Recognizing our Life in Pergamum

Scripture: I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Revelation 2:13-15

Observation: John is writing to the church of Pergamum. They are in a city at the very heart of the evil ways of the time, and doing well to be Christ's witness there. However, they also fall into a dangerous category ... believers who effectively interpret the forgiveness of sin by Jesus to mean that all Mosaic law is void, and immoral practices are now permitted - maybe even encouraged as ritual practices - because if they are sin, they are also forgiven.

To put this another way: This church exists in a place that is actively opposed to Yahweh, and yet they have the courage to declare Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, to proclaim the good news, to publicly demonstrate their faith. However, they also choose to embrace certain activities that would be more aligned to that local culture, especially laying aside certain moral principles, likely due to both their own upbringing within the worldly culture, and a misapplication of the Jesus' redemptive gift.

Jesus - through John - praises the former actions, and corrects the latter behavior.

Application: Seattle is the center of secular behavior in the United States. We are the home of the largest modern transportation company, the largest online retail company, the largest technology company, the largest warehouse wholesale company, the largest coffee company ... in the world. With the exception of entertainment and politics, these are the very industries/organizations that now influence thought and cultural norms on our planet.

Meanwhile, Seattle is the least-churched place in the United States, aligned more closely to the "10-40 window" when it comes to Christian faith. The politics, culture, and attitude of Seattle are radically leaned toward behaviors that are the very definition of "anti-Mosaic law". In fact, most people wouldn't know what that means ... they have no concept of any connection between "morals" and any teachings of the bible. They are more likely to adamantly deny there is any possibility of such a connection. They actively declare as 'right' those things that are morally wrong beyond debate, and declare morally wrong any person who doesn't agree.

Our church - my friends, my wife, and I - live in Pergamum. We believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, declare his gospel, and seek to show his love to others. So I must ask myself ... do I fall into the teaching and the stumbling block of Balaam? Do I hold to the ways of the Nicolaitans? Are there elements of my life that are a conflict to the laws and teachings of the bible, but which I actively embrace (or at least tolerate) in my life?

This is a warning I must take very, very seriously. Clearly the first churches, still receiving teaching and council from the apostles, could fall into such a trap. And clearly the Revelation of Jesus was meant to be timeless and heeded by all churches throughout history.

I want the 'hidden manna' and the 'white stone' with a new name, promised to those who overcome. I do not want war waged against my city and my country.

Prayer: Lord, please show to me the elements of my life where I have embraced cultural norms that are opposed to your teaching, and help me to repent. I want to live a life you would teach, and not a life that looks like all the others in this region. Amen.