공동체와 양육

Overcoming Casual Christianity (Rev 3:14-22)

2010.06.13Rev. Eddie Byun

Jesus rebukes the lukewarm, casual Christianity of Laodicea and calls his church to repent and pursue him with all-consuming passion. The faithful and true witness still loves his people and invites them back into fellowship with him.

Christ, the Amen and faithful witness, speaks to a complacent church (14)

Jesus introduces himself to the church in Laodicea as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, and the beginning of God's creation. Amen means that what has been declared is valid and binding, and Jesus is the one who validates and fulfills all of God's promises. He is not a created being but the source and greatest authority over creation. Unlike Philadelphia, which received only affirmation, Laodicea receives no affirmation at all and is met straight away with a rebuke. Before anything else, we must hear who is speaking to us.

Lukewarm discipleship makes Christ want to vomit (15)

Jesus says he knows their works and that they are neither cold nor hot, and he wishes they were one or the other. The word translated spit out is literally vomit, meant to shock them awake. Laodicea's water came lukewarm through pipes from other cities, so the city knew the disgust of that water better than any other. The issue is passion and usefulness, not a scale where cold is bad and hot is good. They have life in their hands and must give it to those who are dying. Disgusting discipleship is discipleship mixed with apathy and arrogance.

Pride in wealth hides spiritual poverty (17)

Laodicea was rich and confident that God was pleased with them, saying I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. Jesus calls them wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Wealth does not prove God's pleasure, and God gives increase not to raise our standard of living but to raise our standard of giving. Money becomes a curse when Christ is not first in the heart, and the heart must grow faster than our finances. A boy proudly showing off a worthless bottle cap shows how empty such riches are.

Respond to grace by receiving, repenting, and renewing fellowship (18-20)

Jesus counsels them to buy gold refined by fire, white garments, and salve for the eyes, pointing to true riches that come from his hand. Those he loves he reproves, so correction is a sign of his love, and they must repent and be zealous, making Christ their everything in every choice. The knock at the door in verse 20 is addressed to the church, not to unbelievers. Jesus desires to fellowship with his people again. When we give him more of ourselves, we have more of him.

Overcomers will reign with Christ, so run for him (21-22)

The one who conquers will sit with Christ on his throne, just as Jesus conquered and sat down with the Father on his throne. Even after the strongest rebukes come great promises, showing that forgiveness and restoration are always available when we respond to grace. If we endure, we will also reign with him, though not all believers will hold authority. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 3 shows that our work will be tested by fire, and the reward is far greater than being barely saved. Christianity must not be casual but an all-consuming passion for Christ.

Apply to Life

  • Let us resist casual Christianity and pursue Christ with a passion that consumes every area of our lives.
  • Let us examine whether Christ is our everything or only a small part of our Sunday routine.
  • Let us respond to God's grace by receiving his riches, repenting of apathy, and running with zeal for his kingdom.
  • Let us give generously, letting our standard of giving grow as God blesses us.
  • Let us open the door of our hearts and make time for fellowship with Jesus again.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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