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discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Relatively Speaking

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I’ve heard visiting relatives are like dead fish: both stink by the third day! Whether that’s true depends on the relatives, I suppose. But one thing’s for sure: relationships are meant to be mutually beneficial and very little happens without them. Besides familial, friendship, and commercial advantages, relationships become the backbone for things like discipleship, charity, correction, and conflict resolution.

Discipleship. This only works when trusting, intimate relationships provide a conduit for learning and spiritual growth. Jesus utilized existing relationships and built upon them with friends such as James, John, Peter, Andrew, and Philip. He also grew new, trusting discipleship-focused relationships through existing connections: Nathanael, by way of Philip, is a great example. What else? Imitation!

Discipleship demands relationship-enabled imitation. Jesus “did what He saw the Father do, spoke what He heard the Father speak.” Paul imitated Jesus, and the Thessalonians imitated Paul. Then others imitated those folks. Do the math: disciples around Thessalonica, therefore, imitated the Father. Besides discipleship, relationships enable love and spiritual growth.

Charity and spiritual formation. God told Israel, and Jesus reiterated in Matthew 22:35-40, that we must honor Him with everything and love people. King Solomon explained in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that “two are better than one” for prosperity, comfort, and safety. Effective relationships permit spiritual encouragement and equipping as we exhibit patience (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Colossians 3:12-13). Similarly, close relationships allow us to do this: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) When that doesn’t work, we must resolve relational conflicts and reconcile.

Spiritual correction and conflict resolution. The apostle Peter wrote that “love covers a multitude of sins” as we seek to restore relationships (1 Peter 4:8; Galatians 6:1-2). They can be reconciled and healed through tender-heartedness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). We also use relationships to beat each other back into shape (spiritually speaking) as you’ll find in Proverbs 27:17. There’s a more sobering, and life-saving aspect to this, though.

Christians often say, “Who am I to judge?” but don’t buy into it! Jesus explained in Matthew 18:15-20 that our responsibility is lovingly calling out anti-Godly behavior. His half-brother James doesn’t mix words when he wrote that we must try to turn our Christian brothers and sisters from the ‘way of death’ (James 5:19-20). Need more? Check out 1 Corinthians chapter five and 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 for examples of needing to judge (I like ‘assess’ better!) God-fearing, Christ-followers to stay on the Way of Life (sexual immorality and slackers, in these Corinthian and Thessalonian cases). But, spiritual correction requires deep, authentic and trusting relationships to work.

Summary. Deep, trusting relationships are necessary for things like discipleship, charity, correction, and conflict resolution. One way to put them to work is by presenting the good news of God’s Kingdom to the yet-to-be-churched; an airtight alibi is essential. Let’s hang out there next!

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

A Leap of Faith!

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Jesus encouraged us by saying that faith can move mountains. Fine. But what is faith, and how do we get and keep it? You’ll find that it is the outcome of experience turned into action. Let’s explore this by first defining faith.

Faith defined. Faith, confidence, belief, and assurance are synonymous and provide the foundation and motivation for all else in a Christian’s journey: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”(Hebrews 11:1)

Faith’s sources. Faith in all things related to God is born and nurtured, never meant to be blind. Even Jesus fostered great confidence about God’s Kingdom and power through Spirit-fueled miracles and fulfilling ancient promises. Our faith comes through learning about these things: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). A primary source is the Scriptures that “were inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Faith also develops by witnessing God’s work in people’s lives through testimonies and our own experiences as we activate what we’ve learned. Of course, the common experiential source is God’s Spirit, who works through us on God’s behalf, illuminates His words and ways, and nudges us to stay on the Way of Life (e.g., John 16:13). The vehicle for all of this is discipleship.

Creating a foundation through discipleship is of utmost importance in developing (and keeping!) faith. Besides charity, it is supposed to be the church’s focus. Every function within it must support discipleship, or the church becomes just a collection of nickels and noses fueling religious business: a whitewashed tomb. Discipleship demands walking with people in their daily rhythms of life as Jesus did. And, as He also did, it involves training, observing, correcting, and sending. Discipleship is the soil that produces good spiritual fruit (Matthew 13:3-8 & 18-23). It’s the stuff of obedience, imitation, and replication that ensures faith is, and faith does.

