"Mom! Mom, can I have my soda?" My daughter tugged at my shirt and grabbed for the flimsy plastic cup perched precariously on the edge of two stacked pizza boxes. I tried to push the teetering tower that was our dinner away from my toddler's grasp while simultaneously scrawling a quick signature on the receipt. Then I noticed the total. The waitress who had taken my order over the phone forgot to charge me for the root beer my little girl was still frantically trying to reach.
My daughter's pleas were escalating into a high-pitched whine as the beverage in question threatened to topple to the floor. The waitress had rushed off and was busily pouring drinks. Our dinner was getting cold, and the line of hungry people behind me was growing longer by the minute. For a brief moment I considered walking out. I knew I was about two seconds away from a total three-year-old meltdown, and my frenzied fumbling was only holding things up... The pressure of my circumstances was rising, as was the temptation to compromise my integrity.
The environment for the Christians at Pergamum was also fraught with pressure and temptation. This church, like many others, was the focus of organized and bloody persecution. The city itself was the center of several pagan religions, with temples to the Greek and Roman gods Dionysus, Athena, Demeter, and Zeus. It also boasted three temples dedicated to worship of the Roman emperor. Jesus Himself acknowledged Pergamum as the place "where Satan has his throne...where Satan lives" (Rev. 2:13).
Jesus praised the faithful believers in Pergamum who held fast to His name and had not denied His faith, even in the face of dire circumstances (v. 13). However, Satan's tactics against the church were twofold: external pressure and internal concession. These Christians had compromised. False teachers out for profit had seduced some of the believers into acts of idolatry and immorality (the teaching of Balaam; v. 14). Still others in the congregation had bought into a form of hierarchical pride (the teaching of the Nicolatians; v. 15). For these believers, a compromise of beliefs had led to a compromise of character.
Christ reveals Himself to the church in Pergamum with the title, "...Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword" (v. 12). He confronts their compromise, saying, "Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (v. 16). The sword Jesus speaks of is His Word, as shown by verses like Ephesians 6:17: "Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God", and Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..."
Christ makes it clear: It is His faith (v. 13) to which we must hold fast, not a faith of our own invention! We may find ourselves in difficult environments culturally, politically, socially or economically, but circumstances never justify compromise. We can be sure if we accommodate false teaching, if we tolerate any perversion of the word of God in our midst, then we shall feel its sharp, biting edge. We shall wince at the wound of division, and cringe at the cutting down of our pride.
Christ spoke of the inevitability of persecution due to His message (Matt. 10:16–25). He cautioned His followers against the fear of men, which begets compromise, and peace at the expense of truth, saying, "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell... Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:27–28, 34).
Christ's admonition is just as relevant for His followers today, and we should be careful to hear what the Spirit says to the church. To those who overcome the temptation to compromise, Jesus promises two rewards: "some of the hidden manna," and "a white stone with a new name written on it" (v. 17). Manna was God's perfect provision for the Israelites in the desert (Ex. 16:14–15), and is symbolic of Jesus Himself (Jn. 6:41). When we hold fast to Christ—humbly depending on Him alone—we can trust that He will provide perfectly, no matter what the circumstances!
In the ancient world, white stones had several associations. They were used as invitations to banquets, contracts of friendship, or even a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Any of these meanings can be true, but perhaps the most likely association is a personal invitation. Those who confront compromise and hold unswervingly to Christ's faith will find their name in heaven, a reservation at that great banquet—the wedding supper of the Lamb! So let us stand firm in the faith, the true faith. Let us hold to the one faith that bears the precious name of our Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ!
Lord, it is by Your grace alone that I am able to remain steadfast in Your faith—keep me and strengthen me, no matter what the circumstances! Make my feet firm when pressure and temptation surround me. In difficult environments let me be found uncompromising. Faithful. With a firm grasp of Your Word! Keep me from the fear of men and from peace at the cost of truth. Be my perfect provision in all circumstances, Lord! By Your Spirit may I overcome! In Jesus' name, amen.
Reflection Questions
- Think of a time when you were tempted to compromise, either your integrity or your faith. What type of pressure were you facing? Were there any environmental triggers that became a point of weakness?
- How does what you believe (your faith) inform your actions? Why do you think Christ so strongly confronts compromise?
- Read Matthew 18:15–17. Based on these verses, what does it look like to confront a believer in love? Have you ever had to confront compromise in a brother or sister in Christ? Looking back, is there anything you would change about your approach?