October 1, 2000

Pergamos: The Compromising Church

Rev. 2:12

Some of you may have noticed a quote on your bulletins today from a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Christianity with out discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth which has a place for the Fatherhood of God but omits Christ as the living Son...there is trust in God, but no following of Christ." Those are the words of a man who died as a martyr for Christ, but whose faith had some real problems.

At the start of WWII, Bonhoeffer was a 34 year old German Lutheran pastor who fled to the United States to avoid serving in the German army. After a few months, he became convicted that a true Christian ought to oppose Hitler, and he returned to Germany where he worked underground against National Socialism. He opposed anti-Semitism, he chastised the German churches because they cooperated with the Nazis, eventually he participated in a plot to kill Hitler, he was discovered, and executed.

Something that I have learned about Bonhoeffer, some of us would question if he was even a Christian at all. He came from that period of rationalism in Germany when the seminaries taught that a supernatural God didn't even exist, and Bonhoeffer believed that Christianity needed to be redefined without any supernatural in it. As near as I can tell, Bonhoeffer was following a god that wasn't actually a god at all, a Christianity without a supernatural Christ.

Reading about Bonhoeffer makes me wonder what kind of strange mental gymnastics a person would have to make to get to that place. Why would a person give up his life as a martyr for Christ, if Christ is merely a good man, if Jesus Christ is just a dead martyr, and nothing more? Bonhoeffer wanted to be a disciple of Christ, he was even willing to die for his convictions, but what kind of a Christ was he following?

Something we always need to remember, we don't follow just any old Jesus, if the Jesus we follow is not the Jesus of the Bible, then we are following a god of our own imagination, and that's scarey.
Bonhoeffer had some things in common with the third church in our study of Revelation, the church at Pergamos, I want us to think about them.

If you have your Bibles with you today, and I hope you do, turn to Revelation chapter 2, and verse 12.
" And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

The church at Pergamos had some problems in common with the church at Smyrna; the locals didn't have any use for them. It was a city that was totally given over to worship of the Greek deities, as we see from the Lord referring to it as the place where Satan's throne was located.

In every letter to the churches, Christ introduces Himself to each church by some special identifying characteristic. Here, the Lord refers to Himself as the one that has the sharp sword with two edges.
We don't have a very suitable word for it in English, but in the Greek it would be referring to a combination sword and javelin, like the one hanging up on the beam here, except that the blade part would be even longer.

It is also the same sword that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord in Revelation 1:16, when John first sees Him, and also in chapter 19, when Jesus returns to defeat His enemies. The sword here symbolizes the Word of God. It has two edges because it is used for two different purposes. It can cut the sinner free from the world, it can separate us from sin and condemnation, it can cut loose the chains that bind us.
It can also be the means of destruction for those that reject the Lord's offer of grace and mercy, those that are disobedient. The Word of God is simultaneously the means of salvation, and the instrument of death. And it is not a short sword, it is an unusually long sword, it reaches out to where ever the Lord wants it to go.

The Christians at Pergamos needed to be reminded of this, because they were compromising, they needed to remember that true Christians are to live separated lives, apart from those that are under judgement.
The Lord has praise and appreciation for the Christians at Pergamos, they held fast to His name, and they did not deny the faith, even when they were persecuted unto death. Bonhoeffer held fast to the name of Jesus, even to death, but he did not keep the faith, he compromised the faith of Christ for a lie from men.

This man who was martyred at Pergamos, Antipas, his name was like most Bible names, it means something. It means; "against everyone." Does that mean that he was a troublemaker? He liked to argue?
No, I think it means that even when he had to stand all alone against his enemies, he didn't compromise or back down, he was standing for Christ even when he had to stand all alone. So there was some good there in that church, and the Lord commends His people for faithfulness even when there are things He disapproves of.

Because there were problems. They were compromising, they were tolerating evil in their midst. In verse 14 He tells us; "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."

We mentioned several weeks ago that the doctrine of Balaam was teaching Balak that he could corrupt the Israelites by getting them to marry Midianite women, adopt Midianite ways, and worship Midianite gods. In New Testament terms, it would be marrying an unsaved spouse, and then making spiritual compromises to keep peace in the family. Probably all of us know marriages where that has happened, and typically the Christian spouse ends up compromising their testimony, and their walk with the Lord, because the unsaved spouse hasn't got a clue.

Sometimes it's not just unequal marriages, how many of us here, with husband and wife both believers; sometimes make compromises just so that we don't always seem like weirdos to everyone around us?
Every culture has things which define believers from unbelievers, back then, it was food.

Imagine going to the store and every piece of meat in Krogers, or Food City, or where ever, had been offered to an idol as it was being slaughtered. Imagine that any time a neighbor invited you to eat with them, every social engagement meant that you would be served meat that had been offered to an idol.
What should you do? What should I do? I think that we should all turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 10, that's what I think. This is a chapter that specifically deals with how we should live in a society that tempts us to compromise.

Verse 1; "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

Paul is quoting Exodus 32:6 here, this is where the Israelites got impatient when Moses stayed 40 days on Mt. Sinai, they wanted Aaron to make them gods to lead them, and Aaron told all the people to bring gold, and he made them a golden calf, and told them;
"These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."

