Chapter XXX
Laodicea
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and {that} the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Laodicea
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and {that} the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Yes, there really was a church in Laodicea. What is left of the ancient city after series earthquakes devasted it over a period of several hundred years can be found in the southeastern part of what is now the nation of Turkey.
Not that any of that really matters for the purposes at hand. For what the Lord Jesus Christ was addressing to the church there was in regards to a state of mind—an attitude, if you will, and the message that was given is just as viable today as it was back then[1].
Perhaps you have heard something or another about it? I cannot imagine anyone in the Christian community who has not. For it is certainly a very popular subject to preach upon.
Tragically, there is good reason for that. For it is quite natural of us to think that the way things appear to have always been is just the way it is[2]—perhaps even the way that it should be[3], and this is a very dangerous state of mind to be in[4].
No, this is not another call for an end to what is often referred to as being institutionalized religion. For our Heavenly Father established His church in the name of His only begotten Son[5] to serve as reflection of His Light[6] in a world deeply steeped in the darkness of spiritual ignorance—much in the same way as a globe reflects the light of a lamp[7].
Neither is this a call for an end to the teaching of doctrine. For it is impossible to truly believe in something if you do not know what it is, and doctrine is meant to help with that[8].
In other words, there is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak). For in many cases, just a change in perspective is all that is required[9].
It is, however, in those changes of perspective that the foundations of many religious institutions begin to crumble. For it truly is as it is written: For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 3:11 NAS]
Yes, it sounds like just another futile exercise in semantics. For common sense dictates that a vine[10] cannot grow in worthless soil[11].
Subsequently, many look at the church that they are in as being obvious proof of being in rich soil, but be assured that not all is as it seems. For come Judgment Day[12]: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” [Matthew 7:21-23 NIV]
Therefore, let us listen closely to what our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit has to say to the churches—even now in this day and age of post-modern sophistication[13]. For it would be better to swallow our pride while we still can than to have to taste its bitterness for all of eternity[14].
Of course, how can this happen when most have no idea that He is even speaking[15]? For all knowledge and understanding comes from Him[16].
Yes, every invidual member of every individual church wants to believe that they are of the Truth[17], but how can there be so many different beliefs if that is true when all who are truly in Christ are supposed to be like-minded[18]? For it is written: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. [Ephesians 4:4-6 NAS]
{1}Romans 15:4; {2}1 Timothy 1:1-5; {3}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {4}Proverbs 14:12; {5}Matthew 16:13-28; {6}John 8:12; {7}Matthew 5:14-16; {8}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {9}John 7:24; {10}John 15:1-6; {11}Matthew 13:1-23; {12}Revelation 20:11-15; {13}Job 33:14-30; {14}Proverbs 16:18; {15}John 5:31-47; {16}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {17}John 14:6; {18}Philippians 2:1-11.
Not that any of that really matters for the purposes at hand. For what the Lord Jesus Christ was addressing to the church there was in regards to a state of mind—an attitude, if you will, and the message that was given is just as viable today as it was back then[1].
Perhaps you have heard something or another about it? I cannot imagine anyone in the Christian community who has not. For it is certainly a very popular subject to preach upon.
Tragically, there is good reason for that. For it is quite natural of us to think that the way things appear to have always been is just the way it is[2]—perhaps even the way that it should be[3], and this is a very dangerous state of mind to be in[4].
No, this is not another call for an end to what is often referred to as being institutionalized religion. For our Heavenly Father established His church in the name of His only begotten Son[5] to serve as reflection of His Light[6] in a world deeply steeped in the darkness of spiritual ignorance—much in the same way as a globe reflects the light of a lamp[7].
Neither is this a call for an end to the teaching of doctrine. For it is impossible to truly believe in something if you do not know what it is, and doctrine is meant to help with that[8].
In other words, there is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak). For in many cases, just a change in perspective is all that is required[9].
It is, however, in those changes of perspective that the foundations of many religious institutions begin to crumble. For it truly is as it is written: For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 3:11 NAS]
Yes, it sounds like just another futile exercise in semantics. For common sense dictates that a vine[10] cannot grow in worthless soil[11].
Subsequently, many look at the church that they are in as being obvious proof of being in rich soil, but be assured that not all is as it seems. For come Judgment Day[12]: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” [Matthew 7:21-23 NIV]
Therefore, let us listen closely to what our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit has to say to the churches—even now in this day and age of post-modern sophistication[13]. For it would be better to swallow our pride while we still can than to have to taste its bitterness for all of eternity[14].
Of course, how can this happen when most have no idea that He is even speaking[15]? For all knowledge and understanding comes from Him[16].
Yes, every invidual member of every individual church wants to believe that they are of the Truth[17], but how can there be so many different beliefs if that is true when all who are truly in Christ are supposed to be like-minded[18]? For it is written: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. [Ephesians 4:4-6 NAS]
{1}Romans 15:4; {2}1 Timothy 1:1-5; {3}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {4}Proverbs 14:12; {5}Matthew 16:13-28; {6}John 8:12; {7}Matthew 5:14-16; {8}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {9}John 7:24; {10}John 15:1-6; {11}Matthew 13:1-23; {12}Revelation 20:11-15; {13}Job 33:14-30; {14}Proverbs 16:18; {15}John 5:31-47; {16}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {17}John 14:6; {18}Philippians 2:1-11.
Nice blog and post please keep up :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, my dear Heryrhey!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat I feel the Lord is refering to when he speaks of being cold or hot is the passivity that some of us feel towards doing the work of the Lord. I have taken it as a rebuke at times to me for not including references to the Lord in what I am doing, leaving him out. The nakedness of the rich makes sense, for they cover their inadequacies with there riches, yet they may themselves be empty, naked.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the sentiment that we should not take the way things appear to be as the way that they should be. In fact that was the trouble over the past century with the economy. Apperances were deceiving and the principles of sound money management seemed to not be wise. People were buying homes without saving the means or having the means to do so and financing their covetous natures through credit and thus behold the fall of the economy!!
The Lords church is built upon the foundation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the source of truth and light. Then if we want our minds to be lightened we must seek his will in our lives. Then he can guide us and direct us for good.
I like your thoughtful posts.
SG
It is not only in respect to passivity towards doing His work, as in regards to what most understand that to be, my dear Strawberry Girl. For the lukewarmness that Christ Jesus is referring to is also in respect to our relationship with Him. Think of it as like being in a marriage where your spouse is very content with the way things are and has started taking you for granted.
ReplyDeleteYour reference to that passage also applying to our current economic troubles is also well taken. For we fell into the trap of thinking that the good times would just keep going without giving the disasters of the past any thought.
Thanks for stopping by again, pretty lady!!! Please come back.