Page 103 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

Triumph and Trouble

By the year A.D. 500, Christianity was facing some major challenges,
for a new age was about to dawn. Internal weaknesses and external
pressures had finally ended the Roman Empire and had greatly
influenced Greco-Roman culture. In the Mediterranean Basin, people
historians refer to as “barbarians” had revolutionized the empire. In
addition to these, other factors stand out at this time in church history.

A Forsaken First Love

Scholars differ on the date when the apostle John wrote the book
of Revelation. It is not my intent to discuss differences related to the
dating. However, evidence seems to indicate that it was written soon
after the death of the apostle Paul. It is interesting to know that the
Lord of the church, Jesus Christ, about whom the Revelation is written
(Revelation 1:1), examined the state of local assemblies (Revelation 2–3)
and, in general, the church at large.

We must remember that John saw a vision of a Christ whose “eyes
were like blazing fire” (Revelation 1:14), and nothing was hidden
from Christ’s vision. His eyes penetrated the surface and saw actual
conditions in the churches. Not surprisingly, He commended believers
in these churches for their positive virtues and condemned their dead
works and practices.

To the church at Laodicea, He said: “I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because
you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of
my mouth” (Revelation 3:15–16). These are stern words indeed! What
a tragedy for a church to be spurned by its Master for being lukewarm.
May we today heed this warning.

Jesus commended believers in the church at Ephesus for hard work
and perseverance and for dealing with false teachers and heresy.
However, the believers in this church did not pass the examination in
crucial areas of passion for Christ and His mission. It is alarming to note
that within one generation after Paul had prayed that they would receive
the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1–22), Christians in Ephesus had “forsaken their
first love.” Instructions to the believers in the church at Ephesus were
clear: “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and
do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and

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