Comments on a Letter to the American Church by Eric Metaxas

or the Modern Laodicean Church of Revelation

Summary

The title of this book harkens back to the letter to the Seven Churches of Revelation wherein The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Lord Jesus Christ proclaims His assessment of the Laodicean church.

The Head of the Church tells this local body that they are spiritually bankrupt, living in poverty; He calls them to wake up out of their daydream, leave their lethargy, and look at reality.

The Laodiceans think they are spiritually wealthy without any need for assistance due to their accumulated bounty, but in reality, they have become idolaters.

This church is fixated on materialism believing, their wealth or power will save them from destruction. Since those possessions could be no more than a wisp of their imagination, the slightest problem could cause their foundation to collapse.

Similarly, in the Introduction to The Letter to the American Church Eric Metaxas issues a call for the American church not to fail in its duty as the German church did in the 1930’s. His premise for writing to the American church is found in the Introduction, “So if God has chosen us for some task, we must do all we can to shoulder that task, and must know more than anything that unless we lean on Him and acknowledge Him in all our ways, we are guaranteed to fail.” (Page xi).

God’s Purpose for the Church

God’s purpose for the Church is to maintain a bright beacon which will guide the world to a path of safety in Jesus Christ. But if we don’t wake up, our light will go out, and our witness will disappear. Soon it could be as though we never had done anything for the cause of Christ’s Kingdom. If we fail to stand in the gap to hinder or prevent evil, we will be found to be aiding and abetting its spread.

The Remedy

Is there anything the American Church should be doing to stop the spread of evil?

First and foremost, we need to assess our own spiritual condition and repent from putting anything else in front of our Father God. How do we know if we put other things first?

We need to ask ourselves the following three questions:

1 What do we spend most of our time thinking about?

2 What do we invest our time in doing?

3 How serious are we about telling others of God’s precious gift of salvation?

Second, we need to ask ourselves, “how are we impacting our culture with the goodness of Jesus Christ?” Is my life a sweet smelling aroma to others or do I create a stench when I interact with others? Would people say that I know the Lord? If there is a crisis in a neighbor’s life, would I be someone they would call for help?

Third, how can we be salt and light to our nation? Or how do we live out what we believe? Are our actions consistent with what we believe? Do we follow through on promises? Do we love others as we love ourselves?

Finally, how do we act as the Watchmen on the wall to warn of the impending danger? Are we only concerned about ourselves? Do we not know we will be held accountable for not taking the opportunities to speak truth not just to the United States, or the Western culture, but to those whose culture is different from ours?

How Did We Get Here

The national fabric is in tatters as an old standard battered and worn. It’s not much to look at compared to the former days of old. There is decay evident everywhere.

But what about the Church, why has it not kept the rot at bay? The disintegration began when Christians withdrew from the public square. Christians began to huddle because the truth was no longer popular.

The Scopes trial was won by the creationists. Although according to the headlines, it appeared the Christians had lost the day, and evolution had been proven as fact. As a result of fabricated evidence, Christians became the routine foils or villains in movies, and for the culture.

We lost credibility with our communities, we backed away from public office, and were content spending our time with other likeminded individuals.

The society had us where they wanted; we no longer were exercising any influence in the public square.

1950-Present Church History

In 1954, Sen Lyndon Johnson sponsored an amendment banning nonprofits from commenting on “political” subjects. Somehow the church didn’t balk at this proposal but silently agreed to this loss of their freedom of speech.

When government decided the Scripture, prayer, or Bible reading were not to be present in school, the church silently agreed and continued on.

This process of withdrawal from the society continued through the 70’s to today. The church successfully swung at one of the symptoms of this degenerative slide. After 50 years, she achieved one small victory. But there is much critical work still to be done.

When child abuse of the living and unborn, went unpunished and even promoted in the government’s policies, the church did act. However, the response was directed to the symptom of a much deeper problem.

The Root Problem

What is the root problem? We have abandoned the Lord as our God. We have placed other things in His rightful place. There is a lengthy list I could make, and I am just as guilty of these as anyone else. We seek entertainment, prestige, power, success, etc., etc. It boils down to the fact that we’ve chosen personal peace, affluence, and indifference over rejection by society for taking a stand for the truth, failing to be generous to missions and others around us who are in physical and spiritual need, and failing to fulfill our commission to make disciples.

Many years ago Francis Schaeffer asked How Shall We then Live? in a series on Western Culture. The question rings louder and truer today as a challenge to the church.

Where Do We Stand

Another question to be asked has been part of the church’s hymnology for over a century: “Who is on the Lord’s side? Sometimes I wonder are we really on the Lord’s side or is this life for our sole comfort?

The lyrics to Frances Havergal’s poem call believers to remember the task involves conflict with the future outcome certain against evil. These words call us to His service:

“Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!”

The Challenge

In conclusion, as Mordecai said to Esther, “who knows if you have not come to the throne for such a time as this” (Esther 4:13-14). Who knows why the Lord has us here, but He has asked us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

When He returns, let Him find us doing what He has asked.

Today’s verse of encouragement:

Joshua 1:7-9 “⁷Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Maranatha,