Flat Top Christianity: When the Glory's Gone

September 27, 2015 (Rev)    NOTES NOT EDITED!

Flat Top Christianity: When the Glory’s Gone

Revelation 2:1-7

SIS—Passionate devotion provides the glory and glow of the Christian life.

Mountains hold an almost mystical fascination for people.  Nearly everyone has heard of Mt. Everest or Mt. Kilimanjaro–though they may not be able to tell you where they are or much about them.  One thing everyone knows about a mountain is: the peak is very high.  The mountain peak is like the diamond on a ring.  No matter, how beautiful the setting may be, the diamond that sits on top determines the real value of the ring.  The peak is to a mountain what a diamond is to a ring.

Now imagine how different a mountain would be if you blasted off several hundred feet of the mountain peak leaving a flat, table-like top.  It would be like removing the diamond from a ring.  There would certainly be some value left, but the glory would be gone.

This is happening in West Virginia, the Mountain State.  There is a great debate taking place in West Virginia.  This is a small state with a reputation for “big debates,” as the well-known feud between the Hatfields and McCoys attest.  The current debate over the future of West Virginia’s majestic peaks is no different.  These proud mountain people are in a fight to save their mountain peaks from a “Flat Top Future.”  

Mountaintop removal mining is the practice of blasting away several hundred feet of a mountain peak and extracting coal from the rubble.  The debris left behind from such mining dumps into the valleys that separate the peaks with serious impact on the mountaineer way of life.  What is a mountain without a peak, and what is a “mountaineer” without a mountain?  West Virginia is facing a “flat top” future.  The mountain state is quickly become the “flat top” state.  When the majestic peaks are gone–the glory and majesty of this beautiful state will be also be gone.  The stakes are high and the battle is hot.

The church is in a similar battle, though most don’t realize it.  The church is facing a “flat top future.”  When we allow the passion of our Christian experience to be blasted away by sin, circumstances or neglect, the mountain of religion and custom may remain, but the glory and glow are gone.

This tragic course in the church was set many  years ago in a place called, Ephesus, in ancient Asia Minor.  The church drifted away from a passionate relationship with her Lord.  The church, according to Scripture, “Lost her first love.”   Let’s read about that situation together:

(Rev 2:1-7)   "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: {2} I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. {3} You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. {4} Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. {5} Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. {6} But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. {7} He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Here, Jesus Himself describes a “flat top church.”  He gives an analysis of the problem, and offers a cure, or prescription for overcoming the problem.

1.  An Analysis of the PROBLEM (1-4)

A.  Formality Without Fervor (vs 4)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

The word “forsaken” is very direct and descriptive.  It means literally “to abandon, or walk away from.”   The picture this word paints is very sad and tragic.  It describes the situation of the church in terms of a beautiful love romance falling apart either out of willful abandonment of the man or woman, or neglect, or by surrendering the romance to life’s circumstances.  For whatever reason, the love between the Ephesian Christians and their Lord was not there anymore.  The marriage contract was still in affect, but the romance and glow were gone.  The church still went through the formality of the religion, but the relationship to Jesus was not there.  The house was still standing, as you will–but the home fires weren’t burning.

This happens so often in marriage.  I remember reading about a man who married a nurse.  When they were first married and still madly in love she fussed over every little ache and pain.  One day, something happened to indicate that the honeymoon was over. The attic fan quit working.  The husband dutifully set out to repair it.  As he lifted himself from the ladder into the attic, he bumped his forhead on a crossbeam.  As he crawled along the rafters he got splinters in both hands.  While replacing the fan, he cut his finger.  Coming back down the ladder he missed the last rung and sprained his foot.  When he limped–bruised, scraped, and splintered–into the kitchen where his wife was cooking he hoped for the soothing attention he had become accustomed to.  Instead, his wife barked, “Honey, are those your good pants!”

The honeymoon was over.  There was the formality of a marriage, but the fervor was gone.

B.  There Were Works without Worship (V 2)

(Rev 2:2)   I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

Ephesus was a “busy” city.  It was major harbor (before years of silt deposits pushed it 5 miles inland) in the ancient world.   It was an economic center, cultural center, and religious center.  In its heyday it boasted a population pushing 300,000.  Archeologists sifting through the remains of this ancient city have discovered a theater that could hold 25,000 people.  They have also discovered the ruins of the “Temple of Artemis,” one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Ephesus was a booming, busy place.  The Christian church at Ephesus was also a busy place.  Jesus graciously points out the “deeds” of these dedicated people: 1) they worked hard; 2) they fought evil and injustice; and 3) they were doctrinally pure: “they tested those who claimed to be apostles but are not.”   The city of Ephesus was a busy place, and so was the church at Ephesus.  The church was full of good “works,” but passionate “worship” was no where to be found.

