Revelation 2 - Grace and Responsibility
There but for the grace of God goes David Bell (1 Corinthians 15:10-11). Grace and responsibility go hand in hand. Yes, we give unto Caesar what is his, but what do we give unto God? We are called to put love into action, to take responsibility for our actions, and to choose this day whose we are and what we will love and hate.
Hating evil means taking responsibility. That’s the blessing of God’s patience, mercy, and grace. He allows us to take responsibility. We get to choose what we will think, act, and do today. Yet what seems so simple and straightforward is yet so foreign to our human nature. We see plainly that corrupt people seem to get ahead. And so many denominations have drifted beyond the ledge. They no longer reflect anything of orthodoxy. There are dreadful consequences for the church that tolerates evil people - that’s Jesus’ message to the Ephesians. And to our church community.
God will preserve the souls of the saints, but we must hate evil. Let’s start with the evil in us. The pride, anger, arrogance, lack of faithfulness and kindness, and the lack of knowledge of God and obedience to God’s commands. Why is it that people are ashamed to do things God’s way, nay to even publicly declare that they are disciples of Christ? It is our actions that show who we fear and what we honor. The Bible says that we must hate lies, the breaking of promises, violence, killing, stealing, and sexual immorality. Easy enough. A hearty amen. But how do we do that? How do we walk that out every day?
Start with owning your thoughts and deeds (I’m preaching to myself). God says, “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you” (Hosea 4:4). Ouch.
God made us, His children, into a royal priesthood. The responsibility is on us to understand God and what He expects of His church. That is the blessing and the challenge of Revelation. Will we be like stubborn Israel and love shame more than honor? Do we lie and gaslight and pretend to be Christian while Jesus wants nothing to do with us? What characterizes us? God forbid that it is greed and love of the things of this world. God forbid that it is a stubborn refusal to repent and to know God. I believe we are at the outset of a massive movement of God for church growth. But it must start with the love of God, and the rejection of evil.
God sees. That’s what this passage tells the church. God sees if we, like a dog, return to our own vomit. He sees how we tolerate evil in our own lives and how we promote and embrace evil people in the church.
Look how far we have fallen (if God says that to the church in Ephesus, He indeed can say it to us). Where is the kindness, the faithfulness, and the righteousness. Where is the man or woman of God who takes responsibility for sinful behavior? Who will repent of their transgressions and turn back to God? Jesus tells us what He thinks about the sins of the Nicolaitans and what he expects the church to think about such wicked behavior. Who will say, “Enough!” By God’s grace, we all will. By God’s grace, the church will repent and each of us will take responsibility for our actions.
The Bible says that blessed is the child of God whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered by Jesus’ blood, and in whose spirit is no deceit (Psalm 32). May God help us to hate and reject evil ways, especially the evil in us. And may we choose God’s way, honor over shame. Amen.
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