Church of Ephesus: Where's the Love?
The letter of Revelation is one of the most beautiful, challenging, and often misunderstood book in the Bible. With that being said my Bible study group has decided to tackle it and see what we can learn from this ancient letter. I will not blog the entirety of it, but will do so when I encounter something that strikes me in a particular way.
"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. (Revelation 2:2, 3 ESV)
They are not a blown-with-the-wind kind of bunch. They show a level of commitment to the things of Christ that is exemplary; they are a catechized bunch who will not be deceived by wannabe theology. They are characterized by their endurance through times of trial. These are the people we strive to be like! An model group, to be sure.
Jesus, however, see's a potential crack in the damn that if left unchecked would end up washing the church off the map, and destroying their standing with Christ. The Ephesians, though focused, serious, and patient, were doing things not from a motivation of love. They have, "abandoned the love [they] had at first."
I'm not sure how it happened, perhaps their continual defense of the gospel left them viewing those false apostles as unreachable enemies of the gospel. Therefore they defended the gospel with no care or prayer for the soul of the false proclaimer, their aim was simply to defend and dispatch. Maybe they became so focused on enduring or testing that they forgot to minister to orphans and widows. I'm not sure, they know and Jesus knows.
The report they received is one that we can easily receive. It is far too easy to become driven by the particulars of ministry (bible study, food pantry organization, vacation bible school) that we forget about the love that first drew us to ministry. The word of God comes to us today reminding us that ministry to the world minus love, and service to Christ minus love, may paint a model picture. It might even result in a seemingly vibrant community of faith. But the end result is destruction. Without love the church cannot sustain. This is why Jesus' warning is so severe.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (Revelation 2:5 ESV)
Christianity in modern day Turkey (or Ephesus) is almost nonexistent. If it exists at all it does so in quietness and under the cover of darkness. I'm not quite sure what happened to them. How did this once notable church become a hidden church? Perhaps they never returned to their loving ways, maybe it was something else. We cannot be sure. What we can be sure of is that all of our endeavors should be driven primarily from love. It is possible to minister without love, but that ministry will not last.
The reminder to "return to our first love" is one that should constantly be remembered, and our motives constantly analyzed. This way we can ensure Christ's presence being within our community, and the driving force behind our ministry. And we can anticipate paradise with God.