Lopsided Christians?

 A large two-engine passenger train was crossing the country. Some distance into the journey, one of the engines broke down. “No problem,” the engineer thought, and they continued on at half power. Farther along, the other engine broke down, and the train came to a standstill. The engineer informed the passengers about why the train had stopped with the following message: “Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for quite some time. The good news is that this is a train and not a plane.” I see a spiritual application in this story. The New Testament teaches that the Lord’s church is powered by two separate but equally powerful engines. They are seen in Ephesians 4:15 where the apostle Paul urges Christians toward Christian maturity with these words: “but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.” The two engines that empower and enable authentic Christians to grow up in Christ are “truth” and “love.” Like the two wings of a plane, healthy and balanced churches are committed to speak and stand up for the truth and to do so in love! The early church was out, loud, and proud with the gospel, and even when persecuted and scattered they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Churches can be like wheels on a car – they can get “out of balance.” Christians, elders and preachers become unbalanced when they love but don’t speak truth – or speak truth, even boldly, but don’t love.

 An unbalanced church is found in Revelation 2:1-7 where Jesus addresses the congregation at Ephesus. That congregation had become lopsided in its ministry for Christ and the gospel. In that passage Jesus commended the church for several things – they were a hard-working and persevering congregation (vs 2a, 3). They hated sin and “cannot bear those who are evil” (vs 2a). They were zealous and pro-active for the truth - “you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (vs 2b). In verse 6 Jesus says, approvingly, “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Let it be carefully noted that Jesus, unlike many preachers and believers and churches today, commended the church (at Ephesus) for its bold stand for the truth and its refusal to condone sin. But then come jarring words. Jesus Himself was loving and ALWAYS spoke the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! And to the orthodox, truth-speaking saints at Ephesus, He said this – “Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (vs 5). He went on to call them to repent in verse 6, and then spoke these threatening words – “or else I will come and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.” Mind you now – the Lord is speaking the truth to this church, and He does so out of love! He hasn’t left them, but they have “left their first love.” Wow! Talk about courage to tell the truth! Jesus declares they were right about everything – except their relationship with Him! And they are in danger of losing their lampstand. Is it possible to be sound in doctrine and to sound out the truth yet be shallow in our love for Jesus? Is it possible to hate sin so intensely we fail to balance that hatred with love for sinners and even the Savior? Or that our “love” for sinners is so great we refuse to tell them the truth? Is it possible to become a lopsided, unbalanced Christan? Are you one? Just asking.

--Dan Gulley