When we first became parents, Natalie and I were determined to be good parents.
We'd worked out in advance of having kids.
But it didn't take us long to realise that we were far better parents without kids than with kids.
It's just a whole lot easier, I think, to think about and actually do it.
There were a few things that we decided we weren't going to bend on.
Sugar intake and TV time were the two things that we, amongst other things, were going to draw a line on.
We were pretty strict with both.
Poor little Izzy, for some time, thought that milk arrowroot was the best biscuit in the world.
That's because that's what I consistently told her, it was the best biscuit in the world,
until her little fingers wrapped for the first time around a Tim Tam.
And she discovered that I was lying.
I remember the first time that chocolate actually touched her lips.
I forget how old she was.
I don't think she was, she wouldn't have been a year old, I don't think.
But we were on a ferry between Townsville and Magnetic Island.
We were travelling with some friends and one of the lady had a, she was eating a Magnum ice cream.
Sitting, and she had Izzy on one lap, she's eating his Magnum ice cream.
And without even thinking about it, she ripped off a whole chunk of the chocolate and shoved it in her mouth.
And her eyes just lit up.
And the world changed.
It was all Technicolor and fireworks and fairies.
And she just immediately, having tasted the chocolate, she just immediately grabbed the other hand and went,
with the chocolate, with the ice cream and took a mouthful of it.
But for me in that moment, I was like, oh, compromise.
You know, and yet from that moment, how easy, it was all spoiled by that moment,
so how easy it is from that moment to compromise from one thing to the next thing to the next thing.
And now we go on holidays and I hear myself saying things like, it's holidays.
Eat an ice cream every day if you like.
How quickly it was that I bent.
And that's to say nothing about TV.
When your kids have been sick for a week, mum becomes a waitress and the TV's the nurse.
I mean, which is what's been happening for the last 10 days.
Our kids have just been, you know, one Peter Rabbit thing and Bob the Builder and all this other stuff that they watch.
One thing, Saddle Club, one after another after another.
And one of the things that I used to think was a real shame was I'd drive past people,
I'd take them on the highway and they'd see the TVs glowing in the back of the car.
And I remember thinking, oh, I'd never do that.
I've now worn out three sets of those dual screen TV things in the back of my car.
I'm looking for the fourth one already.
Compromise, I think, is one thing when it's sugar and TV.
It's another thing when it comes to sin and Jesus.
After 20 years of ministry, I cannot count the number of people who I know in all sorts of various ways
who have compromised with Jesus and walked away from faith in him.
I actually think, for me personally, it's one of the hardest things about ministry
is people making those decisions which ultimately see them walking away from Jesus.
Some of those people were more committed than me.
They were better taught.
They were further down the track, being Christians a lot longer.
People who were fervent for Christ.
Some were kids in youth groups.
Some were youth group leaders.
Some were students with me at Moore College.
Some of them were high-profile pastors and preachers.
It's very sad when it happens.
I remember specifically where I was when one of my best friends phoned me up
and in the course of the conversation said to me,
Steve, I'm just not convinced it's true anymore.
