In years past I memorized scripture as a child: lots of it. I’ve had bits of verses floating around in my head and they have come back to both comfort and haunt me. They comfort me when I need them. They buttress my courage and provide hope for a sometimes lonely soul. They haunt me because they point to my failures. Putting scripture deep in your heart is like a knife that cuts flesh quickly from the bone bringing a sometimes painful dose of reality.
Yet, like many I suppose, scripture has been presented in a way that is not always rightly understood. For example, I recently re-read Revelation 3:20. You probably know it, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Strictly speaking, Jesus is not reaching out to a pagan. He is not telling the one who is lost to simply open the door for him. Rather, this is addressed to the church at Laodicea where their lackadaisical approach to discipleship produced something that was neither passionate about Christ nor concerned with the condition of the world around them. It seems like it produced a casual, culturally-driven experience. Furthermore, the practice of their religiosity was inward and selfishly focused. They were the church that asked, “What’s in it for me?” Worst of all, their self-righteousness blinded them. Look at what it says in verse 17, “. . .you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” The Laodicean church forgot about Jesus.
This claim of Jesus to open the door and let him in is addressed to the church. And, they should be sobering words to us all. On one hand, I have led congregations and believe in the role and mission of the church. But, let this verse not be misplaced! There are good churches doing good things; we should recognize that value. But, in keeping with this admonition to the Laodiceans, let us not wander far from the centrality of Jesus in our churches.
Jeremy
The Faithful Way 