"...the church at Sardis...you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead..."

-Revelation 3:1-6

In this church, there is no mention of persecution or outside pressure because they had, on their own, abandoned the cause of Christ. The word "dead" refers to spiritual death commonly used for nominal Christians. They had forsaken their identity with Christ and replaced it with cultural identity. Because they fit into the surrounding society, they did not face persecution as the four previous churches in Chapter Two. Their failure to stand firm for Christ and His gospel resulted in a severe warning, their removal from the Book of Life. This is another indication they were Christians in name only. The Church at Sardis closely parallels the contemporary church in America today. Each has settled for the easy "peace" of this life, unwilling to stand for Christ as the only hope of salvation and saying nothing that would bring conflict with the world. However, the Scripture states, "The righteous are bold as a lion." Be encouraged!

Scripture References: Revelation 3:1-6; Proverbs 28:1