I remember pleading with another young lady
not to marry a certain non-Christian guy
they married and she is now finished with Jesus
none of these people
all circumstances are different
but one of the things which is interesting
is that none of them sought counsel earlier
in making their decisions
none of them shared their conflicts and their struggles of their hearts
now let me say
Jesus might not be finished with them
but for the moment
they are finished with Jesus
and as Jesus addresses this church at Pergamon
the believers there seem to be flirting with false teaching
they are not openly embracing immorality
and idolatry
but what they haven't done
is they haven't closed the door on it
they are leaving the door open to it
Jesus begins with a strong commendation of this church at Pergamon
and this commendation is made even stronger
because Jesus knows that they are living in a fairly bad neighbourhood
verse 13
I know where you live
where Satan has his throne
that's Pergamon
now so if Ephesus
we have looked at Ephesus and Smyrna so far
so if Ephesus is the sort of like business
you know
place of
of Asia Minor
sort of like your Sydney of Asia Minor
Smyrna was more like the Melbourne
cultural trendy kind of place
of Asia Minor
Pergamon was its Canberra
poor Pergamon
okay
so you've got the picture right
okay
it was the seat of government
in Asia Minor
and as such
it was the first place
to have a temple
which was authorised
as a place of worship
for the emperor
and so Pergamon
was the most important city
in Asia Minor
as far as the Roman imperial cult
was concerned
so Roman pagan idolatry
quickly gained acceptance
it amalgamated with a bunch of other
religious practices of Pergamon
so there was a nice
official
approved
blend
of
religious practices
and ideas
and thoughts
that's
where Pergamon was
that's the neighbourhood
but in spite of the bad influence
of the neighbourhood
Jesus says in verse 13
yet you remain true to my name
you did not renounce your faith in me
even in the days of Antipas
my faithful witness
who was put to death
in your city
where Satan lives
so in spite of their
proximity
to Satan's throne
they remain true
to the name of Jesus
that means what
they were actually living
for the glory
of Jesus
we can see here
that Jesus name
his glory
matters a lot
to him
by the way that he mentions it
to these churches
not just this one
to the other churches
so in chapter 2 verse 3
you have persevered
and have endured hardship
for my name
verse 13
you remain true
to my name
verse 8
of chapter 3
you have kept my word
and have not denied my name
verse 12
of chapter 3
I will write on him
the name of my God
and my own new name
Jesus cares
about his name
that is
he cares about
his reputation
I remember
going to a restaurant
with a member
of my extended family
when I was a teenager
and as we
sat down
we had this sort of
big table booked
and we sat down
and my grandfather
the patriarch
of the family
said to us all
at the table
now
listen up
I'm well known
in this place
now the implication
was that we had
to behave ourselves
and not do anything
that would actually
embarrass him
in any way
which as a teenager
you're kind of tempted to
once he says it
and he was concerned
for his reputation
we took it
as a bit of a joke
and as him
big noting himself
which is what he tended
to do
but all these years later
I mean we took a number
of years later
like 30 odd years later
now
it's still a joke
in the family
so
as my brothers
and my parents
and the extended families
went out to a restaurant
last year sometime
as we walked in the restaurant
dad turned around
and said
now boys
don't forget
I'm well known
in this place
so behave yourselves
and I think he'd had
a coffee there
once before
or something like that
and dad was up here
visiting recently
and he came to church
with me on Sunday morning
and I said to him
now dad remember
I'm well known
in this place
behave yourself
now I suspect
that most parents
know that feeling
that in some ways
my kids
are a reflection
on me
in some ways
and here we see
Jesus is saying
I care about my name
I care about my reputation
and this church
at Pergamum
had held fast
to the name of Jesus
and by doing that
by holding fast
to the name of Jesus
even to the point of death
as in the case
of Antipas
they were declaring
to the city of Pergamum
that Jesus
is better than life
it's what we looked at
last week
they held up well
in this satanic
stronghold
in which they lived
but their faithfulness
to Jesus name
was under threat
see it there
in verse 14
nevertheless
I have a few things
against you
you have put up
you have people there
who hold to the teaching
