The church in modern times has often been described as apathetic. Apathy is defined as “Absence of passion, emotion, or excitement.” We live in a day where the world is largely indifferent/apathetic about the church and the church is largely indifferent/apathetic about itself.
While Satan and the worldly system he drives works day and night to undermine and silence the church, the church by and large, sets back and does little to demonstrate its concern for itself. In many churches, less than 10 % of the Sunday morning attenders come back on Wednesday evenings for the prayer meeting. All-the-while overall Sunday morning attendance is declining, more and more churches are discontinuing Sunday evening activities and Sunday School all due to lack of attendance and interest. In most congregations, the older generation is dying off faster than younger people are being reached for Christ. Any way you look at it, the church in the late 20th and early 21st century is lukewarm for Christ at best. Keep in mind, Satan is filled with zeal and is actively working to harm and destroy the church while the church itself often acts as though it is unaware of his efforts.
The Lord indicted the New Testament church at Laodicea for being lukewarm. They were in their groove, they felt self-sufficient and Christ was no longer a part of what they were doing. The church was fully operational and incorporated the name of Christ, but the most important reason for their existence had faded out of sight. Paul, writing to Timothy in 2 Tim.3:5 warned of a perilous time where, even believers would “Have a form of godliness but deny its power” and from such people he warned to turn away. Laodicea had a form/appearance of godliness, but there was no power because Jesus Christ was no longer the reason they did the things they were doing.
The city of Laodicea was wealthy, and like all people have the tendency to do, they felt the security that money often brings and they stopped trusting in, and relying on God. The attitude in the church mirrored the attitude of the city itself. These deeply prideful people felt they did not need any help, advice, or direction. They thought they were ok but Jesus told them they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3:17). Their condition reminds one of the children’s story “The Emperor has No Cloths” by Hans Christian Andersen. In the story, two swindlers convince the Emperor they can make a set of cloths that will only be able to be seen by the most worthy of people. They went through the motions of dressing the Emperor in these garments. None of the Emperor’s court dared say a word thinking they were unworthy as the reason they could not see the cloths. The Emperor went out and was paraded among the people with the crowd also seeing his nakedness but no one daring to say anything for fear their unworthiness would also be exposed. Finally a small child unaware of what was going on blurted out “The Emperor has no cloths!” Then many began to laugh. The Emperor finally caught on to what was happening but kept it to himself, continued smiling, and simply kept up the façade. In many ways, this is what was going on in Laodicea and is going on in the church of today. If an outside consultant came in and audited the church spiritually, I wonder what might be found. Is it possible it might be discovered that everyone is just playing along and the church is really “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” just like at Laodicea?
Christ, in His graciousness, did not destroy the Laodicean church. But instead offers them 3 things. He says He will give them true wealth, like gold that has been refined in the fire (spiritual wealth or true redemption), white garments so as to cloth them with purity and so that their nakedness will not be on display, and to anoint their eyes with eye salve to overcome their spiritual blindness. The full intent of the Lord’s discipline was for their profit. The book of Hebrews speaks of the discipline believers experience at the hand of God. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers then you are illegitimate and not sons.” (Heb. 12:6-8)
Jesus says to the Laodicean church in verse 20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” The picture is of Christ standing outside of the gathering of this church knocking and desiring to come in and be a part of the fellowship and, in fact, be the centerpiece of all they were doing. How ironic it is that there could be church without Christ. The definition of “church” is “the body of Christ;” but, as we know all too well, it does happen all the time. Too many churches have “Ichabod” spiritually written over their doors, meaning “The glory has departed.”
In verse 20, Christ offers to join them in the most intimate of fellowship. In biblical times, eating or dining with someone showed love, concern, and affection. This is why Jesus was often criticized by the religious leaders. He not only associated with sinners, but He went so far as to eat with them and in so doing He caused a scandal.
For those who will be “overcomers” He promises to grant them to sit down with Him on His throne as He also overcame and sat down with the Father on His throne (vs. 21). The right to sit with Christ on His Heavenly throne is one of many promises to overcomers conveyed in Scripture. Christ is saying, in effect to the church, if you are with Him you will be victorious! He is speaking the same message to the church today!
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
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