Faith is as faith does! We love claiming that we are ‘saved by faith alone’ as if actionless belief in Jesus alone magically keeps us from God’s judgment. As Paul Harvey often quipped, “Now for the rest of the story!” Faith in God through Jesus MUST lead to charity (Godly love): “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. …” (James 1:22-25) “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:17-20)

Summary. Faith is confidence in what God has done and is doing. It is built through experiences born of discipleship and the Spirit, and it must produce. Relationships are the backbone of discipleship, so let’s go there next time. Meanwhile, believe, grow spiritually, and get to work!

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Humility … Jesus-style!

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The gentle will be blessed with inheriting the earth; the merciful receive mercy; the peacemaker is called a son of God (Matthew 5:5-9). These states of being require humility—lowering one’s self-importance to a place where they disappear and the ultimate good of others and obedience to God become dominant. This is desirable because God loves the humble and opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Our cancerous self-centeredness and citizenship in the ‘most individualistic nation in the world’ make humility nearly impossible, and we don’t see the behavior modeled often. So, I thought I’d help. After all, who wants to be opposed by God?!? What is humility? What isn’t?

False humility. To respond after condemnation with, “I mess up too …” without stating any sins (certainly not the BIG ones!) is one example. It can come as “humble bragging” or self-righteous prayers. Sometimes, false humility downplays abilities in the shadow of an underlying superior attitude. Humility is, and does, none of these prideful things, though!

Humble is as humble does. Solomon, purportedly the wisest human ever, wrote in Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.” So, wisdom and humility can go hand in hand. The humble walk by God’s Spirit and are gentle, self-controlled, and kind in their childlike unconditional love and lack of self-inflation. Their reward? They will be exalted and elevated to significant positions in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:14).

And this is what humble does. The humble turn the other cheek and understand that just because something could be said doesn’t mean it should. They don’t brag, and their concern, prayers, and humility are sincere. Here are a few biblical examples of humility:

  • Jesus, although fretting about the incredible pain and suffering about to take place, and after asking God to take it from Him, obediently accepted His fate (Luke 22:42).
  • Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8-9). His reward? Exaltation and promotion!
  • “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
  • We place the well-being and ultimate good of others above our own: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
  • We patiently bear with others in the pursuit of peace, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
  • Finally, the prophet Micah teaches us that God requires us to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him” (Micah 6:8).

Summary. God loves the humble and peacemaker while opposing the proud, arrogant, fake, violent, or unloving. Which are you? Next time, we’ll step out in faith. Meanwhile, love justice and mercy, and walk humbly with God authentically.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

No Excuses!

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Billions of people worldwide believe in a single God, an intelligent being who created everything and will one day reclaim His stuff after tolerating human self-centered, pleasure-seeking nonsense long enough. However, billions more don’t share the belief.

Some (atheists or nontheists) adamantly oppose the idea, believing themselves to be masters of their universe. Others (agnostics) have no idea one way or the other. Still others (pantheists) believe that the universe, with its gas, rocks, and unknowns, is synonymous with ‘god.’ Pagans often worship nature as a god. A core tenet of alternatives to a single Creator can be the belief that everything came from a rock billions of years ago, as if anything’s possible given enough time … Nonetheless, we who believe in a unique Creator and Master of everything have absolute reasons for this stance. This article will focus on two: the uncaused first cause and nature.

The Uncaused First Cause. Everything and natural laws have been caused, spawned, or created by something. Nothing happens out of nothing; anything with a beginning is brought about because of an initial uncreated cause. A painting is made by a creator infinitely greater than the painting. Its paint is born of pigments and human intervention. The pigments come from something other than themselves. You get the idea: work backward, and you’ll soon understand that the first thing created was caused by something that couldn’t have been created.

In short, this ‘causal’ argument states, “behind everything there is either an infinite and eternal chain of greater and greater causes, or there is ultimately a first great cause.  And the first great cause must itself be infinite and eternally uncaused.” Even the ‘small hot spot’ some claim contained all the universe’s stuff and blew up in the ‘big bang’ couldn’t create itself! But the wisdom of ‘uncaused first cause’ isn’t the only witness to the Creator—God: so is nature.

Nature. Look up: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1) Now, look around: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20).

Consider the human brain, the most complicated biological system with its intricacies and neural interdependencies. Think about animals, insects, and plants—some with symbiotic relationships, which require precise order and timing in creation. And what about the laws of nature that govern it? Without them and their uncaused first cause, nothing else works.

