The Church in Sardis
By Paul Bernard
Sardis was located 30 miles southeast of Thyatira. It was one of the noblest and greatest cities of the east. As with other cities we’ve studied, it was known for textile manufacturing, dying and jewelry making. But unlike other cities, it was also known as the center of philosophy and study. Of course, as with most of the cities of Asia, it was it was a city plagued by rampant sexuality and pagan practices.
In its early years, Sardis was the capital city of Ancient Kingdom of Lydia. At its peak, Lydia was ruled by Croesus (kree-sus) in the 6th century B.C. (Perhaps you’ve heard the idiom, Rich as Croesus). During this time, the wealth of Lydia in general and Sardis in particular, was legendary. Sardis was situated at the juncture of several important roads and trade routes. Because of its location and subsequent prosperity, it was characterized as one of the most luxurious cities in Asia. In the ancient world it was a place of “easy money” where people came from far and wide to seek their fortunes. The people of Sardis had the reputation of being pleasure seekers.
Sardis was built on the slope of a steep mountain called Tmolus (modern day Bozdağ), that was easily defended on all sides due to the steep approach. Croesus felt so confident in his city’sdefenses that he did not post adequate guards, and even though he was alerted to the weakness, he did not fix the flaw and bolter the defenses of the city. In 547 B.C., Sardis fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia who infiltrated the city that was thought to be impenetrable.
Cyrus the Great shored up the defenses of the city that he had conquered, but then became complacent and the city was conquered many times after Cyrus, by Antiochus, Alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Pergamum and eventually, it was taken and controlled by the Romans. It is during this Roman rule that the church Jesus is speaking to was in existence.
Revelation of Jesus
The people of Sardis seem to be known for their great works. We’re not sure exactly what they were doing, but was action that did not start in a heart of faith. In fact, they seem to have a great reputation, but Jesus knows there is something else going on here. He’s able to see through the externals into the hearts of the people of Sardis. Like a Christmas tree that is decorated and beautiful on the outside, but is slowly dying on the inside because it has been cut off from its source of life. This characterizes the church of Sardis: they look good on the outside, but are dead inside. Jesus says of the Pharisees Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. (ESV)
Revelation 1:1b-2 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. [2] Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”
Jesus promises that if they are not able to revive and wake up that which is dead inside of them, then His return will catch them unawares and his justice will be swift against them. Sardis is one of only 2 churches that receives no commendation from Jesus. Sure, there are a few people who haven’t completely lost it, but the church as a whole is dying.
As with all of the churches in Revelation 2-3, we know these were real churches that John was writing to, but we also know that these types of churches have existed ever since then. There are churches who have a reputation for life, perhaps they are living off of some former glory, perhaps there was a time when they were vibrant and their souls were alight for the gospel of Christ. But time, complacency and lack of attention have quenched their fire. Just like Croesus, they left the city unguarded and vulnerable to attack after attack.
Could we be this type of church? Would Jesus write a letter to us like this, telling us to wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die? Are we a dead church, even though we look very alive? Perhaps we’re just going through the motions of worship, we’re ‘doing’ the right things, but our hearts are barely alive toward Christ? This is a question we should continue to ask, so that we might be intentional about waking up what remains.
But, let’s take it off the church at large for a second. What about us as individuals? Are we dead or nearly dead in our faith? Ben Franklin said, “Many men die at 25, but aren’t buried until 75.”
If we find ourselves to be less alive than we want to be, we must be courageous enough to ask the question, “Why?” Why are we simply going through the motions of worship? Why are we living off of some former glory? Why are we maintaining the reputation of life, but are not actually living? Irenaes wrote, “The Glory of God is man fully alive.”
Perhaps these questions might help:
• What are we ‘feeding’ ourselves with? The bread of life or the bread of the world?
• Have we left our hearts unguarded? Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Perhaps there is a weakness in our defenses that we have not shored up.
• Have we let our comfort breed complacency? The definition for complacency is “a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger; smug satisfaction."
Jesus promises to return swiftly, with a justice that is perfect. He sees through every façade and nothing is hidden from His sight. Let us not be caught, like the church in Sardis, alive on the outside, but very dead on the inside.