Love letter to the church in Pergamum: The compromised bride

Pergamum was a commercial city in present day Turkey that was quite known for the worship of idols. The city boasts of temples for Zeus, Dionysius, a temple for Caesar as well as many other pagan gods. Associated with idolatry was the obsession for sex which was part of the idol worship. In such a poignantly idolatrous city was the church of Pergamum. The things happening in the city somehow got entangled with their faith. Thus, even though they believed in Christ, some of the members also compromised and took part in idol worship, sexual immorality associated with the idol worship and all the vices that come with it. As serious as this may sound, the church in Pergamum was no different from the 21st compromised church. The things that caused Jesus to write to this church are the things that are glorified, exalted and encouraged in some congregations. Let’s consider the words of Jesus:

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:14‭-‬15‬)

‭“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:12‬). The introduction presents Jesus as one with the double-edged sword. The double-edged sword cut at both sides. Thus, Jesus’ judgement was ready to be poured on this church. He continues by saying that “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.‭‭” (Revelation‬ ‭2:13‬). Satan’s throne probably refers to all the idols that are found in the city of Pergamum. Antipas could have been a believer killed for his faith in Pergamum. Jesus recommended the church for remaining true to His name even in the midst of idolatry and martyrdom.

Yet, Jesus had few things against this compromised bride: “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. [15] Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:14‭-‬15‬ ). The teachings of Balaam as recorded in Numbers 31:16 enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord through sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. The church in Pergamum had members who propagated the teachings of Balaam and succeeded in encouraging some of the members to engage in idolatry and sexual immorality. To add to this, there were others who held onto the teachings of the Nicolaitans; possibly a false doctrine.

The Lord calls his bride in Pergamum to repent, “otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.‭‭” (Revelation‬ ‭2:16‬). The punishment for the failure to repent will be destruction. The letter ends with this: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” ‭‭(Revelation‬ ‭2:17‬). Unfortunately, like the other churches, the words of Jesus were not obeyed and the compromised church in Pergamum was lost in history.

The compromised bride left her Lord and shamelessly flirted with idols and committed sexual immorality. Whenever the church infiltrates its doctrine with other strange ideas and worldliness, it is an open invitation for the Lord to call the church into order. Unfortunately, there are many of such churches that have been infiltrated with so much idolatry that the Lord is no longer present in such congregations. Whenever we make allowances for worldliness in the church, it is an open message that we no longer want the Lord.

The Christian wife in Corinth: Sexual immorality and intimacy

Paul’s apostolic letter to the church in Corinth addressed several issues including marriage. The church in Corinth had written to Paul with specific questions they wanted answers to. On his part, Apostle Paul took time to explain to them the way of the Lord in relation to their questions. One thing we knew that the Corinthian church had stated in their letter to Paul is quoted in 1 Corinthians 7:1:
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
The church had taken a stand that “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman” and Paul began his teaching on marriage based on this question. We shall focus on what Paul expected the Christian wives in Corinth to demonstrate. This was the first part of Paul’s response to the church:

“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” (1 Corinthians 7:2‭-‬7).

First, Paul exhorts the Christian wives (and husbands) to engage in sexual intimacy with their own spouses. This was to ensure that sexual immorality does not thrive within the church. Paul expected the Christian wives (and husbands) to fulfill their duties to each other. In essence, the wife (and the husband) should not deprive each other of their physical or emotional needs. Through Paul, we understand that “the wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:4). The married woman (or man) who embarks on any spiritual journey including dedication to prayer and avoidance of marital intimacy must be done in mutual consent. Thus the woman (and the man) cannot take decisions such as “fasting sexual intimacy” without each other’s consent.

Paul’s letter also reveals that the Christian is not immune to sexual sins. In the previous post, we saw a brother in the church sleeping with his father’s wife. This and many other records of sexual immorality among believers hinted the apostle to teach the church that married couples should not deny each other sexual pleasure. Paul had already admonished the Corinthian believers to “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Unfortunately sexual immorality is still one of the “Albatross” hanging around the neck of many churches. Men and women of God have been indicted severally for engaging in extramarital affairs. Some young people have become victims of married men and women in the church. The letter to the Corinthians and the caution about sexual immorality is relevant even today.

Sex was created by God not to become a snare to marriages. Any act of sexual immorality does not just weaken the marriage bond, it also casts a stain on the body of Christ. If there is no marriage nor sex in heaven, why would you rather allow sexual immorality to lead you to hell. For the record, hell is a place of torment….not sexual pleasure. Flee sexual immorality and save your soul.

