The hope of a better church
PART 5 IN A SERIES By AERON MORGAN
 Philip Jacob Spener was raised in Strasbourg, Germany, in a family of devout Lutheran Christians. He loved the Lord, his church, and his godly pastor. He became well known for his spiritual reforms within the church in Germany, writing a somewhat radical book called Pious Desires.
At first it was quite popular - until the hierarchy and traditionalists began to perceive the implications of his suggestions. It was the expression of a heart that longed for reform (we might say `revival'), and particularly at ministry level. He longed for the church to once again follow the model of the New Testament.
Concerned for greater spiritual growth among believers, pastors and people, he urged a return to the place where the Word of God became paramount in the home and in the church services.
It appears he was moved by the lack of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the services, for he once wrote "perhaps the church should reintroduce the apostolic kind of church meetings…in the manner in which Paul describes them in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40". That was some 350 years ago!
Things don't change much, do they? The church throughout its history has been faced from time to time with like need, and challenges to true biblical renewal. It was the same story during Israel's history too. Thank God for godly revivalists whom He raised up.
Philip Spener, "the spiritual counsellor of Germany", went to be with Christ early in 1705. A few days before he departed this life, he gave this instruction: "During my life I have sufficiently lamented the condition of the church; now that I am about to enter the church triumphant, I wish to be buried in a white coffin as a sign I am dying IN THE HOPE OF A BETTER CHURCH ON EARTH" (emphasis mine).
Of the church Paul says that "Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church... holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27. See also 1:4 and Titus 2:11-14).
There will come a day when Jesus will have perfected His work in us, and we shall be with Him in glory forever. The bride will have "made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7).
Indeed, apart from holiness heaven is forbidden territory to sinners, for "in no wise shall anything enter into it that defileth" (21:27). For heaven is a HOLY place (21:10). The angels that serve the Eternal God before His Throne are all HOLY (14:10).
The Lord is said to sit "on the throne of His HOLINESS" (Psalm 47:8). Thus it is that "without holiness NO MAN shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
Do you think it is possible for any person to be at home and happy in heaven, where a Holy God is going to be eternally celebrated in the glory of His holiness (Revelation 4:8), if they die unholy?
Death transforms NO soul, neither does the grave bring about the slightest alteration in the spiritual state of any man or woman - see Revelation 22:11.
How right was J.C.Ryle when he said, "We must be holy, because without holiness ON EARTH we shall never be prepared TO ENJOY HEAVEN."
John Wesley was concerned for members in one of those early Methodist societies, doubting they had been made perfect in love because they came to church to enjoy religion instead of TO LEARN HOW THEY SHOULD BECOME HOLY!
We might well ask:
1) WHY is it the message of holiness is not readily welcomed and appreciated by many professing Christians, and
2) WHY is it not the most preached about subject in our pulpits? You see, the greatest thing anybody can ever be is A SAINT _ and saints in heaven are saints on earth FIRST! J.C.Ryle was ever uncompromising. He said, "He that knows nothing of real, practical holiness is no member of `the Church on the Rock'."
The lessons from Revelation 2-3 are clear, as to the kind of church our Lord requires to represent Him here on earth.
In that early period of the church's history, five out of seven congregations (that's nearly 72%!) were reproved by Jesus for their defective Christianity _ the great chill that had gripped Ephesus, who had left their "first love" (2:4); the worldliness and commercialised gospel of Pergamos (2:14); the loose moral living and fan-club mentality of Thyatira, where the leaders lacked the moral conviction and robustness to withstand false cultism in their midst (2:20-21).
Then there was the deceptive outward show at Sardis, where they failed to perceive the difference between true spiritual life and the hype of substituted entertaining programmes and imperfect works (3:1-2,4).
And what of the half-heartedness, self-sufficiency and religious pride of Laodicea (3:17)? Ah, never was correspondence so relevant!
I think we can be better. Indeed, all of Christ's resources are at our disposal to enable us to become what He intends us to be IN THE EARTH until He comes back again.
We must see kindled a more fervent passion for the Lord Jesus Himself, to please Him above all else. We must ever proclaim an unadulterated gospel that impacts the hearts of men and women to bring about true regeneration.
We have to be separated from the world, setting aside that rationalism that seeks to justify what is patently questionable for Christians to be mixed with.
There must be an eager pursuit of practical holiness, and a vigorous upholding of biblical standards of righteousness and truth.
We must beware of mere nominal Christianity, and be alive with GOD'S life. Oh, for a church ON FIRE FOR GOD, totally reliant upon the presence and power of His Holy Spirit.
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Appeared in Issue 12 September 2000
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
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