Notice that when the people offered offerings, and then sat down to eat the rest of that meat that was offered, that was the exact same thing that was stumbling up the early church at Corinth, and at Pergamos.
Now continuing in 1 Corinthians verse 8; "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
:12 Wherefore let him that thinks he standeth take heed lest he fall.
:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

You see how Paul is comparing us to them; just as all of us, sharing in the communion bread and cup are one body, Israel in that dispensation, being partakers of that altar, were on the same basis then as we are now. By the same token, the things that ruined them then, can ruin us now, the principle is identical, that's what Paul is saying.

:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

Paul is saying here that even though an idol is nothing, and even the demon that works through that idol is nothing compared to Christ, it is still wrong for us to be going both ways at the same time. We are called to be separate from the world, not to try and have things both ways. Be a mouse, or be a bird, don't try to be a bat. You can be a grape or you can be a nut, but you can't be a Grape-nut. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: you cannot be a partaker of the Lord's table, and the table of demons.

Verse 22; "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles," -we would call it the village market, a bazaar- "that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."

He's saying; "If you go into Wal-Mart, don't ask 20 questions about where they got their beef from, just eat it, and be thankful."

Verse 27; "If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged" -or condemned- "of another man's conscience?
:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
11:1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ."

Paul is saying that you are not to go around worrying and checking about wether something is kosher or not, you are under liberty, not under law, and if your conscience is pure because you are unaware that something was offered to an idol, then the idol and the demon behind it are nothing. But once you become aware that something is wrong, then leave it alone. Once it is brought to your attention that it is something compromising, wether it is food, drink, behavior, whatever, get up and walk away.

Don't compromise. Remember, the little things in life train us for the big things. If we practice compromising on the little things, what will we do when something big comes along? Compromise.
Practice makes perfect. Practicing compromise makes us perfect compromisers.

Back in Revelation 2, verse 15 the Lord continues; "So hast thou also them which hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Two weeks ago we talked about the Nicolaitans, and mentioned that some thought that they were the beginnings of an organized clergy or priesthood, and others thought that they lived an immoral lifestyle.
In this letter to Pergamos, Jesus is condemning those that were compromising in the area of morals, following the doctrine of Balaam, immoral behavior, and if the Nicolaitans were just a variation on that theme, why would the Lord single them out? Also, as far as I can tell, the church has never held the doctrine of immoral behavior, but it has held the idea of a clergy, a separate priesthood. That's why I think the Nicolaitans were teaching a separate priesthood within the church, instead of teaching an immoral lifestyle.

Verse 17; "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, what did God feed them with? Manna. What did they want instead? Leeks, garlic, and onions, spicy stuff. It's interesting in this letter, the Pergamanians (new word?) were in trouble for compromising on food, eating things offered to idols, not content to eat what was good for them, and Jesus tells them that if they will overcome, He will give them other food, hidden manna.
What was hidden manna? In Exodus 16:33, Moses told Aaron; "Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept."

There was a pot of manna kept in the ark of the covenant, hidden inside, and it never went bad, it always stayed fresh. Jesus tells us that if we will not compromise, He will feed us with food that only He knows about, and only He can get to. Sometimes we get bored, frustrated with the things that we have to deal with, situations that we seem to be stuck in, and we want more excitement, flavor, something spicy in our lives. Unfortunately, the only thing the world has to offer us is something that's not good for us, and Jesus tells us if we will leave it alone, just be faithful, He will feed us with food that the world knows nothing about.

He also tells us that he will give us a white stone, and on that stone there will be a new name written, and only the person receiving it will know what it says. Remember back in the Old Testament, the High Priest wore a vest with twelve stones on it? And each one of the stones was inscribed with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel? The vest with it's stones symbolized that the High Priest was a mediator between man and God, and he was presenting the twelve tribes before God in an acceptable fashion.
Now we have a greater High Priest than they did, His name is Jesus, and He has a diamond with your name on it, another one with your name on it, one with your name on it, and there's even one with my name on it, Jesus has one of those stones for each of us.

Why is the name on the stone secret and personal to only the person who receives it? I'm not sure, and from what I've been able to read, neither is anybody else, but I'll give you my opinion for what it's worth.
When a bride marries, she gets a new name, symbolic of her new relationship with her husband. When Jesus comes to take us, His bride, to be with Him, then we enter into a new relationship with Him, and it's going to be special and personal for each one of us. So I think the white stone, a diamond, symbolic of the purity of marriage, is in contrast to the moral problems that the church at Pergamos was having, and it symbolizes what Jesus wants and expects from us as opposed to what He got at Pergamos.

Or what He got from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Bonhoeffer was willing to die for the name of Christ, but He was unfaithful in what he believed about Him. Pergamos, and Bonhoeffer, are object lessons to us about how Jesus wants us to live. It's not enough to be faithful in some areas, and then turn around and compromise in other areas. The world is full of people that will do that.

Jesus wants us to be the ones that live worthy of the diamond that He plans to give us, the one with a special, private, personal name on it. My prayer for each of us today is that we will live worthy of Him, no compromises, and be faithful to His name, and to His faith.