The incestuous woman: Addressing immorality

Sexual immorality is an agelong sin that has continued to plague men and women. Unfortunately, while sexual immorality remains one of the world’s biggest challenges leading to character deformities in children that emerge from each relationship, the church has not been spared. It is quite disheartening to see this act committed in broad daylight in the church. Paul, dealing with this menace in the Corinthian church stated that, “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Thus, sexual immorality among believers is a sin that needs urgent attention from the church leadership. In the Corinthian church was a man who was grossly engaged in immorality with another woman. This nameless woman was obviously not a member of the church and thus Paul did not even find it needful to address her personally.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1)

Let’s consider this nameless woman in this post. We are not privy to personal details like the age of this woman and the age of the church brother who was in the act of sin with her. In 1 Corinthians 5:1, Paul writes this: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.” This is a serious issue that needed urgent attention but for some unknown reasons, the church looked on unconcerned. First, a brother from the church was engaged in sexual immorality with a woman outside of the church. This nameless woman and her nameless sexual partner were not just a bunch of random lovers. The woman was the stepmother of her sexual partner. Thus the man was sleeping with his father’s wife (who was technically his mother!). This blatant disrespect for marriage, disobedience to God and shameful act was tolerated in the church. That sin was so grievous that “even pagans do not tolerate” but was happening in broad daylight.

What could motivate a woman to leave her matrimonial bed and go and sleep with her husband’s son? This outrageous and incestuous relationship was not to be tolerated in any way in the church or outside the church. God’s laws against such acts clearly shows His disapproval. Leviticus 20:11 states that “If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” This was the extent of God’s indignation towards this act, yet a brother from the church confidently committed this sin with an unbelieving woman. Reuben, the first born of Jacob committed the same sin in Genesis 35:22a: “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” And this sin attracted a generational curse for him: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.” (Genesis 49:3‭-‬4). The Reubenites did not hold any significant position throughout the history of Israel.

The incestuous woman in Corinth and her partner committed actions that believers and unbelievers did not tolerate. Paul’s verdict was this: “So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:4‭-‬5). Paul, writing to the Christians in Rome stated this: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1‭-‬2). Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 6:15, 18-20 that “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Sexual immorality should in no way be tolerated in the body of Christ. If a sister or a brother is found engaging in it, they should be confronted immediately by the church leadership because “a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6b). If the first act of sin is not handled properly, it could lead to others embarking on similar sinful routes using the first as their standard. .

David’s concubines

Is there anything you could have avoided but allowed it to happen and later became a snare to you? How did you feel when the consequences of your actions led to further problems for you and the people around you? If you were given a second chance at life, what would you do differently to avert such an incident from happening? Most of us build our lives on try and error patterns. We make countless mistakes until we get it right. Some people are able to bounce back from where they fall. Unfortunately many are unable to get it right and remain at the rock bottom all their lives. One such person whose decisions led to a cycle of misfortunes was king David. His one night with Uriah’s wife and subsequent murder caused him a cycle of painful experiences. This was the verdict David received for sleeping with someone’s wife and then killing the husband:
“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own. This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” (2 Samuel 12:10‭-‬12).

As a result of this verdict, David’s own son (Amnon) raped David’s own daughter (Tamar). David’s own son (Absalom, brother of Tamar) killed David’s firstborn (Amnon). When we thought there was calmness, another volcano was dropped: Absalom rebelled against his own father and David, his household, his army and his supporters and counselors fled from home (read 2 Samuel 15). The same Absalom who was forgiven for murder, conspired with some of David’s own people against his own father. David’s best counselor, Ahithophel was among the conspirators. David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” (2 Samuel 15:31b). As a matter of urgency, David, the giant slayer, fled with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace (2 Samuel 15:16). These ten concubines were left behind when all those that matter to David were taken away. These concubines spent their lives meeting the sexual and emotional needs of David. However, when trouble came to the house of David, they were left behind to take care of a troubled palace. Their place was with the troublemaker Absalom. They might have been afraid for their lives. What would their fate be? 

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. (2 Samuel 16:22)

When Absalom asked Ahithophel what he should do, the very wise Ahithophel gave him wild advice. Ahithophel was no ordinary person. In those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice (2 Samuel 16:23). No wonder David prayed that God would turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness. This was the advice of Ahithophel: “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” (2 Samuel 16:21). Reading this verse 1000s of years later, I still wonder why Absalom did not think this advice was foolish. But Ahithophel knew how to kill David’s authority in the eyes of the people. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel (2 Samuel 16:22). Imagine! David even had the sanity to take Bethsheba to the room. Absalom slept with ten women on a rooftop in broad daylight. This is not a movie! It really happened. 

