Pergamum – The Tolerant Church – Sermon 1 September, 2013

Pergamum – The Tolerant Church

Rev. 2:12-17

So far, we have examined the Church in Ephesus and the Church in Smyrna. The church of Ephesus did many good deeds, but they had forsaken their primary love. Therefore Jesus calls them to repent and turn back to their first love. The church of Smyrna had faced many persecutions and kept the faith and Jesus was happy to award them with the crown of life.

Today we will look at the Church in Pergamum.

God, in being a perfect God, desires that the church which represents the body of Christ in the world be perfect. To be a perfect church we need to battle against the evil of the world without compromising and tolerating sin. If the members of church tolerate sin and compromise in the holy Christian principles, Jesus with his double edged sword will fight against the church and against the idol worship.

The city of Pergamum was located north of Ephesus and Smyrna and about 15 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. Pergamum with a population of more than 160,000 was the cultural, religious and intellectual centre of the region. There were major pagan temples like the temple of Athena (the goddess of wisdom and the arts) and Zeus (ruler of the heavens and father of other gods).

Many people were worshiping the idols. Christ is commending the Christians for not renouncing their faith, even though they lived in a city controlled by Satan. Some of them like Antipas even lost their lives, because they refused to renounce their faith in God. This is even happening today all over the world. Christians are being killed because they will not give up their faith in God.

Christ had a short commendation for the Church in Pergamum. Then comes the Condemnation:

“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

Balak was king of Moab and he was afraid that the Israelites would attack and kill all of them. Balak sent for Balaam the prophet to place a curse upon the Israelites so that he could destroy the Israelites. God told Balaam not to curse the Israelites, but to say the words of blessings that God gave him. Since Balaam could not curse the Israelites, he taught Balak how to tempt the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. The Moab women seduced the men of Israel to commit immoral sexual acts and to make sacrifices to their gods. The men of Israel ate and bowed down before these gods. God told Moses to kill all the leaders of Israel who have joined in worshipping Baal. As a result of this idolatry and fornication, which was caused by compromise, many Israelites died. Therefore, we find the doctrine of Balaam was lowering the standard of life that God expected from His people.

Christ also condemned the church for allowing some to hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans were a sect of the Gnostic, who taught impure doctrines and followed impure practices. They were thought to have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5. The Nicolaitans taught adultery and fornication and that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful.

We as Christians cannot compromise our divine doctrine just to not offend anyone. This is not acceptable for Jesus. Tolerating sin is not acceptable.

Because of His love for the Church, Christ warns the church and calls for repentance.

The Command:

“Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

If the church remains to be tolerant Christ will take over the church and its mission. For the church to be perfect, it needs repentance. If not, Christ Himself will battle against Satan.

With this warning there is also a promise of heavenly rewards, which should encourage the church today. God is looking for a perfect church. To be a perfect church we should battle against sin and any power or current, which can tarnish the church.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”

Jesus is warning us to listen to what He is saying to the churches, because it also applies to us today. If we overcome our transgressions, Christ will give us life.

Jesus is promising eternal life to those who overcome.

Krikor Youmshajekian