The Write Place

The book of Revelation contains five letters to faithless churches, a topic we discuss a lot today. Considering the rank apostasy in our age (see the recent run into the fires of hell of the UMC) this bears little explanation. However, it serves us well also to examine what a faithful church looks like, one of the two listed in the book of Revelation is the church of Philadelphia.

One thing stands out, Jesus does not leave their works undefined.

⁸ “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation 3:8

Jesus tells us exactly what they have done right, he tells us exactly what their faithfulness looks like. He does not say you are in the right institution, episcopacy or otherwise. He does not say you are in the right social cause. Christ does not appeal to their sacraments, or rites or giving of alms and charity. He says, “You have kept my word and not denied my name.” Keeping faithful adherence to scripture and not denying Christ himself (what the name refers to) is the mark of a true church. That can be a Christian detached from fellowship by conversion apart from the body or separated by unfortunate means. That can be another believer outside of my own denomination or tradition. It is never salvation by a pope or a bishop, or the keeping of traditions or rites of a church. It is not denying Christ, and denying his word is the same as denying him.

Likewise, we may be tempted to define Jesus or his commands as the world tells us. We may “care for the poor” as the world tells us to or re-characterize Jesus to not offend those who hate him. This ever-present reality has played out repeatedly in history. Increasingly we see it as we have given up our part in the West. The Church of Philadelphia made no such mistake.

“Love your neighbor” the gnostic pagan says because to appeal to Christians, he must use the hooks of Christianity with the meanings of his own invention. The faithful Christian asks what has God said about love and neighbor, and who is Jesus and how has he loved.

Philadelphia was a church in the midst of persecution like the church has produced for itself today. Unlike what I have heard many a naive fool proclaim, we are not to pray for trial and suffering, these vile intruders into God’s world. Paul commands us to pray for peace (1 Tim. 2:1-2 ESV) and here Christ grants reprieve to a church that has been faithful.

Christ offers encouragement for the faithful, recognizing it and giving them the hope for the glory ahead. The glory of the world to come, the New Jerusalem, the door to which he holds open for them should they remain as they have been.

 ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. ¹² The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Revelation 3:11-12

Times are tough and will be because the church corporately has denied the name of Christ and the power of his word. The UMC is merely one of the latest. But those who are faithful, and their churches have a great promise to hold onto. Not that we seek persecution, though it may come, and by God’s grace we may be granted reprieve. We know that as his beloved a greater thing awaits us who remain faithful to Christ and his word, for fidelity to one is fidelity to the other. They are the two things every apostate individual and denomination compromised on (with fanfare). They are so united in fact, they are as one. They are the two things we must hold fast to, the Living God and his Living Word.