Did Absalom have any reverence for these women? Why did he chose to disregard the ten women’s lives but killed Amnon for raping his one sister? Imagine the shame and the stigma. The Law of Moses made it explicit that sons should not disrespect their father’s bed (Leviticus 18:8). Jacob’s son, Rueben committed a similar crime with his father’s concubine, Bilhah and Jacob cursed the entire generation of the Reubenites. When peace was restored and David finally returned to his palace Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows (2 Samuel 20:3). Absalom made these ten concubines desolate for the rest of their lives just as Amnon made Tamar desolate. Absalom did not win the war against his father. He was killed and all who supported him perished with him. However, the ten concubines lived as mere shadows of themselves. They were put in a house under a guard. Their freedom was taken, their lives were halted and for the rest of their days, they lived as widows. All these pain inflicted by the men who were supposed to protect these vulnerable women.

No woman deserves to be treated as just a sex object. Men have the moral and God-given responsibility to provide a safe environment for the women in their lives. If you know a woman who is being abused sexually, contact the right authorities to help her. If we keep quiet, the abusers’ next target might be someone close to you. Women are created by God for exploits. Be intentional about helping your wife, sister, friend, neighbour etc. When women are highly equipped, the world becomes a better place.

Bethsheba: God hates sin!

No matter how we garnish sin and give it a new name and new identity, it doesn’t change the state from sin to good. Sin is sin no matter how big or small. God hates sin no matter the magnitude of the sin. The ultimate goal of God sending His only begotten Son was to redeem mankind from the bondage of sin (John 3:16). Our relationship with God is affected by sin and the only way to be restored to Him is to be purged from sin. It cost God His only Son to pay the price for sin. If it is easy to do, it doesn’t mean the price to pay is easy. Be intentional and avoid sinful acts as much as possible. Our study of Bethsheba has revealed how a single act of walking on the roof led king David in a roller-coaster of sins. He saw Bethsheba, asked about her, requested for her, slept with her, got her pregnant, wanted to put the blame on her husband, killed her husband and ultimately married Bethsheba. 

Reading this from the viewpoint of a human being, the whole drama is naught. How can someone be this heartless to destroy another like that. If you felt this way, imagine God! All this while, Bethsheba was the one who had to endure the pain of cheating on her husband, the pain of losing her husband and becoming a widow. Her widowhood didn’t last for long because she moved to the palace as the wife of David. Though David might have felt a sigh of relief after all this, God wasn’t pleased at all. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and David and Bethsheba’s secret sin would have to be paid for publicly. God sent prophet Nathan to rebuke David. The prophet gave a story of a poor man and a rich man and how the rich man left all he had to kill the only ewe of the poor man. David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5‭-‬6). David did not know that he was the culprit in this story. He was ready to kill the rich man for his greed.

But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:14)

When Nathan explained to David that the story refers to him, David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:13‭-‬14). The Lord hated the sin of David and Bethsheba such that the innocent child wasn’t going to live. After all the drama, David and Bethsheba would not enjoy the fruit of their sinful act. When Bethsheba delivered, the child was struck with an illness. David prayed, fasted, pleaded with God, laid on the floor and did everything possible but God was not pleased. Ultimately, the child died. Bethsheba had to deal again with another loss, this time the loss of a child. She lost Uriah and now she had lost the child she had with David. As difficult as her grief might be, God hates sin and that child was the representation of the sinful action that led to the death of Uriah. 

This story teaches us that God is just and He “will repay each person according to what they have done” (Romans 2:6). The story also teaches that God sees the secrets of each person. Nothing is hidden from Him. David and Bethsheba sinned in secret but God rebuked them openly. The verdict was brutal:  “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” (2 Samuel 12:11‭-‬12).

God created sexual intimacy but whenever it is done outside marriage, the beautiful act is called sin. Revelation 21:8 designates the final destination of sinners including the sexually immoral; “they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” 

It is better we tame our emotions than allow our emotions to tame us. If it cannot be done with the knowledge of people, think twice before you do. Our feelings are not an excuse to sin. Control that feeling before it controls you. No sane person walks into fire because they feel cold. Similarly, we shouldn’t walk into sin because we feel like it. God hates sin!

