“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” (Martin Luther King, April 16, 1963. Letter from a Birmingham Jail.)
When reading these words from Martin Luther King, I reflect upon the letter to the church at Sardis and compare its relevance even to the church of this present day. Revelation 3:1 says,
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Many churches today have become more program oriented rather than being people centered. It is hard to believe that a congregation that puts on grand celebrations and programs with numerous guests and popular speakers can be seen by God as being dead. Yet he declares that he knows the works of this church. They are doing something, but that something is not acceptable to God.
The Apostle John goes onto write in verse four, Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. There are many who can find comfort knowing that God does not condemn the entirety of the congregation with his indictments. Within many dead congregations there exits those who can see things for how they really are and choose to follow the true path of righteousness instead of falling in with fulfilling the status quo. King, in his letter, strikes a similar parallel when he writes:
But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom. They have left their secure congregations and walked the streets of Albany, Georgia, with us. They have gone down the highways of the South on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, they have gone to jail with us. Some have been dismissed from their churches, have lost the support of their bishops and fellow ministers. But they have acted in the faith that right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. Their witness has been the spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning of the gospel in these troubled times. They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.
Throughout history there have been, and will always be, people who will stand out from the common to serve the Lord fully with our spirits and hearts; not just our lips. There were those who were deemed worthy to wear white in Sardis just as those whom Dr. King wrote about in his letter surely can be considered worthy of the same. Even today, there are many who choose to walk the same path as those who came before them. The hope for those in the church who have been defiled is that they too can wear white for John writes in Revelation chapter three verses three through five, “ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” The same sentiment can be seen in Dr. King’s letter with this line, “I hope the church as a whole will meet the challenge of this decisive hour.” It is my hope that the Body of Christ rises to the occasion and resume performing the good works of loving and edifying each other so that men will know that we are true disciples of Christ and glorify our Father who is in Heaven.
Pastor Earon Hill
Build Ministries 