We can live a vibrant Christian life even in the midst of an anti-Christian environment.
“I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives” Jesus in Revelation 2:13.
A month ago I stood with fellow pilgrims at the site of Pergamum – the location of the church where the above happened. A wealthy and powerful city that Alexander the Great beautified and made even more Hellenistic, it sits on a high hill above a beautiful valley in Turkey. The accoutrements of Greco Roman life are all there including the theatre, huge arches and immense storage rooms, paved streets, cisterns, a library second only in size to Alexandria …and temples – so many temples. In Paul’s day it was a hotbed of pagan and Roman imperial worship.
Major temples to Athena (goddess of wisdom and war), Dionysus (god of wine), Asclepius (the snake god of healing), and the massive temple to Zeus – the chief god. Jesus said that Pergamum was where Satan had his throne. Speculation says it was this last temple that He spoke of. Interestingly, the façade from this temple was moved to Berlin – that’s the photo at the top. During the Nazi regime, it became the architectural inspiration for the Zeppelin field grandstand in Nuremburg – we have all seen chilling photos of goose-stepping Nazis parading in front of this grand building. Certainly, it was a temple of Satan in the 30’s.
And in the midst of this aberrant worship was the little Pergamum church that remained true to Jesus, despite a significant member dying by martyrdom. Jesus praised them for this but also rebuked them for tolerating people in the church who held pagan views and spoke of them in the foyer after church. He told them to repent of this or He would come as judge.
Isn’t the lesson for us so clear? We can live a vibrant Christian life even in the midst of an anti-Christian environment. We can be surrounded by the efforts of the enemy and still be holy. But the devil must remain outside rather than be allowed inside! We simply cannot allow little pagan altars in our life – succumbing to anti-Christian values in areas of our life. We can’t control the wider culture, but we can attend to our own sanctification! In fact, where are we of more value to the Lord than in the midst of a setting where people need Jesus!
CT Studd said: “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
Let us not be influenced by the devil’s place but instead let us be the influencers!
Pastor Leon Throness
PS Set aside Sunday evening July 5 at 7pm as I share a travelogue reflecting on our recent pilgrimage to the seven churches of Revelation. We’ll have some goodies – I’ll show some pictures – we’ll have a great time.
A pilgrimage to Egypt has arisen for January 2027 with Bronwyn Spilsbury and myself co leading. Talk to me about it if you have interest…