Bilhah: Rueben’s mistake that cost him his blessing

Sometimes I wonder why the biblical authors wrote down the details of certain events and ignored others. The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Through inspiration, the authors even documented the mistakes of the people whose stories were connected to write God’s  bigger story. In essence, God does not pick just the righteous people but He is interested in building a relationship with even the downtrodden and those who have been declared “bad”. If God could make a great patriarch out of a deceiver and a thief (Jacob), could connect a harlot to the family line of Jesus (Rahab), could take a murderer and a stammerer and make him a saviour of a nation (Moses), could make doubtful person an apostle and evangelist (Thomas), among others, surely He can make something out of me. The women in the Bible series reveal to us the women whose lives contributed to the scriptures. These women were not the best in their days. They had their strengths and weaknesses, yet, God worked His story in their discombobulated stories. Today’s focus will be on a single verse in Genesis 35 that is mostly ignored but very important in the Bible. 

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. (Genesis 35:22a) 

Bilhah, Rachel’s servant who bore Jacob Dan and Naphtali, had an affair with Reuben,  Jacob’s first son. Genesis 35:22a quotes that,  “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” This verse is not continued in subsequent passages in the chapter. The Bible author just dropped the bombshell; Reuben defiled his father’s bed by sleeping with Bilhah. Jacob heard of the incident and did not say a word about it. Was Bilhah coerced, or did she willingly agree to sleep with Rueben? Such details are not given. What we know is what happened. Bilhah and Reuben’s action is a disrespect to Jacob. Aside the incestuous acts, it was a total disgrace for Bilhah to engage in sexual intimacy with Reuben while Jacob was still alive. The fact that Jacob heard it and does not immediately react to it makes the incident more difficult to process. Both Bilhah and Reuben continued to live in the same house with Jacob and the rest of the family. The huge burden of guilt hung like an Albatross around their necks. The weight of the guilt and the shame it probably brought to them had to be a lifetime mark. Bilhah and Reuben’s act had future consequences. 

Before Jacob died, he blessed all his children. For Reuben, this is what he said: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.” (Genesis 49:3‭-‬4). Literally, Jacob cursed Reuben for the action done years ago. Bilhah might have heard of the curse too. Their age-old sin was reviewed on Jacob’s deathbed. The curse was laid on Reuben and no Reubenites could ever rise to the top in the history of the Israelites. No king, judge, priest ever came from the tribe of Rueben. The family also occupied a territory beyond Jordan when they moved to the promised land (Numbers 32:1-5). Reuben’s lack of control over his emotions (turbulent as the waters), led to an act that caused his descendants to lose a prominent place in Israel’s history. The only “popular” Reubenites, Datham and Abiram were rebel leaders and they died for inciting the people to sin (Numbers 16). Bilhah and Reuben’s mistake became a generational scare and we should learn from them to avoid a singular act that can deny us of a blissful future.

Before you do anything, consider the implications it would have in the future. You owe your descendants a blessing not a curse. Be intentional about avoiding sinful acts. One day with Bilhah or Reuben can cost a lifetime of regrets, pain, worry and disappointment. Look before you leap!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified!

Recently, I saw an advertisement on YouTube. I was very disappointed because the message of the advertisement and the dress code of one of the people promoting this company did not align at all. It seems like the new strategy for online businesses is to present videos and images of naked people (particularly women). Thus, we are bombarded with sexual and sensual messages all day long. From the billboard, to the video ad to the picture ad that pops up on your phone screen. You either install an ad blocker or you deal with it!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

How do we keep ourselves sanctified in the midst of all these? What the world has not realized that sexual immorality has a deeper root than what is mostly reported. It begins from the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and finally the pride of life (satisfying the crave). God’s will for us is to sanctified: that we should avoid sexual immorality and learn to control our own bodies in a way that is honourable (1 These. 4:3-4). There are times that the only way out for the believer is to flee and that is perfectly fine. Joseph had to flee from Potipher’s wife as well. It landed him in prison but in the long run, God glorified him.

Satisfying our human cravings is temporary but the side effects can be a permanent destruction of another life. Many women have been abused by men because of lack of self control. Some men have also suffered sexual abuse from the hands of women. Now, schools in the West are teaching young children that they can indulge in sexual immorality as long as they use protection. This is sad! We all have our rights, Yes! But some actions tend to have permanent effects on the people, the society and the nation as a whole. Teach your children the dangers of premarital sex. As believers, let’s learn to control our own bodies from acts that do not glorify God.

Remember, true satisfaction in life comes from God. If God cannot satisfy you, nothing will!