Where did the church go?
“I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my
mouth” Revelation 2:15,16.
"I can’t think of a more timely text, a more urgent subject
matter and a more insightful approach to the challenges of today's New
Testament church".
The Lord takes a negative approach to reveal a positive
pathway for this church. I do not believe it is the Lord’s desire to spew out churches,
but to warn the body of believers of the impending consequence of their lack of
genuine faith.
A New Testament church has to impact the world, just as the
first century church changed culture from; Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the
ends of the earth. The first church body turned the world upside down with
their message, with their lives, their commitments and their passion.
The problem of the Laodicean church was that they were more
comfort-driven than eternity-driven. Today we live in comfortable and fun
culture centered around pleasure. It’s hard not to get caught up in that. We
have adopted this culture of ease and comfort into the church, and nothing
seems out of the norm.
But what happens when Jesus, “spews thee out”? What happens
when the comfort and ease of “doing church”, gets stripped away? Do we find and
easier alternative or stop meeting and stop witnessing all together? God
forbid!
When the Lord left his church he did not leave us helpless.
He sent a comforter. But, what is the purpose of a comforter is it not to
comfort? However, the Laodicean church needs no comforting for its culture is
that of ease and comfort. It is
therefore a Spirit-quenched church that lacks a genuine faith. When the Lord
takes away the comfort and ease of doing church, this church will lay as vomit
ejected from the company of our Lord.
A Spirit-filled Church is an Eternity-driven Church. It’s a
church who’s focus is the Lord, who is the chief cornerstone upon which its
foundation lays. This church continues in the fellowship and the breaking of
bread even in times of great peril and tribulation. Its goal is to pursue the
mission of its Lord no matter the cost – a perpetual witness. You see when
Jesus established his church he set it in motion – kinetic energy if you like.
This kinetic force must continue until the Lord returns. But what must
continue? The making of disciples. You see if that’s your focus, you do not
need comfort or ease. All Jesus is saying to the Laodicean church is; repent
and get back to making disciples. This is the energy that characterizes a
Spirit led church. I hope this is the spirit that the Lord blows through you as
the Lord sends us to make disciples of all nations. "No Matter the Cost".
Martin Chilando,
Missionary Evangelist
Pastor HBClusaka, Zambia
