2 Marks of a Dying Church’s Faith (Revelation 1:20)

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“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20, NIV)

The Bible tells us that believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). One such place is revealed in Revelation 1:13, where John sees Jesus standing among seven lampstands. This imagery is further clarified in Revelation 1:20 to symbolize the church. In the Old Testament, the golden lampstand, or menorah, provided light in the Tabernacle and temple. Likewise, the church illuminates the world with the light of the gospel. This post shall expose the two marks of a dying church’s faith, which is not playing its role in dispelling darkness and advancing the kingdom of God in a territory.

#1 – Witnesses for Christ Only Instead of Witnesses Unto Him Also

The church’s primary mandate is to be a witness unto Christ. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To be a witness for Christ involves proclaiming His name and sharing the gospel. However, to be a witness unto Him requires that our lives themselves testify to His reality and power.

Being a witness unto Christ means that our character, actions, and relationships reflect the authenticity of Jesus. The way we solve problems, engage with others, and handle challenges should demonstrate the transformative power of Christ’s presence in our lives. It is not merely about verbal testimony; it is about living evidence of Christ’s image and personality daily.

In this regard, the church must ask itself: Does our community exhibit the life of Christ? Do we resolve conflicts in a way that honors Him? Do we care for the poor, uphold justice, and love one another as Christ loved us? If these qualities are absent, the church’s witness is reduced to hollow words, failing to reveal the living Christ to a watching world.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ time serve as a cautionary example. They were zealous for God but failed to embody His character. Jesus rebuked them in Matthew 23:27, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” A church that focuses only on outward appearances or programs without inner transformation becomes a “whitewashed tomb.”

Furthermore, the church must recognize that human beings are inherently analytical and judgmental. People observe and assess the lives of believers to determine the validity of their faith. Paul reminded the Corinthians, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone” (2 Corinthians 3:2). If the church fails to live as Christ’s “letter,” it loses credibility, and becomes ineffective in its mission.

#2 – Doctrinal Diseases

A second mark of a dead church is the presence of doctrinal diseases. These are false teachings or distortions of biblical truth that lead believers away from Christ. When the church elevates anything above Jesus—be it traditions, philosophies, or personal agendas—it deviates from its foundation.

Colossians 2:9-10 declares, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Christ is the source, center, and circumference of the church. When He is obscured or replaced, the church loses its way.

Doctrinal diseases manifest in several ways. For instance, legalism occurs when rules and rituals take precedence over a genuine relationship with Christ. Legalism reduces faith to a checklist of dos and don’ts, stripping it of grace and joy. Jesus criticized this tendency in the Pharisees, saying, “You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down” (Mark 7:13). In addition, prosperity Gospel teachings emphasize material wealth and success as signs of God’s favor, often sidelining the gospel’s call to self-denial and spiritual maturity. Paul warned against this in 1 Timothy 6:5, describing those who think “Godliness is a means to financial gain” as having corrupt minds.

Doctrinal diseases hinder the church’s ability to grow in grace and knowledge. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared, “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The “rock” is the revelation of Christ—the foundation upon which the church stands. When this foundation is compromised, the church becomes vulnerable to division, confusion, and spiritual decay.

In conclusion, Satan’s strategy is to weaken the church through two primary means: shifting its focus from being witnesses unto Christ to merely witnesses for Him, and introducing doctrinal diseases that obscure the centrality of Christ. To overcome the marks of a dead church, we must grow in the revelation of Christ, grounding ourselves in sound doctrine and living as authentic witnesses to His reality.

The example of Philip in Acts 8:5-14 illustrates the transformative power of one individual who walks in the light of Christ. When he entered Samaria, the stronghold of darkness imposed by Simon the sorcerer was broken. Similarly, a church that remains steadfast on the foundation of Christ will prevail against the gates of Hades, shining as a beacon of hope in its territory. Let us, therefore, strive to build our lives and churches on the rock of Christ’s revelation, ensuring that His light continues to shine in a dark and desperate world.

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