Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:12-17
The third church in the letters of Christ to the seven churches was in the city of Pergamum. Like Smyrna, it was a center for emperor worship. There was a temple dedicated to the worship of Augustus (and subsequent Caesars) in Pergamum as well as the renowned Altar of Zeus.
Christ lauds the Christians in Pergamum for their willingness to suffer and display fidelity to the Christian faith. The problem in Pergamum was that although the Christians had publicly denounced idolatry, some of the people had privately allowed immorality (Rev 2:14) because of doctrinal corruption (Rev 2:15). Doctrinal corruption always leads to behavioral corruption.
It is true of many Christians today. Some condemn public evil … abortion, pornography, same sex marriage … but allow subtle sins in their own lives , like lust, hatred, neglect of prayer. The allowance of subtle sins, often, results from haziness about Biblical doctrine. Wrong thinking always leads to wrong behavior. So many of our churches today need a revitalization of precise, deep-rooted, fervent truth in their programs.
Biblical truth is being replaced today, in wholesale fashion and in the name of worship, by entertainment. While we stimulate our senses we are starving our souls. We need clear, demanding truth from the eternal Word of God. This is the only way our lives and our churches will remain pure light in the darkness. He who has an ear, let him hear.
