Considerable discussions are taking place regarding how to determine whether or not a church is still a church, i.e., has a lampstand (Rev 2.4-5). Having raised some questions myself in an earlier post, I thought perhaps the most valuable contribution I could make at this point would be to provide a couple of quotes of by two men who have written commentaries on the passage (Eph 2.1-7) in question.
The first commentary is from Robert Mounce, who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen. His commentary is part of the New International Commentary on the New Testament, edited by F.F. Bruce. Mounce writes:
As one who walks in the midst of the churches, Christ is able to say, ‘I know thy works’ . . . The works which Christ knows are not so much separate acts as they are an overall manner of life. The two nouns which follow (toil and patience) give the active and passive sides of this lifestytle. The Ephesians had toiled to the point of exhaustion and borne patiently the hostility of a society at odds with their goals and efforts . . .
“Every virtue carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction. It seems probable that desire for sound teaching and the resulting forthright action taken to exclude all imposters had created a climate of suspicion in which brotherly love could no longer exist. Barclay conjectures that ‘the eagerness to root out all mistaken men had ended in a sour and rigid orthdoxy’ . . . Good works and pure doctrine are not adequate substitutes for that rich relationship of mutual love shared by persons who have just experienced the redemptive love of God. The Ephesian church had left its first love. The expression includes both love of God and love of mankind at large, but seems to refer mainly to their love for one another . . . A cooling of personal love for God inevitably results in the loss of harmonious relationships within the body of believers. Jesus had made it clear that ‘by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ . . .
“The church is called upon to remember the earlier days in which love abounded in the congregation . . . First love is pictured as a height from which the church had fallen. The present imperative, ‘remember,’ stands in contrast to the aorist imperative, ‘repent,’ and suggests a continuing attitude over against a decisive break. Bear in mind the loving relationships you once enjoyed and make a clean break with your present manner of life! . . . The love that John requires is not an ‘undiscriminating amiability’ (Kiddle, p. 24), but an attitude toward the brethren which expresses itself in loving acts. Moffatt remarks that ‘the way to regain this warmth of affection is neither by working up spasmodic emotion nor by theorising about it . . . but by doing its duties’ (p. 351). Repentance is an active step.”
The second quote is from Alan F. Johnson, Th.D. (Dallas Theological Seminary), writing in the Expositors Bible Commentary, edited by Frank Gaebelein.
The speaker’s verdict shows, on the other hand, that however much had been gained at Ephesus by resisting the false apostles, not all was well there. They had ‘forsaken,’ or ‘let go’ (aphiemi), their ‘first love.’ This was a serious defect. If uncorrected, it would result in their loss of light bearing (v. 5). The majority of commentators take the first love to refer to the original Christian love the Ephesians had for one another. Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesian elders to ‘help the weak’ (Acts 20:35) and the warm commendation he gives them in their early years for their fervent love of one another (Eph 1:15) may lend support to this view.
“Other commentators, however, see the ‘first love’ as a reference to their inner devotion to Christ that characterized their earlier commitment, like the love of a newly wedded bride for her husband John R.W. Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1958], p. 27; Alf, 4:563). This interpretation is supported by the fact that the letters to the other churches reveal problems of inner betrayal to Christ as subjects of his complaint. Neither view necessarily eliminates the other. Loving devotion to Christ can be lost in the midst of active service, and certainly no amount of orthodoxy can make up for a failure to love one another. ‘First’ (protos) love would suggest that they still loved, but with a quality and intensity unlike that of their initial love.
“The speaker’s command further exposes the problem and offers a way to correct the fault. The imperatives are instructive: ‘Remember…. Repent … do.’ The Ephesians are called on to reflect on their earlier works of fervent love (like the Sardians [3:3]), to look in comparison at the present situation, to ponder how far they have fallen from their former devotion and enthusiasm, to humbly ‘repent’ (totally change) before God, and to do the former works motivated by love. These imperatives are all part of a single action designed to keep the Ephesians from the judgment of Christ, which would effectively remove them as his representatives in the world.
“How many churches today stand at this same crossroads? Do we sense the importance to Christ of not only honoring his name by our true confession but also reflecting his life by our loving relationship to others? This threat of loss of light bearing (or witness) applies doubtless equally to the other four churches, to whom a similar exhortation to repent is given (Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea).
2 Cor 1:13
To all of us who blog or comment:
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
“So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.”
There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
“Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
“A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,
“A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.”
“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you.”
“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.”
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”
“A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.”
“He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit.”
“There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”
A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise.”
“The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.”
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.”
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”
“He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.”
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives.”
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.”
“He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”
Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, but reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.”
“Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel.”
When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.”
Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man,
“Or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.”
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.
“Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”
Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him.
“Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes.”
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”
“He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.”
When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.”
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.”
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate.
“Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
2 Cor 1:13
414. The only thing that consoles us for our miseries is diversion. And yet it is the greatest of our miseries. For it is that above all which prevents us thinking about ourselves and leads us imperceptibly to destruction. But for that we should be bored, and boredom would drive us to seek some more solid means of escape, but diversion passes our time and brings us imperceptibly to our death.
417. Not only do we only know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ; we only know life and death through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ we cannot know the meaning of our life or our death, of God or of ourselves.
Thus without Scripture, whose only object is Christ, we know nothing, and can see nothing but obscurity and confusion in the nature of God and in nature itself.
2 Cor 1:13
NOTE: No sooner do I tell “this mob that knows nothing of the law” that I need to study and write about other things than I am accosted by a request for an excursus. Well, OK this time but don’t expect this to happen all the time!
