sharp two-edged sword. Well, folks, He has issued that same command and warning to us, the church family in Pilgrim, and to all churches that bear His name. Repent! Stop compromising with the world. Stop being a tool of Satan. We have our user’s manual right here in our Holy Bible. We know what’s right and what’s wrong. We just need to stop doing the wrong and keep doing the right! It really is that simple. And what better time is there to stop doing the wrong stuff than at Lent, the time of personal sacrifice and reflection.
Jesus sacrificed Himself for us! He gave His all for us! Can’t we give up some of our worldly pleasures that He says are wrong? Can’t we do that for Him?
As He did for the Ephesians, Jesus also promised the church in Pergamos that if they would repent and turn from their wicked ways, they would be rewarded. Just as the children of Israel were fed all they needed by manna from heaven, the church family would have all their needs seen to by a loving Father in heaven.
This is the promise to us as well. If we truly repent and change our ways, He will see to all our needs. And not only that, He will give us a tiny white stone with a name etched in it, a name just for us, a name that no one knows but Jesus - His special name for us alone. This may seem a little silly, getting a small stone with a name on it. But its significance can be seen in the words of God delivered through His prophet Isaiah, in the 2nd verse of the chapter 62 of his book…
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the Lord will name.
--Isaiah 62:2 (NKJV)
King David also gives us a great reason to listen to Jesus in this regard, in verses 2 and 3 of his 119th Psalm…
2 Joyful are those who obey His laws
and search for Him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in His paths.
--Psalm 119:2-3 (NLT)
Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Jesus utters Your word from His mouth and it cuts sharper than any sword. As He addresses the church in Pergamos, He speaks to us, His church today, all across America and right here in Lexington. Forgive us, please Father, for we have reached compromises where we should not. We have allowed the world to creep in and taint our worship of You. We have relaxed Your laws, Your commandments to us, to make our lives a little more comfortable, a little more pleasurable, a little more bearable. Forgive us, Lord.
Hear us now, Father, as we come to You one-on-one in the silence, seeking Your forgiveness and offering our repentance…
Lord Jesus, Your sword cuts swiftly to the target and we know our sin. Help us, please Lord, to turn from our sinful ways, to seek only our Father God’s path, to repent and compromise with evil no longer. We long for that reward of Your special name for us, and for eternity in paradise with You. In Your beautiful and blessed name, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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