And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead … You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:1,4)

Living In A Dead Church

The letters to the seven churches of Asia found in the book written by John are a telling commentary on the condition of a local congregation. Seven churches near one another are used by the Lord to describe the varied conditions of what can be found in any local church family. Ephesus was an amazing church with many good things to say about their work. However, they had lost their first love and needed to refocus their attention on serving the Lord. Smyrna was commended for the persecution they faced and did not waver in their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pergamos was a good work, but it had a spirit of compromise that tainted their efforts. There were internal problems the Lord demanded needed to be corrected. Thyatira was known for their works, love, service, faith, and patience. With all these good things to say about the brethren, they had corrupted the truth of the gospel by allowing an evil influence to overcome the church. Philadelphia was a beacon of faithfulness in their love for the Lord to not deny the name of Christ in the midst of persecution. Laodicea was a church like so many. They were neither hot nor cold in their work of the Lord and languished in lukewarm apathy. Their view of themselves was misguided by their conceit of what they were doing.

The church at Sardis was unique among the seven. They had a name for themselves for all their works, but according to the judgment of Jesus Christ, the church family was dead spiritually. It is hard to imagine worshipping at a church the Lord deems “without life.” There are many things from the divine standpoint that can dictate why a church family is dead. From the view of the brotherhood, Sardis had a name for themselves. Jesus shows that having a good name among the brethren does not suggest a good name with the Father. There were severe problems at Sardis that needed to be corrected.

Jesus warns the church to be watchful and strengthen the things that remain. It seems not a lot of life was left in the congregation. The change that needed to take place was clear. Repentance was the order of the day. Judgment was coming. Jesus stood in the midst of the seven golden lampstands representing each of the seven churches. The lampstands are placed there by God, and by His will, the lampstand is removed. As long as the lampstand remained, Sardis was still a church of God, but it was on perilous ground.

With the sentence of death pronounced on the church at Sardis, the Lord made a remarkable observation. In the congregation of God’s people that have been called by the One who stands in the midst of the golden lampstand a dead church, some who had not defiled their garments and remained faithful to the Lord. A few names in Sardis would walk with the Lord in white because they were worthy. Sardis was not a flat-line church yet because of the faithful few names that remained. The faithful few were the leavening influence of God in the midst of death.

Sardis had a name among brethren. Churches have reputations and are known for various things that distinguish their work. When people try to find the perfect church, they show their lack of understanding of the nature of the family of God. People get upset about things that go on in this church family and that church family about issues that divide. Sardis had those who walked in white, and it was dead, according to the Lord. Would a faithful Christian worship at the church of God in Corinth? The apostle Paul would. Church families have problems. Running off to the “perfect” church will never solve anything. I’m thankful for the faithful at Sardis. They worshipped in a difficult congregation, but they worshipped God in truth. Can we do any less?