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