of Balaam
who taught Balak
to entice the Israelites
to sin
by eating food
sacrificed to idols
and by committing
sexual immorality
likewise
you also have
those who hold
to the teaching
of the Nicolaitans
now this is a bit
of a tricky bit
but this point here
is the heart
of the issue
for this church
at Pergamum
in the Old Testament
there's this strange
prophet
named Balaam
and there's another man
with a similar
sounding name
called Balak
now Balaam
was a prophet
for hire
and Balak
was the king
of Moab
and in Numbers
22 to 24
we read
that Balak
offered Balaam
money
to prophesy
a curse
upon God's people
Israel
you see
Balak was worried
because he had seen
how numerous
the people of Israel
were
they'd come out
of Egypt
and they were just
growing in prominence
and everywhere they went
they just succeeded
and he was kind of worried
they're going to move
into Moab
they're going to destroy
his kingdom
depose him as a king
and take over the place
and so he pays
Balaam
to curse God's people
to send them off
but every time
Balaam tried to
prophesy
against God's people
blessing came out
rather than cursing
it's fairly comical
actually
he'd stand up
and go
okay okay
I'll do it this time
and speak
and blessing comes out
rather than curses
and Balaam
desperately wanted
to get paid
he was a
prophet for hire
and Balak's
pulling his hair out
because he wants
these people cursed
he couldn't get God
to curse his people
and so he came up
with another plan
it's there in
chapter 25
verses 1 to 3
the men began
to indulge
in sexual immorality
with Moabite women
who invited them
to the sacrifices
to their gods
the people ate
and they bowed down
before these gods
and so Israel
joined in worshipping
the Baal of Peor
and the Lord's
anger burned
against them
see what happened
the Israelite men
were seduced
into idolatrous worship
which back in those days
was nothing short
of mass orgies
and if you flick
over to
Numbers 31
verses 15
to 16
it mentions
these Moabite women
again
it says
these were the ones
who followed
Balaam's advice
and were the means
of turning
the Israelites
away
from the Lord
in what happened
at Peor
so that a plague
struck
the Lord's people
this whole plan
was Balaam's idea
and the plan
worked a treat
he could not
get
God
to abandon
his people
so what he did
was he came up
with a scheme
where God's people
abandoned God
and so God
cursed his people
for their
compromise
and their rebellion
it seems here
are similar things
happening at Pergamon
the people at Pergamon
are offered
one of two choices
persecution
like Antipas
who will
who remains
steadfast
in the name
of Jesus
or
seduction
a giving away
a giving up
this church
had stood firm
in the time
at Antipas
but now
there's a threat
of compromise
not all of them
there's a group
there
who are
threatening
to compromise
they're being
seduced
by the city
and
by its culture
and Jesus
now says
this church
at Pergamon
you've got
some people
in your midst
the Nicolaitans
who are teaching
the same sort of thing
that Balaam taught
they're trying
to encourage
Christians
to compromise
don't take it
so seriously
it doesn't matter
that much
these Nicolaitans
were at Ephesus
and it's quite
possible
that they're
at Thyatira
the church
for next week
their leader
is possibly
the woman
that John
calls
Jezebel
in chapter 2
verse 20
who calls
herself
a prophetess
but we see
in chapter 2
verse 6
that Jesus
was pleased
with the
Ephesians
because they
rejected the
Nicolaitans
it says
but you had
this in your
favour
you hate
the practices
of the
Nicolaitans
which I
also
hate
but Pergamon
they left
the door
open to
it
and what
was almost
certainly
taught
was syncretism
a combination
of religions
a combining
a coming
together
a tolerance
of ideas
that led
to a tolerance
of all sorts
of different
expressions
and lifestyles
it was a
drawing together
ultimately
it was a
lessening
of sin
what the
Bible
calls
sin
and a
minimisation
of the
importance
of Jesus
in a word
what these
people were
doing
was compromising
the Roman
imperial cult
included
worship
of the
emperor
and of
the gods
that would
be
inescapably
idolatrous
nothing short
of just
pure
idolatry
and there
is no
shortage
of evidence
that as
they participate
in their
idolatry
everything
just descended
into
drunkard
orgies
and the
teaching
of the
Nicolaitans
probably
validated
a certain
level of
participation
in this
kind of
civic
life
the
celebrations
of the
city
of
Pergamum
which
would
have
been
idolatrous
and
immoral
it was
causing
the
teaching
was
opening
the
door
for
God's
people
to
compromise
the
1924
summer
Olympics
were hosted
by the
city
of Paris
Eric
Little
was a
devout
Christian
