YET YOU REMAIN TRUE TO MY NAME
Revelation 2:12-17
“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne.”
Pergamum was one of the centres of emperor worship. It is interesting that Jesus described it as a place where Satan has his throne—a place where the power of evil is strong and focused. Here in this city the church stood strong, remaining true to the name of Jesus even when one of their own was martyred.
It is difficult for us to imagine that such a church is possible. Yet even in our time, wherever there is strong opposition to the Gospel, churches somehow take root and we often hear that in such difficult conditions the Gospel thrives. This is testament to the enduring power of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Yet, as the church makes inroads into enemy territory, the enemy attempts to make inroads into the church. As Christians focus on the big issues, resisting the pressure to renounce the name of Jesus and deny the fundamental theological truths that are foundational to the Gospel (“yet you remain true to my name; you did not renounce your faith in me”) the smaller issues of day-to-day relevance, cultural and social norms and practices, may often be overlooked. Food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality (with temple prostitutes) were a common part of the life in those days.
These clashes of culture will unavoidably expose the church to compromises in matters that are not merely cultural but also against the values of God and the church in Pergamum were beginning to let down their guard. The problem was not merely in practice, but practice based on teaching. Such teachings were making inroads into the church and some people had begun to live their lives based on these wrong teachings.
The church was not crumbling at this point: “Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” However they were in a dangerous position and Jesus says that if they do not redress the false teachings and wrong practices, then he will come and do it for them: “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Jesus, in his prayer in John 17 puts it succinctly: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” To sanctify is to set apart for holy purposes.
As Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
In a very real sense, the church lives in tension at all times. They are to be in the world, but they must be distinct from the character and practices of the world. Taken too far and the church alienates itself. Taken too zealously and the church becomes judgemental, even within its own people, as was the problem of the church in Ephesus. Taken too loosely and the church becomes largely Christian only in name and in ritualistic practices.
The only solution is to know and be true to the word of God, to be quick to repent when we stray, and to love and forgive one another as Jesus commands us, and to remain close to God, led by the Holy Spirit.
“These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”