Thyatira Church : The Compromisers
Thyatira Church : The Compromisers
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write :
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless I have these against you : You tolerate that woman Jezzebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. “
Revelations 2 : 18 - 23
We live in a world of compromise where people seek their own interest at any cost. People compromises what they know is right in order to get what they want.
Thyatira is located forty miles SouthEast of Pergamum. It is a Greek outpost founded by a general of Alexander the Great. Thyatira became a prosperous commercial center. There was a presence of numerous trade guilds or unions in the region. Thyatira is famous for a convert named Lydia.
The “Picture of Christ “
“Has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. The image of flaming eyes also reminds us of God’s penetrating eyes, seeing everything, knowing everything. Bronze was the hardest metal known at that time and is oftenly used to speak of judgement. This “picture of Christ” reveals that Christ is angry to this church.
Christ’s Commendation on the Church of Thyatira
- They were a loving church.
- They were a serving church.
- They were a faithful church.
- They were a growing church.
Jesus Complaint Against the Church
Allowing Jezebel to teach. Her teaching had influenced the church to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols by taking part in the immorality which characterized the worship of idols. The woman was performing the historic role of Jezebel. Jezebel was the wife of the wicked Israel king named Ahab. This woman Jezebel had caused idolatry to permeate the nation Israel. This woman called Jezebel in the church of Thyatira may have been a pawn of the trade guilds to persuade Christians to participate in idolatry. She may have been a false teacher inside the church of Thyatira which introduces teachings that would lead Christians to a life of compromises with the world.
In today’s era Jezebel represents teachers in the church which introduces teachings in the church that will influence Christians to live a life full of compromises with the world, to live a life of spiritual adultery. Pastor Jim Cymbala in his book “ Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” writes : “Instead of trying to bring men and women to Christ in the biblical way, we are consumed with the unbiblical concept of ‘church growth’. The Bible does not say we should aim at numbers but rather urges us faithfully to proclaim God’s message in the boldness of the Holy Spirit.This will build God’s church God’s way.”
“Just as the Israelites were warned not to mingle with the Canaanites gods called Baal or Asherah, we must beware a god in our time called “success.” Bigger is not better if it comes to the expense of disowning the truth or grieving the Holy Spirit.”
Many church leaders have compromised greatly to please church attenders. They have introduced seeker-sensitive, user-friendly approach in delivering their messages and carrying out their programs in order to bring large number of attenders to their worship services. Usually these approaches involve compromises with the world. The truth is that user-friendly can be a cover-up word for carnality.But the truth is sinfulness and worldliness in a person’s life must be confronted to bring salvation to that person’s soul.
So subtle we are caught unaware wordliness is fast creeping into our churches because of the emergence of these so-called success-oriented churches. We must daily make a careful examination of our very own life.Do our minds and hearts still find its center in the Lord or have we been defocused and become success-oriented persons. We must be constantly reminded that the most important thing in this world is to be holy in the eyes of the Holy God rather than to be successful in the eyes of the wicked world.