who refused
to run
his heat
in the
100 metre
race
because it
was held
on a
Sunday
it was
his best
event
the schedule
had been
published
several months
in advance
his decision
was made
several months
in advance
that he
would not
compromise
his conscience
and his
principles
and run
on a
Sunday
and he
came under
enormous amount
of pressure
he's running
for his
country
so
enormous
amount
of pressure
for him
to
it doesn't
matter
that much
compromise
just a bit
I mean
the Olympics
only come
around once
in four
years
go to
church
next
Sunday
his decision
was final
he trained
instead
for what
is now
the 400
metre
race
it wasn't
his best
race
in fact
far from
it
he was
fairly
mediocre
at it
and when
the day
of the
Olympic
400 metre
race
came
Liddell
went to
the starting
blocks
and as
he went
there
one of
the
American
Olympic
team
masseurs
came to
him
and gave
him
a piece
of paper
and on
that piece
of paper
was written
1 Samuel
2
verse 30
those who
honour me
I will
honour
and that
inspired him
to run
and to
run
hard
you see
he was
prepared to
give away
a certain
Olympic medal
he was
the favourite
for the
100 metre
gold medal
he was
prepared to
give up
an Olympic
medal
but he was
not prepared
to give up
on his
conscience
he was
not prepared
to compromise
and to sell
out on
Jesus
and for him
that was a
drawing of
the line
as it
turns out
he ran
hard
and he
won
the
gold
medal
for the
400
those who
honour
me
I will
honour
and Jesus
says to this
church at
Pergamum
I know
where you
live
I know
you're in
Satan's
domain
I know
where you
live
I know
where I've
put you
the same
evil one
here at
Pergamum
is the
ruler of
the kingdom
of the
air
he tried
to tempt
Jesus
into
compromising
in Matthew
chapter 4
he used
Peter to
try and
dissuade
Jesus
from going
to the
cross
and Jesus
turns to
his best
mate
and calls
him by
his worst
enemy
and says
get behind
me
Satan
this evil
one
masquerades
as an
angel of
light
forget all
images of
horns and
tails and
fire and
all sorts of
stuff like
that
he is
a fast
talking
clean cut
charming
logical
morally
bankrupt
con man
he is
the ruler
of the
kingdom
of the
air
and he's
at work
in the
world
now
and his
desire
if he
cannot
destroy
you
front up
his
desire
will be
to seduce
you
until you
compromise
until you
compromise
until you
compromise
and Jesus
knows
where you
live
he knows
the pressure
that you
are under
when you
are confessing
him at
work
he knows
the pressure
on the
sporting field
or university
at home
he knows
it can mean
loss and it
can mean
hardship and it
can mean
laughter and it
can mean
rejection
exclusion
he knows
the pressure
to sleep
in on
Sunday
instead
I'm
deeply
encouraged
by
friends
of mine
who made
a decision
early in
their marriage
and even
when they
had kids
is that
we'll be
at church
every Sunday
we are
physically
able to
be
regardless
and I
said
why did
you make
that call
they said
we do
not trust
ourselves
we open
the door
just a
moment
particularly
for our
kids
just open
the door
for a
moment
and make
one excuse
we open
up the
floodgates
to make
all kinds
of excuses
Christians
in the
end
are people
who do
say no
there are
things that
we won't
believe
and there
are things
that we
won't do
and especially
we say no
if it means
saying no
to Jesus
and frankly
that is
hard
in our
culture
it is so
ironic
how a
soft
centered
tolerant
progressive
open and
permissive
society
can be
curiously
hard
on those
who refuse
to go
along
with them
they can
be curiously
hard and
intolerant
of those
who say
no
who won't
join
with them
and Jesus
says I
know where
I have
placed you
I
understand
but take
note
Jesus takes
compromise
very seriously
verse 16
he calls his
church to
repent
he calls
them to
turn their
back
on compromise
otherwise
he says
I will
come
to you
and will
fight
against them
with the
sword of
my mouth
the option
is either
be judged
by the
world
or be
judged
by Jesus
there is
no possibility
of laying
low
keeping your
head down
ducking
for cover
hoping the
trouble sort
of passes
God has
just as God
struck down
those who
compromised
in numbers
25
those who
sin
so Jesus
threatens to
come and
fight against
those holding
to the
teaching
the
Nicolaitans
he will
fight
against
them
with the
sword
of his
mouth
is what
it says
which is
what is
announced
there at
the beginning
of this
section
in verse
12
these are
the words
of him
who has
the sharp
double-edged
sword
we read
in chapter
19
verse 15
that when
Jesus returns
in glory
from his
mouth
it says
comes a
sharp sword
which to
strike down
the
nations
rather than
I think
imagining
that Jesus
has this
sort of
sword
shaped
tongue
we should
see here
that what
he means
is that
Jesus