Summary. Were you created, and are you managed, by an intelligent designer? Or are gas, rocks, and other stuff your ancestor and god? Let me know if you’d like help deciding. What’s next?  Let’s find out what it means to be humble, Jesus-style! In the meantime, quit making excuses for not acknowledging the Creator and aligning with Him.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Jesus in the Underworld

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Jesus died in the flesh after Roman crucifixion and was resurrected three days later. Upon that, most Christians will agree. But what happened before the resurrection? Where was Jesus during that time, and what did He do while He was there? I’ve heard things like, “Jesus went to the grave, preached to all the dead people, and got ‘em saved!” Let’s discover the truth, starting with a foresight into Jesus’s subterranean visit.

Where: The prophecy. “… Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He [Jesus] answered and said to them, “. . . no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

So, where was Jesus after His crucifixion? In the “heart of the earth,” where disobedient spiritual beings await their final end-of-the-age disposition. What did He do during that time? Let’s search for the answer with what He did NOT do.

What: Fake news. The idea that Jesus preached to dead people to ‘get ‘em saved’ is nonsense. First,the Bible teaches there’s no middle ground, do-overs, or second chances where God is concerned. We live as we choose until we die and then are judged accordingly (e.g., Hebrews 9:27). Second, the apostle Peter taught that Jesus’ ‘preaching’ in the underworld was to doomed angelic beings—the Watchers who corrupted humankind, prompting the great flood (not the spirits of dead people). Now, more on that truth.

What: The truth. Read 1 Peter 3:18-20, and you’ll find thatJesus’ proclamation was to imprisoned disobedient spirits. What disobedience? Why did God imprison them? The Book of Enoch provides much information on the subject, but you can read a summary in Genesis, chapter six. But, basically, it was because they taught humans things they shouldn’t know and had sexual relations with them, corrupting God’s creation. They’ve been imprisoned in the underworld since and await God’s great judgment and wrath at the end of this age (see Jude 1:6).

What did Jesus proclaim to them? That their fate had been sealed with Christ’s triumph over death. They’d lost; Christ had won, and wrath is coming for all who oppose the Creator. In case you’re now wondering, “What about all those people who died before Jesus could ‘save’ them?” This will all be fleshed out in God’s great end-of-the-world judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).

Summary. In the underworld between crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus proclaimed His triumph in fulfilled prophecy to spiritual prisoners, the angels who corrupted humans post-Eden (not the spirits of dead people!). What’s next?  From uncaused first cause to nature, we’ll discover that there’s no excuse for denying God. Meanwhile, remember there are no do-overs where God is concerned: choose well, stay there, and live.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Find Joy in Anything!

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Troubles come and go. Well, it seems that they mostly come these days. And then there’s work … and chores. Plenty of them! During all that, peace of mind and cheerfulness can be ever elusive. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Things that can make us unhappy don’t have to drag us down. Believe it or not, we can be cheerful amidst them. Even mundane tasks like doing dishes, mowing the lawn, or housework can be done cheerfully and for God’s glory through pure joy. What is ‘joy,’ and how is that possible?

Joy is a cheerfulness that comes from within. It manifests as calm delight or great gladness. Unlike happiness, which depends on external forces, joy’s cheerfulness is generated deep within our souls. Its power enables us to rejoice amidst trouble, as we see in James 1:2 (“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials”). The apostle echoes a similar sentiment in 2 Corinthians 7:4. Rejoicing during hardships might seem impossible, but God’s Spirit enables this ability.

He gives His Spirit to everyone who devotes to Him by ‘making Jesus Lord’ (Romans 10:8-10). That Spirit comforts us. Heals us. Illuminates so we see truth and life. He also produces joy when we walk with Him, as seen in Galatians 5:22 (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”). When we allow the Spirit to change and guide us, anything good is possible—even being of good cheer in the middle of trouble or tedious chores. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century theologian, taught much about this.

She stressed that we could (and should) find joy in everyday tasks, thinking of them as acts of worshipful service. To her, daily duties should be a form of devotion; “even the most mundane tasks are opportunities to express love for God.” Joy can be found even in the smallest or most mundane task, “considering nothing too little when done for God.” How can we do this practically?

First, remember that God gave you life; every breath and act belongs to Him. Therefore, we can imagine that everything we do is for Him in some way. Second, the transforming power of God’s Spirit changes how we look at chores or hardship—our minds are renewed when we are in harmony with Him. Finally, turn boring stuff into challenges; congratulate yourself for accomplishing them or persevering through trials and trouble.

