Revelation 3:1-6
In verses 1-2 Jesus points out to the Sardis church, “I know your works. You have a reputation that you are alive, but you are dead.” Scholars have noted that history is chock full of non-revival visited churches. They have further noted that all such churches experience four distinct stages. These stages may vary in length from non-revival visited church to non-revival visited church. However, the end result is always the same: The church literally drying up and blowing away. Here is a brief description of these four stages:
1. The Movement Stage – This stage marks the first birthday of many new churches. At this point, the church may still be small, but everybody knows each other, and everyone is 100% committed. Everyone is faithful to Sunday School, Sunday services, mid-week services, and fellowship outside designated church activities.
2. The Magnificence Stage – At this stage in the non-revival visited church, attendance has increased dramatically. Because of its greater size, it is now able to do things never done before. There is still somewhat of a desire to grow. However, the commitment level of virtually everyone at these churches dips to 50-70%
3. The Monument Stage – At this stage there are attempts being made to stimulate growth. However, there is more talk about the accomplishments of the past than excitement about what they can accomplished in the future. Church work is done mostly by the pastor and staff along with a handful of faithful people. There are power struggles, family feuds eruptions, and prevalent “us and them” mentalities. All of this affects everything negatively. Commitment level dips to 10-30%.
4. The Mausoleum Stage – At this stage many have either fallen away from the church or have died. Church guests are viewed with suspicion particularly by those in charge why often view the guests as threats to their authority. Attendance levels are 10% of what they used to be.
The sad thing about all this is that there are churches all about us either in the Monument or Mausoleum stage! They are, or soon will be, a “Comatose Congregation,” a lifeless church body just going through the motions. On the outside these dying churches may have the appearance of being alive! This week many of us we will drive by some big and beautiful church buildings with possible envy. These places of worship have huge parking lots, tall steeples, and multimedia signage. However, on the inside unbeknown to us, they’ve flat lined a long time ago. The Spirit ain’t there no more!
In John 6:63 the Bible says, “It is the Spirit who gives life …” In Acts 1:8 the Bible says, ” you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ... ” And in Zechariah 4:6 the Bible says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord!” Appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to churches. Their outward appearance of vitality might only be a cover for their inner disparity.
When a human dies the organs in his or her body stop functioning. Important things like the lungs, the heart and the kidneys shut down. One thing after another just stops. This is the same thing that happens in a dead church. Things just stop. Prayer meeting stops! Tithing stops! Outreach stops! Discipleship stops! Care giving stops! Faithful church attendance stops!
In the Old Testament there is a great, yet sad illustration of what I’m talking about. Some of the saddest words to me in the Bible are said about Samson, who appeared to be ever so powerful in Judges 16:20: “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” Samson thought he was powerful because he believed what others said about his appearance on the outside, but they didn’t know him. This inflated view of self made him unaware of his own spiritual depravity. The Spirit left him so quietly that he didn’t even know it happened. This is the exact same thing that Jesus describes happening to the Sardis church. They looked mighty powerful to everybody else on the outside, but on the inside they were dead. The church at Sardis had gone through all four of the stages described above. They had therefore ended up as a “Comatose Congregation” without even knowing it happened.
Does your church know it? Do you recognize any of these signs of comatose in your own church?
Red Letter Revival 