Church

A Dead Church

To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Revelation 3:1


Can you imagine being in a church and hearing these words from Jesus? “People consider you to be a spiritually thriving church but I am not fooled. You are dead spiritually.”

Jesus is saying that a church can have a reputation for being a God-honoring, spiritually alive congregation and yet be spiritually dead. That indictment has nothing to do with size. It has everything to do with heart.

I do not presume to know what was in God’s mind for the church in Sardis, or what is in God’s mind for churches today, but here are some differences between dead churches and alive churches.

A dead church has the practice of religion; an alive church has the presence of God.

A dead church has a form of religion; an alive church has the power of God.

A dead church seeks to impress people; an alive church seeks to please God.

A dead church is marked by comfortable Christianity; an alive church is marked by fierce loyalty to Jesus.

A dead church has the formality of prayer; an alive church is devoted to prayer.

For a dead church, it’s all about the church; for an alive church, it’s all about Jesus.

A dead church is infused with tradition; an alive church is infused with the Holy Spirit.

A dead church has lukewarm ritual; an alive church has heartfelt worship.

A dead church is willing to compromise; an alive church has a zeal for holiness.

A dead church trusts God for the comfortable; an alive church trusts God for the impossible.

A dead church has inward focus and minimal impact; an alive church has outward focus and worldwide impact.

A dead church feels like a country club; an alive church feels like a spiritual army.

O God, may we be a church that pleases you! Above all else, may we be pleasing to you!