Summary. You can be joyful—of good cheer—during trouble or while doing boring tasks through the mind-transforming Spirit of God and approaching those situations differently. So, where will we go next? Let’s explore “Jesus in the Underworld” as I correct faulty thinking and traditions about what Jesus did when He was in the earth for three days before His resurrection. Until then, walk by God’s Spirit and find joy in anything, even the mundane!

God’s blessings and peace, Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

What’s Your Story?

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Mention the need to evangelize their faith, and Christians tend to freak out. They imagine having to go door to door handing out pamphlets and telling people about a Jesus they don’t often know how to verbalize. Evangelism isn’t meant to be this way. Instead, we’re to organically present the Kingdom of God through Holy Spirit-fueled actions and stories. Here are a couple of examples:

 [Jesus] said to her, “‘Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to [Jesus], “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” … “So the woman … went into the city and said to the men, Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done …” (John 4:16-19; 4:28-29)

And a leper came to Jesus, … saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. … [and he] went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere. (Mark 1:40-45)

Your experiences are your evangelism; no one can refute what God has done for you and through you. So, use what you know to introduce the Kingdom to those who need to meet Him. As you walk by the Spirit God has given you, verbalize your faith meaningfully. In other words, tell about your experiences and the Kingdom in speech and actions the unchurched will understand; meet them where they are. Don’t use ‘Christianese’ or words even most Christians don’t understand, like ‘propitiation’ or ‘sanctification.’ Your defense for your faith—your ‘elevator pitch,’ doesn’t even have to mention a God or Christ at first, which the hearer likely won’t know or understand.

Here’s a brief example: “I was a drunk. I’d lost everything. But in my darkest moment, I learned about the creator of everything, including you and me, who loves us so much and wants us to have a relationship with Him and be healed. He has changed my life, and, as you see, I’m a new person. You can be, too! Let me tell you how …”

Summary. God has worked with you and through you. Just act accordingly and talk about those things. Use what you know to introduce God to those who need Him. Next time, let’s learn how to find joy in anything. Meanwhile, share your Kingdom experiences—first by action, then by word if necessary.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

When Love Grows Cold …

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In my last article, I taught that real, unconditional, godly love is “doing the right thing no matter how we ‘feel.’” It doesn’t come and go with an emotional or sexual wind; it’s constant and actionable. That’s God’s love for us, as proved by Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection from the dead to pay our debt to the Creator and give us hope. Similarly, we do real, unconditional love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). How can we summarize and do real love?

True love seeks the highest good in others. It is always actionable and even translated occasionally as ‘charity.’ For instance, the apostle Paul mentions these actions (or lack of certain actions) in a not-all-inclusive true love list (1 Corinthians 13:4-6): “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”

Furthermore, Jesus gave the following examples when teaching about last-days judgment in Matthew 25:31-40: “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in … Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” In other words, do love and live.

Still, Jesus said true love will ‘grow cold’ in the last days: “At that time many will fall away … Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” (Matthew 24:10-13) What does that mean? What would, or does, cold love look like?

If true love = action, cold love is the opposite: diminishing charity, patience, self-control, truth, etc. Look around, and this is the predominant posture in America, which has earned the title of “the most self-centered nation in the world.” What will be the end for the loveless? “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment …” (Matthew 25:45-46)

Summary. True love seeks the highest good in others through actions like charity and self-control. Cold love deceives, deprives, and hurts others. What’s next? Let’s explore evangelism in “What’s Your Story?” In the meantime, don’t be lukewarm in your zeal for God and don’t let your love run cold! The results could be devastating!

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Godly Superstars on the Fringe

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God created people and does amazing things with and through them—not necessarily the pristine, wealthy, or popular, but often the poor, despised, and unexpected. Matthew or Zacheus, presumably greedy Jewish folk who collected taxes for the Romans, may come to mind. This article isn’t about them. Instead, I want to introduce you to God’s superstars on the fringe who weren’t Hebrew or Israelite but pagans, some harlots and warmongers. Yet, God used them to draw creation back to Himself. Let’s take a look at a few, starting with Job.

Job. This righteous man, perhaps an Edomite, lived at around 2,000 BCE. He honored God with all he had and did. And God found favor in him as a result: “The LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’” (Job 1:8). God presents him as an incredible model of perseverance and reverence.

Melchizedek. This pagan king of Salem reigned in around 2,000 BCE in the days of Abraham. Despite not being in the lineage of Abraham to Jesus (and not from the Jewish priestly line!), he was considered a “priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). You can read all about him and Jesus’ comparison to him in Hebrews chapters 5-7 (FYI: Melchizedek was a real king/priest, NOT Jesus pre-incarnate!).

