Rev. 1:10-20, The Head of the Church (1)

Organizations come and go.  Did you ever hear of the “British East India Company?”  Established in 1600 by charter of Queen Elizabeth, the BEIC virtually ruled trade between India and the rest of the world.  Along the way they acquired great political influence.  They kept their own army and fought wars.  After defeating the French at Plassey the BEIC’s “skirmishes” were with the Indians themselves.  Their heavy-handed rule eventually led to rebellion, ending in a bloody massacre (the Sepoy rebellion).  A year later, after 250 years, the British revoked the BEIC’s charter bringing an end to their power almost overnight.

Local churches come and go.  I have seen it over the years.  A church in an older neighborhood planted a church in a new neighborhood.  The old church eventually folded; the new one continues.  An inner-city church found their congregation moving to the suburbs.  As the congregation diminished, the leadership decided to give their property and facility to others who would seek to minister to in the inner-city and they moved to the suburbs.  Another church saw significant growth, adding not new services but rather forming new congregations out of the same facility.

What I remember about these and almost every other “church story” is that success or failure was seen in programs and organization.  That’s how people “evaluated” the local church.  Organization and programs, at their best, help us serve our Lord decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40).  But the thought that a program can either make or break a local church likely indicates we are not allowing Christ, the Head of the Church, to do the evaluating.

Rev. 2-3 is a powerful place to go when a church needs to hear from their Head.  The seven letters are designed specifically with His evaluation in mind.  Jesus dictates the letters to John.  One church has a lot of things going on (Thyatira).  Another looks like it is alive but is actually dead (Sardis).  One thinks it is prospering but isn’t (Laodicea).  Another that is small, under and struggling, but is commended by Her Lord (Smyrna). 

One church was threatened with extinction (Ephesus, 2:5).  This church had many privileges.  Paul was there early on for two years (Ac. 19:8-41).  His ministry included many miracles.  Strong leadership was left behind (Ac. 20:17-38).  Apollos (Acts 18:24), Timothy and Tychicus (2 Tim. 4:12) also ministered there. 

Yet, Jesus said that if something didn’t change, they would lose their lampstand (i.e. the church would become extinct).  Jesus has the authority to remove a church’s lampstand.  He is, truly, the Head of the Church, in whom is all authority (Mt. 28:18).  Jesus holds the charter of a local church, using the BEIC illustration.  His reason for this we will examine in the next post.  For now we need to accept the authority of Christ.