The Church at Pergamum • Devotion 3

May 10, 2023 1:00 AM
The Majors Caleb Jones

“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” Revelation 2:14-15

Have you ever had someone speak some hard truth to you? It never feels great. No one truly looks for other people to point out their flaws. At work, I often times do because it generally speaks to a skill or project and not my character. It is probably why we take feedback from people we are not close to so much better than those we are the closest.

Even when I am the healthiest and I am constantly looking for feedback, it never feels right when someone negatively says, “You are acting like someone else.” It is not enjoyable when your spouse just calls you by your mother or father’s name just to point out a character or personality flaw.

I especially get uncomfortable when Christians point out other Christians or ministries that seem to contradict the Bible. To me, it is really hard to live by Matthew 7:5 as well as warn each other of false teachings as we see here in Revelation. Matthew 7:5 says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

What John is trying to do here is to warn the church of Pergamum that they are divided. Both the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans followed Roman rule which required sacrifice to their gods.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Don’t major on the minors”? I think the church went through a huge phase in the last 30-40 years of majoring on the minors. We have traded in our theology for preferences. We have found churches that fit the mold or style of our lives. This is not what the church of Pergamum was struggling with and John is calling them out and bringing to light the major theological issues that were present. Their problem was not focusing on the minors. It was theology. It was a major issue.

What can we learn from this? Spend some time today asking God to reveal where you have drifted. Where has your theology drifted? Who are you following theologically and does that line up with God’s Word? What are we majoring on that is actually very minor? What is major that we are not taking seriously enough? Who in your life has drifted away from the Gospel and how can we lovingly speak the truth with boldness?
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