Written by: Gawie de Lange
Article source: JOY! Magazine
One of the greatest dangers facing the Church today is compromise. I often see Christians and congregations bending their values for the sake of inclusion and cultural acceptance. We soften the message of the Gospel so we don’t offend, but in doing so we lose the very power of the Gospel itself. Jesus made a very exclusive claim, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This is not a message that allows us to blend in with every philosophy, belief system, or narrative the world deems acceptable. It is the truth that sets us apart. Yet like the church in Sardis, many believers today appear vibrant on the outside, but are spiritually dead within.
Historical lessons from Sardis
Sardis was a wealthy city in Asia Minor, once the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom. The king, Croesus, and the people trusted in their fortifications, believing no enemy could ever break through. Yet, twice Sardis fell because its leaders were asleep at their posts. The Persians and later the Greeks entered through unguarded gates and secret passages. Jesus referred to that history when He spoke to the church in Sardis, “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains … But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief” (Rev 3:1-3). The people of Sardis understood immediately what He meant. Just when they thought they were secure, destruction came because they were careless.
A compromised Gospel
The church in Sardis compromised in a different way than the believers in Pergamum or Thyatira. Instead of openly returning to pagan temple worship, they simply decided to “get along”. They watered down the exclusivity of the Gospel, teaching that people could believe in Jesus and still bow to other gods and live in sin. Sound familiar? How different is that from much of the church culture we see today?
The danger of false unity
On the surface, it looked like unity. In reality, it was spiritual death. Jesus warned them that by soiling their garments with compromise, they had lost their distinctiveness and the power of His Name. Today, we face the same temptation. For the sake of being “inclusive”, we blur the truth, avoid calling sin by its name, and neglect to proclaim Jesus as the only way to the Father. Our culture tells us to stay silent so that everyone feels comfortable. But silence is deadly.
The call to repent
The Lord did not leave Sardis without hope. He told them to wake up, remember what they had been taught, and repent. A few faithful believers in Sardis had not soiled their garments, and they were promised the reward of walking with Christ in white. This is the same call for us today. Even when much of the church world is compromising, we are called to be watchful, to hold fast to the truth we first received, and to strengthen what little remains before it is lost. Here are three points to ponder on compromise:
1. Wake up and stay alert
Spiritual decline happens slowly. Like Sardis, we fall asleep while the enemy slips in. Jesus warns us to stay awake and guard our hearts. “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things… and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Have you grown spiritually drowsy? The moment you feel secure without vigilance is often the very moment the enemy attacks.
2. Strengthen your spirit
Jesus told Sardis to strengthen what little remained. That is our call as well. How do we do this?
• Through prayer: Prayer is spiritual exercise. When Jesus felt weak in Gethsemane, He prayed and the Father sent an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43).
• Through God’s Word: The Word keeps us pure and strong. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psa 119:11). Write down Scriptures that anchor your faith and revisit them often.
• Through Godly people: “Do not be deceived, ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Cor 15:33). Surround yourself with people who build your faith, not compromise it.
3. Keep your garments clean
Compromise stains the purity of our walk with Christ. We are called to live distinct and holy lives, not blending in with a sinful culture. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly … but his delight is in the law of the Lord” (Psa 1:1-2). The church of Sardis had soiled garments because they chose “getting along” instead of truth. Jesus calls us to keep our garments white by remaining faithful to Him alone.
An urgent call
The message of Sardis is as urgent today as it was then: Wake up. Strengthen what remains. Keep your garments clean. The Gospel is not meant to be diluted or compromised. Jesus is the only way, and His Church must live boldly in that truth. Let us not be a Church that “looks alive but is dead”. Instead, may we hold fast to the life found only in Christ.
This article is featured in the November issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 01/11/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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