Ephesus had continued in the work of the Lord,  but had forgotten the Lord of the work.  They had works without worship.

What is worship?  Would we know it if we saw it?  Let me tell you what worship is not: three songs, three points, and a poem!  Worship is not simply getting together on a regular basis and following a prescribed order of service.  Worship happens in the heart.  Worship happens when you fall in love with the Lord Jesus Christ.   Worship may come in many styles and situations–but when it does–it captures the heart.  Worship is falling “head-over-heels” in love with Jesus Christ–just like that first time you met Him.

The Ephesian church had gone “flat.”  They were busy, but not blessed.  The had formality without fervor, and works without worship.  They also had

C.  Endurance without Enthusiasm (2, 3)

Twice in this passage Jesus describes the church as “macho.”  Like Irish Spring Soap, Ephesus was a “manly church”–“Manly, yes, but I like it too the sumptuous lady” purrs in the commercial.  

Jesus talks about there “endurance,” or “perseverance” twice.

Verse 2:    I know your deeds, your hard work and your  perseverance . And Verse 3:   You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

The original word ( hupomone ) literally means to “remain under.”  The idea is to “wait patiently, or withstand pressure.”  This word, from the time of Plato, was often associated with “manliness, courage, or bravery.”  It could also mean “stubborn.”

Many churches stubbornly remain faithful in doctrine long after they have lost the fervor or worship.  I see this in church all the time.  I see people: enduring the service but not enjoying the worship!   I see this in marriages all the time: couples enduring each other, but not enjoying one another.   I see this in the work place all the time: men and women enduring their employment without enjoying their work.

God did not call us to simply “endure” life, but enjoy life.  “Long-faced, down-in-the-mouth Christians that look like they were baptized in pickle juice are a poor witness to the love of Christ.”

Here is the analysis of the Ephesian church’s problem:  it had formality without fervor, works without worship; and endurance without enthusiasm.  In short, it was a “flat top” church facing a flat top future.  The glorious peak of Jesus was not in their midst.  Jesus said, “I hold this against you . . . you have gone flat!”

Now, the Spirit of the Lord often tells us painfully and truthfully where we are, but the God never wants to leave us their.

2.  Application of the Prescription

A.  RECOGNIZE that you have a problem (v 5)

Anybody remember that movie about the Apollo 13 mission to the moon starring Tom Hanks?  This movie portrayed the real life drama of three astronauts that were stranded in space ********* miles away from home. A fire disabled their Service Module. One of the iconic lines from that movie has lodged itself in the vernacular of our nation. When the “wheels fell off the bus” so to speak, and the situation looked hopeless, Commander Jim Lovell calmly communicates to Control Central in Houston, “Uh, Houston, we have a problem.”  That’s always the first step in any solution to any problem:  recognize you have a problem.  Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus:

(Rev 2:5)  Remember the height from which you have fallen!

Do you remember the first time you fell in love with your wife? I do.

It was standing next to her at the piano at Mira Loma Baptist Church.

It was 1978.  She was the church pianist and I was the Minister of Music.  Soon, we found ourselves “on a date.” It was a Denny’s.  She had fried shrimp–I had love!  Then, I remember our first kiss . . . It was by the “Fountain of Fortuna” in front of the administration building at California Baptist College (now University).   Fortuna was an ancient goddess of good fortune.   I kissed her there for the first time–in the middle of her forehead!  O.K.–I’ve gotten better since then!  What a glorious thing love is.  Do you remember when you first fell in love?  Can you remember the sweaty palms?  Can you remember the flutter in you belly as the springtime of love releases a thousands butterflies? Isn’t it sad, to remember so fondly the first time you fell in love–but come to realize, you don’t have that now!  

Well, the first step to recovery is to RECOGNIZE your problem. I’m speaking to Christians, now.  I’m speaking to those of us that at one time were so full of Jesus we would have charged the fires of hell with a squirt gun!   But, now we are more like a “dripping, annoying faucet of religious formality without any passion or enthusiasm.”

REMEMBER the day you fell in love with Jesus.  REMEMBER the day you were immersed into His unspeakable mercy.  REMEMBER the good ole days of serving Jesus.  REMEMBER . . . then RECOGNIZE you have a problem–“You have lost your first love.”

B.  Next, REPENT with a sincere RESOLVE to do better.

( Rev 2:5)  Remember the height from which
 you have fallen, and repent.

Now, I’m talking to not only Christians who have lost their first love, but also, non-Christians who have never fallen in love with Jesus in the first place.  I’m talking about people who are letting sin separate you from the love God.

I’m talking about specific sins and not so specific sins.  I’m talking about sins such as: greed, lust, materialism, self-centeredness, anger, pride or all manner of worldliness.  I’m also talking about the sin of neglect for God’s House and God’s work.  I’m talking about the sin of passionless formality in religion.  I’m talking about the sin of surrendering your passion for Christ to your circumstances of life.