in the end
will speak
decisive words
of judgment
his words
will be
final
his judgment
is final
and in
Ephesians
chapter 6
where Paul
is encouraging
Christians to
stand firm
stay strong
with Jesus
and to stay
strong with
Jesus against
all the attacks
of the evil
one
he encourages
Christians to
take on the
armor of
God
and in
verse 17
of Ephesians
6
it says
the sword
of the
spirit
is the
word of
God
and in
Hebrews
chapter 4
the word
of God
is a
living
and active
sharper
than any
double-edged
sword
it judges
the thoughts
and the
attitudes
of the
heart
ultimately
everything
will be
judged
according
to its
alignment
with
the
word
of
God
with
Jesus
word
and so
we're
called
here to
listen to
the
word
of
God
and
judge
everything
in
accordance
with
it
because
ultimately
everything
will be
judged
by
it
means
you judge
all
teaching
all
instruction
by
the
word
of
God
not
by the
word
of
Pergamum
not
what the
culture
is saying
what does
the word
of
God
say
that
is my
guide
that
is my
rule
that's
what
I
obey
let me
say that
every
person
that I
have seen
compromise
with sin
and eventually
walk away
from Jesus
has cut
themselves off
from listening
to the
word of
God
they only
listen to
teaching
that affirms
their view
they pull
back from
Bible reading
and from
Bible study
and from
other Christians
particularly
who challenge
them
they surround
themselves
with
people
who will
not
bring
the
scriptures
to bear
on their
lives
they pull
away
from
church
they reject
the word
of God
now there is a promise here to those who overcome
it's for those who repent and turn away from compromise
in verse 16
he will come and fight with those who compromise and tarnish the name of Jesus
but in verse 17 he will come and give manna and a white stone with a new name
written on it known only to him who receives it
now it's sort of difficult to know exactly what that means or both those things mean except to say it's it means good it's good stuff manna is that strange bread in that God gave to the people of Israel as they went in the wilderness he miraculously fed them day in day out and Jesus had in that that picture of God's miraculous provision of his people in the old testament when he said I am the bread of life
all who come to me will never grow hungry
and Jesus also said that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God
and the word that brings judgment here is also the word that brings life forever
and Jesus promises to be our feed to feed us for all of eternity to give us nourishing life and sustenance for all of eternity
now the white stone with a name written on it is a little bit more confusing
it was what they used to do to get access into the stadium
we call it ticker tech nowadays
they called it white stoner tech
what they used to do is you get a white stone get your name on it that gave you entry into the stadium
and what Jesus promised here is basically
those who remain faithful to Jesus name will each be given a white stone by Jesus
with a new name written on it
and it will guarantee you access into his presence forever
that's the promise
because God honours those who honour him
one final challenge from this letter
what is interesting in this text is it flows from plural to singular
singular to plural all the way through
and
only some of the people in this church
at Pergamum
hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans
but the letter comes to the whole church
the whole church
and Jesus says I will come to you and deal with them
and it points to the way that as members of the church
we are both individually responsible for ourselves
and corporate responsibility for other members of the body
the whole church is being judged guilty
because they aren't doing anything to discipline
those who are holding to the teaching of Nicolaitans
which threatens to unravel the whole thing
they are failing to rebuke their brothers and sisters
and repentance here is to take the form of the church
pursuing a process of discipline
with those who are holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans
and this process of discipline
is motivated by a desire to keep Jesus
from coming and fighting against them
to keep Jesus from coming and judging them
here the minority are compromising
and the majority aren't doing anything about it
and the call to this church at Pergamum
is dare to discipline
because compromise kills
and so it's not just good enough for me
and it's not just good enough for you
to hold to the Bible's truth
we must watch out for each other's lives
you must watch out for me
and I must watch out for you
you must watch out for each other
do you love Jesus?
