Stumbling block or stepping stone

"And to the angel of the church in Per'gamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of An'tipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicola'itans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.'

- Revelation 2:12-17

Pergamum was the city where the devil ruled. There were many temples and many gods. There were even writings that testify that the first temple for emperor-worshippers was erected here. Refusal to worship the Roman emperor was a crime worthy of capital punishment. This was no problem for worshippers of many gods, but it was a problem for Christians, who believe that there is only one God, almighty and living.

It was not easy for the Christians because you would not walk far from one temple before another one appeared. They were everywhere. Everyone was doing it. And those who held to the teaching of Balaam, along with the Nicolaitans, influenced Christians into these “cultural norms”. Their key message must have been, “It’s ok. Everyone is doing it.”

Does that excuse not sound familiar? We tend to say all the time that “it’s everywhere” and that “everyone is doing it”. But is it really ok? The answer is not even worth mentioning because, strangely enough, we all know, deep down, if it’s ok. The "cultural norm" is no excuse for any Christian to neglect his/her faith.

And what is it that “everyone is doing” these days? Some of these norms in our culture today include neglecting the Lord, treating the faith with ignorance, gossip, greed, materialism, just to name a few. If we sat down to think harder, there would easily be a long list. By virtue of our baptism, we’ve not been called to merge into the world, but to be set apart. Indeed to be “set apart” is precisely what holiness means. We cannot expect to take the best of both worlds simply because they are head-to-head contradictions. There is simply no compromise between the two. When we passed through the waters of initiation, we were redeemed and set apart for the Lord.

Are you practising this attitude? Have you been guilty feigning ignorance? Worst, we promote it to others we call “friends”. By the way we behave, people see where our allegiances lie. And, especially with the advent of social media, where our faces are everywhere and platforms aplenty to post practically whatever we want, it is especially easy to reveal our loyalty. In fact, Facebook and Twitter may be – dare I say it? – the new Pergamum, the place where Satan’s throne is. Anything we say that does not represent love, hunger and thirsting for what is really good, risks making us the advocates for the teachings of Balaam (a prophet from the Book of Numbers) and the Nicolaitans. Indeed we would become the "stumbling blocks" (v 14) that confuses, that makes others reject the faith.

It’s true that those who teach and spread the influences negative to the Spirit of God will be punished by the sword (v 16) – the same way Balaam met his end (Nm 31:8). Of course, with those teachers, so will we be punished if we refuse to heed Jesus’ warning to repent and turn away from false teachings.
A large number of the Israelites did not make it to the Promised Land because of their disobedience.

But while it seems like the two aforementioned groups at least “deserve” their punishment, John writes not just of the sinners but the warning goes out to the whole church of Pergamum. In context, the letter is addressed to all who belong to that church. It praised them in general for “holding fast” to his name and for not denying his name. Yet, John reports: “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam…” (v 14) and “you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicola'itans” (v 15). It is the whole church that has to repent.

It may sound unfair, but it is actually quite logical. To the rest who held on to Jesus’ Name and never denied Him, they still should never allow their brothers and sisters to fall. If we remain faithful but do not make efforts to help others who are not faithful, how faithful would that make us anyway? We are family. And it is our duty, as family members to never give up on those who are weak, or those who have walked away.

Do you know anyone who has fallen away? Think of five such friends (I know you have more than that!). Think of the ways you have reached them to persuade them against disobedience and denying God. If you haven’t done anything to this point, it is time to do something. We are not called to convert others, but to plant a seed. The Spirit will do His job, but we need to cooperate with Him. We need to be like the friends who brought the sick man through the roof and presented him to Jesus. Instead of being stumbling blocks, we need to be stepping stones, helping people step closer to God. To not do so, makes us little different from those who spread ignorance and those who practice it. In fact, it could be argued that we would be be guilty of both.

If we do our part, if we repent and "hear what the Spirit says", we will be presented with "a new name" (v 17). And that again reminds us of our baptism. Throughout scriptures, God gives new names for people taking on new roles. Abram became Abraham. Jacob became Israel. Simon became Peter. The new name is a reminder of our new selves, and our new calling.

What is your baptism or confirmation name? What does it mean? I personally practise writing my name with my confirmation name. I think it’s important because it will constantly be a reminder of my calling and my vocation to be His child. It is a practice I would recommend to anyone. Remember your baptism and/or confirmation name. Let it remind you of your baptism, your call to be set apart. And when you do, heed these three reminders:

• Don’t compromise on your faith; show your allegiance to God clearly without reservation.
• Don’t influence others to compromise on their faith; don’t show support for anything that is done against God.
• Help those who have fallen in the above two categories. Whatever you can (not just want) do, do. Whatever you cannot do, lift to God.

Let us ask the Lord for guidance as we live in the new Pergamum. And let us be strong to cling to Him and to never deny Him. Let us never be stumbling blocks for others, but stepping stones. And when we reach the end of our life here, may we receive the new name he has promised us.