REPENT!  Turn from your sins.  Turn to Christ.  That is what “repent” means: recognize the sinful direction you are going and turn and go in the exact opposite way.  Literally it can mean to “twist.” It is a compound word prefixed with the preposition indicating “in the midst of something.” Repentance is not a process—it is a crisis!  Many things may lead us to the point of repentance, but repentance itself is a cataclysmic event that completely and radically changes the direction of our lives.  If we are not careful and diligent in our disciplined devotion to Christ, the glory which immersed us in that crisis moment of repentance will fade.  Our Christian life will “go flat.” The only way to renew our passion is return in repentance with a sincere resolve to do better.  We don’t need to be “saved again” (which we cannot do), but we need to “fall in love again.”

Don’t face a “flat top future of faith.”  Climb back up that majestic peak of repentance and find the glory of God.  You need to let loose of anything that would hinder your climb up the mountain of devotion.  That is, you need to repent.

Don’t let the sin you are holding on to cause you to lose your grip on the blessing of loving and serving Jesus. A little boy serves as an illustration of why we have such a hard time turning our lives around and following Jesus.  One day, he got his hand caught in a very expensive vase his Mom had.  They tried everything to get the vase off the little boy’s hand.  They applied soap suds.  That didn’t work.  They tried cooking oil to see if that would help the little boys hand slip free.  Finally, Dad retrieved a hammer and was going to break the expensive vase.  It was the only way to get the vase off.   As Dad raised the hammer the little frightened little boy cried, “Would it help if I let go of the penny I’m holding?”

So often we get stuck in the rut of life–even the rut of religion–because we are reluctant to repent and let go of the world so we can take hold of Jesus.   Jesus says:   REMEMBER . . . next, REPENT.

C.  Then, RETURN (5)

“Do the things you did at first.”

Now, Jesus isn’t suggesting we try to “work FOR our salvation.”  That was a part of the problem.  Jesus is not suggesting a change in

the ACTIONS of the Ephesians, but in the ATTITUDE of the  Ephesians.

The first works were the same works but with a different attitude.  Jesus is not so much concerned with what we do, so much

as WHY we do it.  If you will return to Jesus what can you expect to receive?  Look at verse 7:

(Rev 2:7)   He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Do you want to be an overcomer?  Do you want to live in paradise?

You can . . . if you will.

The movie, “Hoosiers,” tells the Cinderella story of a small-town

Indiana High School basketball team that goes on to when the state championship.  Gene Hackman plays the coach.  Dennis Hopper plays the main character: an alcoholic named Shooter who has failed at everything in life–but, he has an extraordinary knowledge of and passion for the game of basketball.  Gene Hackman, the coach, decides to give shooter a second chance in life.    He asks Shooter to be his assistant coach and take a place on the bench at game time.  This little known team, with the help of Shooter, begins to experience a winning streak.  Then, during a pivotal game in the season, with the state championship at stake, the coach does something strange.  Out of the hearing of the team, Gene Hackman approaches the referee.  They appear to have a heated iscussion.  The coach says, “Take me out of the game.”  The referee doesn’t know why, but complies and throws the coach out of the game.  The coach leaves the court and enters the locker room.  Shooter is left in charge.  He had just come off a night of binge drinking.  He was terrified.  The coach had promised that he would not get thrown out of a game–and now it happened.  The game enters the final seconds.  The score is tied.  Shooter is frozen with fear.  All eyes of the team, including his son’s–who never thought his Dad should have coached in the first place–were bearing down on him.  He was paralyzed with fear.  He couldn’t speak.  Finally, his son speaks: “You reckon number four will put up the last shot, Dad?”  Something clicks.  Shooter sends them back onto the court to execute the final play.  Then, he calls a time out.  Now, Shooter is fully engaged in the game.  Passion has overtaken his fear.  He lays out the strategy.   “All right now.  We’re gonna run the picket fence at ‘em.  Merle you’re the swing man.  Jimmy, you’re the solo right.  All right, Merle should be open swinging around the end of that fence.  Now boys, don’t get caught watchin’ the paint dry!”

You guessed it.  The Cinderella team returned to the court, ran the play as outlined and won the game.  They were headed for the championships.  Shooter’s son says to his Dad, “You did good, Pop.  You did real good.”

A weak, broken, shame-filled alcoholic found victory in his life by returning to the game because someone was willing to give him a second chance.

My friend.  If your life has gone flat.  If you have lost the “zip” in your “zippidy-do-dah,” won’t you return to the game?  Won’t you repent and return to Jesus.  If you do, there’s victory for you.

What is a mountain without it’s majestic peak? What is a life, without the glory of a relationship with God Almighty through the Lord Jesus Christ.

REMEMBER.  REPENT.  RETURN.

Get the Glory and Glow Back!

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