Is there a more stunning contrasting of churches than the one found in the final two fellowships specifically addressed by our Lord in the Revelation? One church has long been associated with the missions movement while the other is shamefully and inextricably connected to the pitiful state of a church languishing on the edge of eternity. Of course, we are referring to the church at Philadelphia and the church at Laodicea.
We have typically contrasted these congregations in terms of our Lord’s commendation and condemnation. There is certainly no lack of material for commentary there. I would insist, however, that the contrast held in boldest relief is the position of our Lord in respect to each church. Indeed if our churches are the churches of Christ as they claim to be the most pressing question is where is Christ in relation to all who attend there and all that transpires there.
At Philadelphia, Christ is inside the church opening a door to a world that desperately needs Him. “I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.” (Rev. 3: 8 HCSB). At Laodicea, Christ is pleading with a church that desperately needs Him to open the door and let Him in. “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3: 20 HCSB). In one instance a church has the world opened to it and in the other Christ has the church closed to Him.
The irony is horrifying! The church our Lord bought with His own blood has closed the door and shuttered the windows to He who gave them life. The Landlord has been evicted by the miserable tenants who have not so much as made a token contribution to the purchase of this property.
Is it not downright frightening the message our Lord gives to His people at the close of both Testaments? At the close of the first testament, God declares that Temple worship is so appalling to Him that it would be better if they simply barred and bolted the doors of that ancient worship center as opposed to continuing the spiritually bankrupt practices which had come to characterize them. “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar” (Mal. 2: 10 HCSB). Now as the second Testament is closing, God pictures His Son locked out of His very church and feeling such revulsion to the hyper-hypocritical worship there that He wishes to vomit the nauseating worshippers out of His mouth. “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.” (Rev. 3: 16 HCSB).
It’s hard to make the case that we’re doing the best we can in the face of these two bombshell blasts delivered from heaven. All our alibis seem pretty lame before the excoriating analysis of Christ. Anything resembling the Temple of Malachi’s day or the church at Laodicea is beyond revolting to God.
Actually only one thing (or should I say one Person) separates these two churches in the New Testament context or present day experience. That difference is Jesus. Is He in or out of the church? His presence and our relation to Him are all determining.
Termed “One Divine Moment,” a revival swept the faculty and student body of Asbury College in 1970. For days hundreds lingered in the auditorium confessing sin and righting wrongs towards others. When the revival broke out the President, Dennis Kinlaw was away from the campus and had his reservations about the experience. He returned to watch his skepticism quickly melt away in the baptism of love that now engulfed the campus.Later, a reporter asked him to explain the outbreak.
“Well, you may not understand this,” Kinlaw responded, “but the only way I know how to account for this is that last Tuesday morning, about 20 of 11, the Lord Jesus walked into Hughes Auditorium, and He’s been there ever since, and you’ve got the whole community paying tribute to His presence.”
Revival is that simple! Jesus is welcomed where He has previously been locked out and Laodicea becomes Philadelphia!
