A TALE OF TWO CHURCHES

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness..." wrote Charles Dickens in his book, "A Tale Of Two Cities". For the Only Begotten Son of God though, it was praise for one church and it was rebuke for the other. Among the seven churches that received letters from our Lord in the book of Revelation, were the church in Pergamos and the church in Philadelphia. Two churches whose judgements couldn't be more stark in contrast.

Whereas the church in Pergamos was told by the Lord to "Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (Rev.2:16), the church in Philadelphia received a promise from Christ who said; "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you" (Rev.3:9).

However, friends, it would interest you to know that both these churches did the same works. Our Lord told the church in Pergamos; "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells" (Rev.2:13). And to the church in Philadelphia, our Lord said; "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name" (Rev.3:8).

Notice if you would that just as the church in Pergamos held fast to the name of Christ and did not deny His faith, which is His word (cf. Rom.10:17; Jude 3), the church in Philadelphia also kept the word of Christ and did not deny His name. They both did the same things. Now, if both these churches did the same works, then why did He who judges in righteousness (Acts 17:31), praise one and rebuke the other?

The reason is that, in spite of what the church in Pergamos did, they were in fellowship with unrepentant false teachers, who taught and held onto false doctrines. Jesus said to this church; "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam...Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent or else..." (Rev.2:14-16).

Friends, this is the same Jesus who prayed for unity (John 17) and asked His disciples to love one another (John 13:34-35) and to be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50). Yet, here He is warning a church to withdraw its fellowship from unrepentant false teachers or risk being on His bad side.The lessons here are numerous.

First of all, we learn from this that love, unity and peace do not mean tolerating false doctrines. Was the church in Pergamos supposed to love the false teachers? Absolutely! Then why were they rebuked? Because like the apostle Paul taught, Love "does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth" (1 Cor.13:6). John, "the apostle of love" also wrote; "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).

Secondly, we learn that not all peace and unity efforts are pleasing to God. God Almighty speaks out against those who say "Peace, Peace! When there is no peace" (Jer.6:14). The efforts at Babel, inspite of the obvious fact that the people were united, was displeasing to God, because it did not take His word to multiply and fill the earth (Gen.9:7) into consideration (Gen.11). No doubt the church in Pergamos were "living and let live" and were at peace with those who taught the false doctrines. Yet, the judgement of Christ against them, was as strong as Gibraltar. "REPENT".

Thirdly, we learn that scriptural unity and peace are based on doctrinal agreement. The "non-prophet prophet" Amos asked a rhetorical question; "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Some claim doctrinal agreement is impossible but that is an affront to the Lord who inspired these words; "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement" (1 Cor.1:10). If it is impossible to understand scripture alike, then why the warning to the church at Pergamos?

Fourthly, we learn that we can know and know that we know the truth. Jesus said; "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Some who profess Christianity are nothing more than agnostics because they deny these very words of our Lord. If it is impossible to know the truth, then the Lord should have said to the church at Pergamos, something along the lines of, "Since it's impossible to know the truth and to know that another person is wrong, those of you who do not hold the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans should hold unto your understanding of the scriptures and allow those who hold those doctrines, to also hold unto their understanding of the scriptures".

Finally, we learn the necessity of sound doctrine. The Lord indeed hates false doctrines; "...which thing I hate" (Rev.2:15) and all who are His followers should likewise hate false doctrines to the extent that they can say with the Psalmist; "Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way" (Psa.119:104). The apostle Paul wrote to Titus; "But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). And to Timothy; "Take heed...to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim.4:16).

We should always be quick to restore and to teach those who are in error, "...the way of God more accurately" (Gal.6:1; 2 Tim.2:24-26). However, if a supposed Apollos after coming face to face with the truth, still rejects it, then he needs to be "...delivered to Satan..." like Paul did to Hymenaeus and Alexander, for his own sake and for the sake of the church (1 Cor.5:5-8; Rev.18:4; Rom.16:17; Eph.5:11; Tit.3:10). When Ephraim becomes "joined to idols", the divine directive is to "let him alone" (Hosea 4:17).  

May we be ever cognizant of these timeless lessons from these two churches.