Tamar. This stubborn Aramean Gentile lived in the House of Judah in about 1,600 BCE. When she was betrayed by the King, she pretended to be a prostitute so he’d sleep with her and produce an heir. Pushing for her rights in this way proved her loyalty to Judah and earned her a place in Jesus’ lineage.

Rahab. This Canaanite prostitute lived in Jericho at around 1,400 BCE. Regardless of her occupation, her faithfulness earned her a place in biblical history when she hid and protected Israelite spies. Her works by faith also earned her a place in Jesus’ lineage: she was King David’s great-great-grandmother.

Ruth. This Moabite woman lived around 1,300 BCE and was King David’s great-grandmother. She was an incredibly loyal and kind woman who stayed by her widowed mother-in-law, helping her return to Israel, where Ruth became part of Jesus’ lineage.

Cornelious. Our final godly ‘superstar on the fringe’ is Cornelius (Roman Centurion from the Italian Cohort), who lived around 30 CE. His claim to fame? This pagan soldier prayed to the one true God and then obediently summoned Peter, who preached the good news of God’s Kingdom to him and his family. Cornelious is likely the first converted Gentile.

Summary. God will have His way—sometimes through the least of us, those on the fringe of society or culture. Next time, we’ll examine what it looks like “When Love Runs Cold.” Meanwhile, remember that God can use you even if you might be ‘on the fringe.’

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Apocalyptic Poster Children

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I’m an ‘end times’ dude. Not an imperious date-setting soul, but someone interested in teaching people easy-to-understand truths about the end of this age and all it comprises. I published “Finding the End of the World” to do just that in 2011. Here, I’d like to clear up confusion about Revelation’s letters to seven churches to address real people with real problems.

Clearing the fog. Some teach that biblical history is divided into eras (dispensations) representing God’s interaction with people. Furthermore, historical dispensationalists insist that the seven churches of Revelation (chapters two and three) represent particular church ages from the apostles to Christ’s return. Don’t buy into it. The letters contain admonishments and praises to existing churches—nothing more, nothing less, although we can learn from them. Let’s begin our journey by introducing John’s Revelation and the letters.

Introduction to the Revelation. In about 95 CE, Emporer Domitian exiled John (and his scribe Prochorus) to Patmos. They penned the Revelation within two years until Emporer Nerva freed them. What was unveiled? Last-day events from increasing false Christs, war, famine, and earthquakes to great judgment and the new age. Chapter one introduces the Revelation, chapters two and three contain instructions to seven of John’s Asia Minor churches, chapters 4 and 5 prepare to unveil the future, and chapters 6:1 through 22:5 detail a future hinted at by Jesus 70 years beforehand (e.g., Matthew 24-25). Now, the letters.

The Letters.

  • Ephesus. This ‘great’ city had an assembly that refused to follow heretics but whose love for God, Christ, and each other had grown cold.
  • Smyrna. This ‘loveliest’ city was home to prideful Christian-persecuting Jews (‘Synagogue of Satan’). Saints would have to persevere through a short tribulation to inherit God’s Kingdom.
  • Pergamum. Called “Satan’s throne,” it was the pagan worship center of Asia. Heresies and immorality abounded, as did self-indulgence. Jesus said, “Change!”
  • Thyatira. True Christians refusing paganism and immoralities couldn’t buy and sell in the marketplace, although prophetess Jezebel misled some to compromise. Others standing fast would avoid God’s future wrath.
  • Sardis. A legendarily wealthy and degenerate city with a dead church (except for a few). Overcome or be erased from the Book of Life!
  • Philadelphia. City of brotherly love, city of earthquakes … and another Synagogue of Satan against the Church. Believers would face tribulation but be empowered by Jesus to persevere.
  • Laodicea. “Lukewarm Laodicea” existed between hot and cold springs, producing undesirable lukewarm water. It was wealthy, self-centered, indifferent, and lukewarm in faith. Jesus to Laodicean Christians: “Overcome and rule with Me!”

Summary. God gave Jesus warnings and commendations to send to overseers of seven Asia Minor churches. They were contained in seven letters (Revelation chapters three and four). The immoral would suffer God’s wrath, while overcomers would inherit God’s Kingdom. Read and heed! What’s next? Let’s explore godly superstars on the fringe. In the meantime, be like the assemblies of Smyrna or Philadelphia or suffer the consequences.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.