Over the 30+ years I have been a Christian, there have been times when I have heard a preacher say something akin to the following:
“So these people have given up on the church, have they? Well, I’ve got news for them: God [sometimes pronounced as "Gawd" or "Gi-odd"] hasn’t given up on His church! He’s not through with her at all!
And then everyone – who is obviously not the target of this barb, sitting in the pew as they are – responds with shouts of “Amen!” or “Glory!” or “Hallelujah!” The thinking behind this statement seems to be that God is committed to the church and that, no matter how bad it gets, He will always be there to bless them and commune with them.
But I’m not so convinced. I suppose I started questioning the veracity of this reasoning one time when I was reading Malachi. God declares to the prophet,
‘You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, “How have we defiled You?” In that you say, “The table of the LORD is to be despised.” But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from you.’”
“Shut the gates” to the temple? Where does that leave the faithful like Malachi to worship? What are they to do? But, more to the purpose of this post, has God given up on the temple at this point? Is He allowed to do that according to our theology?
Ah, but that was the Old Testament; we live under the New Covenant, where God treats us better. But then there’s that little matter of the Lord Jesus Christ’s warning to the church at Ephesus. With letters from Paul and elders such as John and Timothy, the believers at Ephesus were a shining light during the early days of Christianity. Nevertheless, no more than 60 years later, the Lord warns,
Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.” – Rev 2.5
For a church to lose its lampstand was – and is – the equivalent of losing its charter. There are times when a Four Seasons hotel or a Saltgrass Steak House loses its charter for failing to maintain the standard of excellence required by the chain. The hotel or restaurant may continue in business, but they are no longer affiliated with the chain. Whatever they may be in the future, they are neither a Four Seasons nor a Saltgrass Steak House.
It is no less possible for a church to lose its charter, i.e., its lampstand. In the case of Ephesus – to which the quote was addressed – it was for falling from her first love. Most likely the fall involved her singular devotion to Jesus Christ and the love that the members had for one another. Without repentance, the church at Ephesus faced the loss of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit during its worship services and ministries. Believers, of course, remained indwelt but the blessing of God upon the worship and ministry of the church had been removed.
It is foolish for any church today to think that it is not possible to lose its lampstand. I suspect there are more than a few gatherings on Sunday mornings that are lacking a “charter” from God. There may be activity, lively singing, fun fellowship, and strong preaching – but for whatever reason, the Holy Spirit is not participating and the angels are not observing the festivities. Such organizations are little different from secular service clubs from God’s perspective.
The critical question, then, is this: What are the basic requirements for a church to obtain and maintain a “charter” and thereby enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit and the angels in its gatherings? What must be present for Him to be present; what must be absent for Him to remain?
I will suggest two factors that I believe are non-negotiable:
1. A love for God expressed in obedience;
2. A love for one another manifested by active participation in one another’s lives and a commitment to fulfilling the numerous “one another’s” of the New Testament.
Perhaps there are others but I’ll mention only these two. Are there more? If so, why? We would all benefit from having some concept for what constitutes a true church that is still in possession of her lampstand. Otherwise we might find ourselves in a nice gathering of people that lost its charter some time ago.
2 Cor 1:13
The following are some quotes I found intriguing. They are taken from The Physics of Consciousness by Evan Harris Walker; you can click the link in the sidebar to order it. He is not overtly Christian (at least to this point). He has a Ph.D. in physics; he is not a philosopher, or at least from the school of philosophers.
He writes:
We weave daydreams, play lotteries, and plunge each evening into the TV screen. It takes us floating into a world of illusory concerns and escapist fantasy. We know it is illusion. But so is the rest. All the things that control the mind – books, magazines, letters, placards, posters, e-mail, faxes, data – all the things that tell us what to think are all a part of our world of fantasy. They are today’s religion. Where do we go for salvation?”
Physics is the cornerstone of our scientific knowledge. In the realm of actual knowledge, it provides us with the foundation, with the procedures, with the means for confirmation that we need if we are to search out and find the answers to those age-old questions . . .
“It is the path we have to take so that we may discover reality opened up to our vision, naked, like a lovely woman whose beauty and allure are at once mystery and revelation. Physics is the tool we must use to learn about reality. But it has its hazards. If we are not careful, she will ensnare us. If we are not careful, we may begin to believe there is nothing else but this physical reality” . . .
Modern physics as no place for any deity, and the message rings even in the ears of the vandal in the street: ‘There is no sacrilege – only the moment, only the event’ . . .
“Today people need proof in order to believe, and they deserve that proof. The degeneration in the values of our society is not due to the waywardness of the people or to the affluence that permits a lax morality. It is not the secular city or drugs or a rebellious youth that has caused society to drift away from God. It is, instead, the message of science borne on the wings of our fast technology. It is the thinking of intellectuals of a century ago that has come down to the streets. The ideas that are today a matter of academic speculation begin tomorrow to move armies and topple empires.
“It is the perceptions of our science, the tenets of modern physics so well summarized by Davies, that now instruct our futures – into the streets. But it is all wrong.
Harvey Cox writes, ‘I have tried to make clear that metaphysical operations cannot be muted by the secular age, but that the metaphysical systems will neither again integrate whole societies nor still men’s persistent questions as once they did.’ But Cox is dreadfully wrong. There are answers. The truth does exist, and when the truth is honestly sought, with a mind that is ready to accept the truth, whatever the truth turns out to be, then the answers do come, and the answers change people.”
We will gaze through an open doorway, looking beyond the lifeless forms that our lives have become – looking beyond, into the very face of God.”
2 Cor 1:13
