Living at the beach presents its own unique set of challenges to ministry. While the living is easy and relaxed, so too are its residents! For example, the absence rate at the beaches schools is the highest in the county! The joy in the lack of structure or rules governing the remainder of the world became evident years ago when Jacksonville merged all governmental organizations with the county, except for — you guessed it — the Jacksonville Beaches! This same laidback mentality showed up at our church. Though our pastor has been known to teach in shorts and a surfboard T-shirt, some of our attendees felt comfortable wearing beach-like attire to church. Our pastor was forced to ask the congregation if they realized what they were doing to each other and the impact it was having on people’s ability to worship and concentrate. Fortunately, the issue has not reared its ugly head again!
That mentality reminds me of the third city Christ addressed, Pergamum. It was the capitol city of the province of Asia noted for its wealth and culture. It boasted the temple to Aesculapius, the Greek God of healing, the temples and an altar of “Zeus the Savior,” the very first Caesar cult, the seat of Babylonian sun worship, a noble center of idolatry, and demon controlled religions with splendid temples to Nature. People from all over the Roman Empire came to seek healing in this pagan temple inhabited by thousands of harmless snakes. On the hills of Acropolis stood resplendent buildings, statuary, palaces and the great library of 200,000 books rivaling the Alexandrian collection. With so many religions and money it was only a matter of time before the mentality crept into the church.
The members of the church at Pergamum did not deny their faith in Christ, but they were careless by compromising their beliefs by remaining a part of the world and trying to satisfy the people around them. This caused them to be pulled in two directions. In the same way that Balaam used religious sexuality on the Israelites during the Exodus, the citizens of this church probably embraced the Gnostic or Nicolaitans’ concept of dualism, believing they could do what they wanted with their bodies because it was separate from their spiritual self. Although there was a commitment to Christ, their lives did not reflect it. Many referred to the church at Pergamum as “Carnal Christians.”
When you consider a church with all the pomp, ceremony, and, above all, showmanship, be careful of their motivation and their spiritual purity. Is it possible to have both — absolutely, but it is rare. You must remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23: Everything is permissible— but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. Look closely at what compromises are being made and then ask yourself if it is worth it eternally to be a part of a church that is popular and/or friends with the world, which by the way is NOT your home. Make sure the yoke you take on is easy and light so your life will not be complicated with excuses, rationalizations, or the pain brought about by sensual sin.
Love,
Dad