Dearly loved by God in Christ,
There are pastors and congregations in the visible Christian church we would call activists. It is common to see a man or woman with reverend in front of his or her name in the middle of a demonstration. Entire congregations become involved in social causes and political movements.
These congregations get the reputations of being alive, active, and busy. Jesus tells John to write to the church in Sardis that busyness is not the same as being about the Father’s business. The Christians in this city had a reputation for activity but Jesus does not commend them. The criticism and call to repentance come first in this one letter. The risen Christ later does offer a brief word of praise for those who are true to him. The Savior also promises that the Holy Spirit will keep real kingdom activity.
The church in Sardis was well known. They had a reputation for activity, for “being alive.” Apparently, the congregation was always busy finding causes and supporting movements in this large and important metropolis. In spite of that, Jesus says that they really are “dead.” In fact, the congregation was about to die.
There are congregations around today like that. They get involved in social and economic issues. They draw no lines between legal protest and civil disobedience and breaking the law. Their shepherds are arrested, and encourage others to do the same. Poverty, hunger, social justice, and political influence are the busyness of their activity.
Jesus did not commend but sharply criticized this type of activity in Sardis.
“You are dead.” Busyness is not the same as being about the Father’s business.
The glorified Christ does not mean in any sense that we should ignore the poor and oppressed. We dare not go to the opposite extreme and cross over to the other side, so to speak, like all those except the Good Samaritan. God’s Word encourages us in the love Christ has for us in our forgiveness to go and love our neighbor, help those in need, and yes, even care for those who persecute us.
John was to write to the angel of the church in Sardis the message he was to share with God’s people. The main purpose and activity of the church is to be about the Father’s business as Jesus was. That business is to preach the good news of the kingdom of God in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins on his cross. We are to administer Holy Baptism and distribute the sacrament of the altar. We are to forgive the sins of the penitent and retain the sins of the impenitent in our Ministry of the Keys Jesus gave the church.
Other activities and business may look good to outsiders. We recognize that really is death. I read an article the other day that pointed out again that churches that remain true to doing the Father’s business stay strong. The writer wrote, “Churches that make strong demands, in doctrine and in service, tend to grow. Churches that water down doctrine tend to decline. It should not be hard to understand why. Many people seek structure and community. A church that makes strong demands and requires strong commitment can provide them.” We enjoy the structure of God’s Word and liturgical worship. We enjoy not only the community of saints, but also the fellowship of Christian love, and unity in faith.
This leads us to the commendation and promise Jesus gives to the church after he had called them to keep what they had left and repent in order to return to the gospel they had heard and received from the apostles.
How would they stay alive, and thrive spiritually and really live? Jesus’s description of himself at the start of the letter gives us a clue. “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars.” The seven spirits of God is another name for the Holy Spirit. The seven stars are the pastors of the seven congregations. Seven is the number of God’s covenant with men. The Spirit carries out that covenant in one way through pastors who preach the Word and administer the sacraments.
Jesus describes himself as sending the Holy Spirit through the preaching of his called servants of the Word. The Spirit gives life. He is the one who will keep real kingdom activity going in the congregation. The Spirit would strengthen the members of the church in Sardis who had remained true to him, and those who repented of their mere busyness. In order to be about our Father’s business, we need to preach and teach the Word of God, especially the gospel of Christ crucified and risen again.
The only hope of any congregation from dying is that gospel in Word and sacrament. Using the means of grace is real kingdom activity. This reminds me of the valley of the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision as the Spirit breathes life into them. Spiritual activity that is pleasing to the Lord is hearing and learning God’s Word. This creates and keeps us in faith.
Christ describes believers in Sardis and all believers as those who have not “soiled their clothes.” Soiled clothes are another way of speaking about impenitence and unbelief that rejects the white garment of Christ’s righteousness. Believers wear the robe of Christ’s righteousness. “They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
God promises to give those who remain true to him in faith the white garments of his righteousness under the law forever and ever. The Book of Life refers to the believer’s election to salvation by God’s grace in Christ Jesus. God has chosen us by his grace and called us by his gospel. He keeps us and the entire church in saving faith. What a glorious and comforting assurance that is.
The believers in Sardis who heard what the Spirit said to their church and repented had a bright future. Their fellow believers who had not been guilty of just busyness had a bright future. We were dead in our sins, and now repent of our falling into activity rather than faithfulness. We have a bright future. This bright future is not only in heaven. It already is ours as we are busily going about our Father’s business; declaring him who sends the Holy Spirit in order to make disciples of all nations. Amen.