Causes of Spiritual Decay, The Sad Story of Sardis

In Revelation 3:1-3 Christ provides a stunning assessment of the church at Sardis—it was lifeless. The church had a reputation for being alive, which no doubt means that on the outside it had the appearance of vibrant ministry. It is not hard to imagine a church with lots of ministry taking place since Christ knew their “works.” It is also not a stretch to imagine that the preaching was evangelical, since Christ does not confront a specific doctrinal error in their teaching. Additionally, there seem to be no outward signs of apostasy in the church since it maintained a sterling reputation. And yet, despite its outward persona, this church was inwardly dead.

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.Revelation 3:1-3

What was it that made this church dead? It was the fact that the majority of its people were either lifeless unbelievers (v. 4) or they were believers on “life support” (v. 2). This explains how Christ, after calling the church dead, can also command the church to “wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die.” As a whole, this church was dead, but vestiges of life remained within the church in the form of a remnant of true believers. The living parts of the body, however, were so struggling to maintain that life that their influence was virtually non-existent. This is why Christ provided these saints with a “wake up” call.

The spiritual decay of the congregation was causing atrophy in the hearts of those who were truly saved—they were allowing the influence and power of spiritual death to affect their lives more than the power of spiritual life. To put it plainly, these believers were moving backward, reverting their lives back to the patterns of the “old man” rather than conforming their lives to the example of Christ. The Christian life that is “decaying” is a life with no victory over sin, no growth in holiness, and no usefulness in the church. Whenever this kind of spiritual decay is present it indicates deep heart issues. Christ’s solution to this danger is pretty simple: “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.”

If you will not deal with this kind of spiritual deterioration according to Christ’s prescription, it may indicate an absence of true salvation in your heart. Or as Jesus warns, “If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”

This warning of Christ to the church in Sardis is a sobering reminder of the importance of every believer maintaining a vibrant spiritual life—the health of the church and hope of your salvation depend upon it.

Recognizing the importance of these matters, puritan pastor Obadiah Sedgwick authored a helpful little book on this passage titled Christ’s Counsel to His Languishing Church (1640). In this volume, Sedgwick identifies the danger described in Revelation 3:2 with this explanation:

So when a Christian is dying in a spiritual way, those principles of heavenly life within him are exceedingly sinking, failing, and decaying. There is not that strength, nor that activity, nor that assiduity in the spirit or heart of man as formerly, but he works weakly (like a dying pulse) and with less ability. As a man goes with lame legs, and a sickly body, so he walks with wounded principles and a languishing, pinning soul. (4)

In other words, the Christian with dying graces is someone who is reverting back into immaturities and falling back into sinful patterns. This is, obviously, a serious threat to the health of a believer and to the life of the church, which is why Sedgwick aims to guard his readers from this threat before it can take hold in their lives. To this end and with great pastoral care, Sedgwick identifies eight “causes of this dying condition” (6-11). These eight causes, which I have paraphrased for clarity, are worth careful consideration.

1. Error in thinking

   First, Sedgwick points out that error in what or how we think can lead to spiritual decay:

   When the judgment is corrupted with any error, then truths are not of that power with the soul; and where truth loses its authority, grace will lose in its strength and efficacy. (7)

   
   

   Strong faith and holy character are the fruits of a mind renewed with truth (Rom 12:1-2), which means error in our thinking poses a threat to our spiritual vitality.

   
   

2. Practice of sinning

   Second, Sedgwick points out that the practice of sinning and habit of violating our conscience will have a weakening affect on our spiritual lives:

   When sin gets any favor in the judgment or affection, it is like a disease which will not go away without a manifest breach of health and strength. Sin lames our grace. (7)

   
   

   As blood-bought believers, we have been freed from the dominion of sin and death in our lives, however, when we make it our pattern to practice sin and violate our conscience it cedes power back to our previous taskmaster.

   
   

3. Patterns of spiritual apathy

   Third, Sedgwick points out that patterns of spiritual apathy will rob of us of vitality in our spiritual life:

   If the soul grows negligent, it will quickly grow dying. Inordinate… neglect of food brings a man quickly into a consumption; so when the people of God, through spiritual pride, grow careless of vital assistance so that they do not keep close to the Word of life, nor the Sacraments of life, nor to the great principle of life by earnest and constant communion in prayer, no marvel if they become dying persons. (7-8)

   
   

   Spiritual apathy—no care for spiritual matters—is the death knell for spiritual health.

   
   

4. Absence of thorough repentance

   Fourth, Sedgwick points out that the absence of thorough repentance will deplete your spiritual life of all its graces:

   The soul should presently have “medicined” itself with, first, a right apprehension of the greatness of the evil in the beginning; second, speedy humiliation before the Lord; third, fervent supplication for mercy and more strength; and fourth, resolute reformation and abandoning of it. (8)

   
   

   The failure to acknowledge and abandon our sins allows those sins to grow in their strength and sway over our hearts.

   
   

5. Insufficient personal examination

   Fifth, Sedgwick points out that insufficient personal examination will hinder your new life in Christ: …the poor soul is reduced to great straits and leanness. The man cannot pray as heretofore, nor have that delight in the ordinances, nor do that good in society, nor receive that profit, nor feel that mournfulness of spirit as heretofore. Why? He allowed and suffered his spiritual state to run on at hazards, and the less searching of heart, the less strength of grace always. (9)

   
   

   Superficial self-evaluation well lead to a superficial spiritual life because you won’t be able to deal with the heart issues that prevent maturity.

   
   

6. Neglect of the means of grace

   Sixth, Sedgwick points out that a neglect of the means of grace will cut you off from the provision you need for a healthy spiritual life:

   Those means which beget our graces are likewise ordained to preserve them; and as the use of singular means confer more power and life to our grace, so a cessation in the use of them proves an exceeding decay unto them. (9)

   
   

   If you neglect the provisions of grace God has made for your life you cannot expect to grow in grace.

   
   

7. Laziness in ministry

   Seventh, Sedgwick points out that laziness in ministry will stunt the growth God has designed for your spiritual life:

   A lazy Christian will quickly prove a dying Christian. (10) But Christians, many times, employ not their graces; they do not any good with them; they do not stir up their hearts to believe, to lay hold on God, to call upon Him, to walk before Him; they do not lay out their knowledge, their zeal, their love, and in their particular relations they live together, but do no good together; they meet together, but provoke not one another unto further holiness. (11)

   
   

   Laziness in ministry does not merely stifle the life of the church, it also hinders the quality of your spiritual life.

   
   

8. Dependence upon feelings

   Finally, Sedgwick points out that an inordinate dependence upon feelings will be a roadblock to holiness God expects from your spiritual life:

   …all inordinate affections are the impairers of grace, whether it is desires of the word, or delights in it, or fears of men, or grief for losses… . (11)

   
   

   A life that is dependent on felt gratification rather than faith and God’s glory will impair the operation of grace in your life and impede your growth.

Conclusion:

There is certainly more that could be said about guarding our hearts from spiritual decay—there are many dangers lurking in the sinful recesses of our hearts. But, as we consider our own hearts in this matter, let us never forget the graciousness of Christ that provides us with spiritual life and the worthiness of Christ that motivates our holiness in newness of life. It is because of who Christ is that Sedgwick concluded, “We must proceed from faith to faith; we must perfect holiness in the fear of God; we must grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord Jesus; we must abound in all fruits of righteousness; we must us and increase our talents” (33).