Welcome and Warning

by: Rev. Arnel Tan

“Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.” Rev. 3:22 NLT

The church of Thyatira is so excellent in making people at home in their church. It is their strength to sincerely minister to the wounded and make them feel warm. A welcoming church is so needed now a day, a place of refuge and rest. It is here where acceptance and grace truly abound. The Thyatirian church is a place to be and a people to be with. While they are sincere in their desire to make people at home and let grace abound they went to the other extreme of not giving them warnings from God’s word.

It is in this church that Jezebel a false and immoral “prophetess” was allowed to be an influential teacher of the church. While respect for others is crucial and necessary it is does not mean agreeing with sin or tolerance of sin. God is not expecting us to transform others, it is God’s expectation that we stand against sin and error! It means we warn people of what God says about sin, by all means the warning must be done in love and grace not being judgmental or arrogant. It is not about being someone holier than the other but fellow sinner reminding each other of our tendency to fall apart from God’s grace.

Acceptance to join us in worship is given to all who wants to worship God. However, the worship of God includes listening to the warnings of God. The church of Thyatira cheapened grace by disconnecting it with truth and pulling from God’s glory! This time the Head of the church, Jesus Christ gave the stern warning to Jezebel and those who sinned with her. Despite the strong words of warning you can still sense the soft and gentle voice of welcome as God invites people to REPENT! To still avail of the chance to do things right for God’s glory. God’s warning is not a joke, yet his heart is still soft on those who repent!

The purpose of welcome and warning in church is for all of us to repent. Repentance is not being perfect but being humble to admit we sinned and to avail of God’s grace to grant us freedom from the life style of sinning. Grace equips us to be strong and trains us to be discerning. Grace grants us a new and fresh beginning despite of the consequences to be paid. The scar of sin no longer highlight the horror of the past but serves as a warning that our need to be broken and humbled is not ended. Authentic biblical warmth and honest heralding of God’s warning go together. Welcome God is merciful, warning God is holy and just. Believe we need to feel the welcome so we will hear the warning. Amen