do you love the honour of his name
and your brothers and sisters
enough to speak the truth to them?
to nip it in the bud early
when things start to arise
and say my brother, my sister
you are in a dangerous place right now
so much is at stake for you
now I suspect there are those amongst us
who have never done that
and may have been
potentially been Christians for years
never in love
pulled up another Christian brother and sister
and actually raised
privately with them
raised an issue
of wrong understanding
wrong thinking
or wrong living
maybe we're being fed
by our culture too much
we go
all that stuff's private
you know
you can't tell me how to live
it's my own business
I think the Bible calls us to it
maybe we think
it's the pastor's job to do it
it's my job to do it
it's interesting
when I first came here
I had two
people separately
pull me aside
and ask me
what I was going to do
with so and so over there
another person
and I asked both of them
who had known the person
for decades
what have you done so far?
nothing
nothing's been done
and I've been here for months
and you expect me to
if something was done
decades ago
we might not have the same issue
we've got right now
let me say that I am
incredibly grateful
to the people
in my life
who have spoken
who have had the courage
to speak words of truth
to me
someone in love
pulled me aside
for my questionable
humour
in fact right now
I'd say it's not
questionable at all
they were right
I was wrong
I'm glad they said it
someone in love
pulled me up
this is just a few examples
keep going really
pulled me up for
demeaning a young person
once
putting them down
inappropriately
with my humour
and they were right
I had a potential
to crush someone
who I ought not
have been doing that to
someone asked me
once
whether I
whether I thought
I was spending
too much time
with a person
of the opposite sex
particular person
they thought I was
I'm really glad
that they spoke to me
I'm grateful
because frankly
my heart will do
all sorts of back flips
and gymnastic contortions
to justify itself
it will just do that
I need to add here
I don't want to be spoken to
by people who are angry
people who have got
agendas to drive
people who are whingers
I don't need people
to rebuke me
who really enjoy rebuking
I want people to come to me
with tears
with their heart
being ripped out
in love for me
love for Christ
and the glory of his name
but I need them
to do it anyway
I need them to do that
for the promise
for those who overcome
is so important
that we need
a church culture
where we allow others
to open the Bible
and speak to us
and where we will
actually speak to them
as well
where we have the courage
to speak to others
because frankly
I want to be
an overcomer
I want to get that
white stone
whatever it is
I just know it's good
our core values
of humble authenticity
and treasuring Jesus
reflects
the sort of culture
we need
at St Paul's
a culture
where we
communicate
with honesty
authenticity
transparency
with vulnerability
of our imperfections
a culture
where we will
covenant together
make a commitment
together
to watch over
each other's lives
with vigilance
and accountability
we need
to help each other
to become
overcomers
and sometimes
helping each other
become overcomers
means
a difficult conversation
may we have the
humility
to own it
and accept it
and hear it
my brothers and
sisters
do you have
ears
to hear what
the spirit
says
to this church
St Paul's
Amen