Lessons from Ephesus (III)

THE Church in Ephesus went beyond the limits in the pursuit of something right, and that led them into trouble. Their intention was to root out heresy. However, they went overboard, became intolerant and judgmental, and ultimately rooted out something more important.

Doctrinal purity is important. However, an excessive obsession with its pursuit can unwittingly lead to witch-hunting and an inquisitorial spirit. It is good to defend the faith, but we must first defend our love for one another. Our God is love, and Christians must reflect that love always. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ said to us:

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.

In the Lord’s reckoning, the Ephesians’ loss of brotherly love was no trivial matter. In his book, A Commentary on the Revelation of John, G. E. Ladd submitted that loss of brotherly love “is treated as though it involved a fall from the Christian life”. If the Ephesians did not repent of their lack of love, Christ said he would remove their lampstand (Revelation 2:5). This implied that they would cease to be the spiritual people of God, even though they might have claimed to do many mighty works in the name of the Lord (Matthew 7:22-23). Perhaps that is why Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church thus:

1 Corinthians 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

What was the fate of the Ephesian church? In the vision of John, our Lord said:

Revelation 2:4-5  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Despite the greatness of the city and the fame of the Church, decay led to decline, until Ephesus became a by-word. The first fulfillment of biblical prophecy was in 260AD and was directed at the most important symbol of sin in the city. The Goths first destroyed the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in 260AD. Decades later, Emperor Constantine I rebuilt much of the city, but following the Edict of Thessalonica from Emperor Theodosius I, the temple was totally destroyed in 401 AD by a mob led by St. John Chrysostom. It is instructive to note, however, that it was well after the famous three Ephesian Councils of the 5th. Century AD that Ephesus suffered the greatest destruction. Could it be that imminent judgment came upon Ephesus because the Church in the city could not stand in its place as salt and light?

• To be continued

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