Good Churches

Are there certain marks which distinguish good churches? How can we know if we are in a good church? How does God see good churches?

Again, the answers to these questions can be found in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, in the letters from Jesus to the seven churches. There are two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, about which Jesus has nothing bad to say. A careful examination reveals certain characteristics which, considered together, make for good churches.

Good churches keep God's word. The church in Philadelphia is commended by Jesus for keeping His word (3:8). Unlike the churches at Ephesus, Thyatira and Pergamum, the church at Philadelphia kept the word of God even when it was inconvenient. While bad churches keep part of God's word, and then deviate from it when their desires are not suited by it, this good church recognized that keeping God's word meant keeping it fully.

We know that God's word is our only source for knowing His will (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), and so we must endeavor to keep it at all costs. We must be characterized by a willingness to believe and love the truth, even when it hurts. A failure to do so will cause us to be deceived (2 Thess. 2:8-12). Ultimately, it will cause us to be lost. We must love the truth.

Good churches work. It has become fashionable in recent years to denigrate any sort of working for God as an attempt to earn salvation, but Jesus, in these letters, constantly commends the churches for their deeds (2:2, 19, 3:8). Just as the individual proves his faith in his working (Jas. 2:14-26), the church proves its faithfulness by working as a group to increase the borders of the kingdom of God.

What kind of works prove a church? In particular, works which show them to be active in teaching the gospel. "For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you . . ." (1 Thess. 1:8), Paul commends the church at Thessalonica. The church which works at spreading the gospel will find itself enriched by the effort, both in this life and the one to come.

Good churches stand up for Jesus. The church at Philadelphia is also commended for by Jesus because they "have not denied My name" (3:8). This seems such a small thing; why would Jesus even mention it? Are there churches which deny His name?

Certainly we have seen churches which failed to take a stand on some important spiritual concern. The church at Thyatira failed to stand up to the sin of Jezebel (2:20). The church at Corinth failed to stand up against grievous immorality (1 Cor. 5:1-2). This kind of moral spinelessness will kill a church as quickly as will actively taught error.

Good churches persevere. There are few Biblical promises more touching than the one Jesus makes to the church at Smyrna: "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (2:10). These good people are told to persevere even to the point of death, for there is reward for such perseverance. The good church at Philadelphia is told they will be spared from some persecution, because they have already persevered (3:10). Even so, Jesus reminds them, "hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown" (3:11).

Good churches persevere because they see a goal which is not visible to the world. No matter what may come, that goal is worth more than all the world has to offer, and it is worth enduring all the world can dish out. The faithful church at Smyrna was about to suffer at the hands of Satan, but they had the promise of the Savior, if they would only endure.

Good churches see through the eyes of Jesus. Imagine what the world saw when it looked at the church at Smyrna. Poverty. And Suffering. Now imagine what Jesus saw. Riches. Certainly, Jesus saw their physical suffering and poverty, but more than that, He saw a church that was rich, because He saw a church enduring for His sake, laying up treasure in a place where it could not be destroyed (Matt. 6:19-21). He saw a church winning the race, conquering a formidable adversary, because it stood with Him.

Jesus looked at the rag-tag bunch of Christians in Smyrna and saw greatness. We need to be able to look with the eyes of Jesus. What does He see when He looks at us?

Good churches do not happen by accident. Good churches are filled with good Christians, and with good Christians who are willing to keep His word, to work to build a good church, to stand up for Him, to persevere and to look constantly through His eyes. That is what makes a good church.