How to Be Wrong in the Right

Considering the letter to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) as a whole, it strikes me that here we have a case study in how to be wrong in the right. That is, here is a church that holds the right beliefs without compromise (even in the face of persecution) but has lost the love that is at the center of following Jesus. So, their statement of faith is solid, but their way of life is suspect. They’ve got the right books on their shelves but, their love for God and others well, maybe it’s on the shelf too.

In our world, it feels like the biggest danger to the church is compromise on our beliefs. Often, we hear of this ‘big name’ theologian or teacher or preacher or musician who’s now in favor of what the Bible is clearly against. Social media feeds are filled with Christians who’ve “discovered” a new way to understand what the Bible teaches on everything from sexuality to the sanctity of human life. In such an environment, it can feel like the most important work we can do is ‘guard the truth’ and carefully ensure that we are not compromising with the ever louder voices that cry for us to see things differently. And, while it is true that we have this hard and often thankless task as a church, we must be careful not to let ourselves fall into creed only Christianity. Right beliefs are vital. Please understand that but, we have to live our beliefs, or they become meaningless, no matter their purity. I think this is, in part, why the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy as pastor of the church at Ephesus, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16) Life AND doctrine. These are linked and one without the other is fatally flawed. One is the air you breathe; the other is the lungs which make breathing possible. Wrong air and you are dead. No lung function and you are equally dead. Better air equals better life. Better lung function equals better life. And so it is for us spiritually. Don’t put up with dirty air, polluted by unbiblical doctrine. It poisons the lungs and if it goes on long enough leads to death. Don’t put up with lungs that function poorly, that is a life that is lived far from love for God and others. Such poor function leads to hardening of tissue and if it goes on long enough that too will kill you. The key is the two together. Doctrine and life, life and doctrine. Keep a close eye to both. Refuse to compromise on either. Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit on both, if we are humble, He promises to be our teacher in these vital realities. (see John 14:23-26; 16:13-15)

One last encouraging thought, it seems from history that the church at Ephesus responded well to Jesus’ letter. They became, once more, a church who were right in the right. As a result, Jesus used them to transform many people. Let it be said of us that we kept a close eye on both our lives and our doctrine. And might it be that God, in His grace, uses HLAC to change people’s lives.