‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me’ (Revelation 3:20).

If the biopic of Ed Wood is to be believed, the man was an eternal optimist!  However, he is remembered as one of the worst film directors of all time which is typified by his ‘masterpiece’ ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’.  The level of ineptitude is amazing; a plot that makes no sense, inane dialogue, people running through a set in different directions to try to disguise it’s the same set, scenes changing from night time to broad daylight for no apparent reason.  If that’s not bad enough, Bella Lugosi who had started shooting the film died during the production, but rather than reshoot his scenes, Ed Wood decided to use existing footage and cast a new actor in the same role.  But the replacement was taller and looked nothing like Lugosi, so he spent the entire film with his cape covering half his face to try and disguise the fact!  Yet Ed Wood continued to make films oblivious to the fact that the critics slated them.  The Church at Laodicea had a similar problem, they were a delusional Church!

Laodicea was a well to do place and the Church clearly thought highly of itself (v17).  But Christ reserves his most scathing criticism for them!  The area was noted for its springs of tepid water that ran over limestone.  The water was not fit to drink and would make you sick.  The King James Version has Jesus’ memorable phrase: ‘I will spue thee out of my mouth’ (v16).  They were apathetic and are summed up in an accusation that the Church is neither cold nor hot’[1] and that makes Christ sick!  Steve Wilmshurst notes: ‘it seems that they pose no threat at all to the world or to the enemy of souls.  In a sense, that is the worse criticism there can be made of the Church – that it bothers no-one.’[2]

Unfortunately Churches can be apathetic in certain areas today.  Churches can rely on the experience culture.  For them it is all about what’s happening now rather than the eternal truths of scripture.  Or how about a ‘Social Gospel’, obviously there’s nothing wrong with helping the poor and needy, but if that becomes your all embracing action and message there’s problem!  Even Churches that prize the Gospel highly can be guilty of having a critical spirit and looking down on other Churches by being all too ready to point out their faults while overlooking their own!

The remedy for the Church in Laodicea was to see themselves as Christ saw them. Laodicea was noted for its eye ointment, and that’s the origin of the reference to: ‘salve’ (v18).  Only them would they see their apathetic state.  The area was also known for black wool which was a major part of the town’s wealth.  The solution to their poor spiritual state was to look to the riches and holiness Christ offered which is represented by the offer of white clothing. Verse 20 is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible.  It’s not about Christ knocking on the door of an unbeliever’s heart but reconnecting with one that has grown cold in its love for him! ‘The idea is of the supper in Eastern lands, which was the best meal of the day, a leisurely and lingering affair.’[3]  The picture is of the kind of meal you have with a friend where, by the end of the meal, you feel you know them so much better!

Verses 21 and 22 highlight Christ love, not just for the Church in Laodicea, but the universal Church which are represented by the ‘Seven Churches’.  Those at Laodicea could overcome this spiritual malaise and share in what Christ had attained (v21).  Jesus loves his Church, he laid his life down for her (Ephesians 5:25-26) and never gives up on her.  Whether our Churches are big, small or weak in the eyes of the world, if they’re faithful Christ will continue to walk among them and have fellowship with them (1:12-13).  Now that’s real encouragement whatever we face as Churches!

Would you like to listen to a Sermon on this passage? Why an Apathetic Church makes Christ Sick!

[1] Leon Morris, Revelation (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1969) 82.
[2] Steve Wilmshurst, The Final Word, The Book of Revelation Simply Explained (Darlington, Evangelical Press, 2008) 48.
[3] Richard Books, The Lamb is all the Glory, The Book of Revelation (Darlington, Evangelical Press, 1986) 52.