Recent correspondence received has included strong objections to the use of the phrase “the church in ruins.” The Lord’s words (Matt. 16:18) to Peter, “I will build My church; and the gates of hell [hades; JND] shall not prevail against it,” were cited as supposedly proving this phrase wrong.
I have reflected on this and considered it in the light of the many passages in the epistles which indicate that the end-state of the testimony on earth would indeed be utter ruin and failure. In doing so, I have come to realize that we must be careful not to confound the church as formed (built) by the Lord with its state as a responsible testimony.
Seen from the Lord’s perspective, He will certainly present the church to Himself “glorious . . . not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:25-27). We must not lose sight of this when speaking of the church in ruins.
A principle of the Word is that everything God has committed to the hands of man has ended in failure and ruin. The church itself has not been committed to man, but the maintenance of a public testimony has. Who can deny the complete breakdown and failure of that testimony?
It ought to bow our hearts in shame as we reflect on our utter failure to maintain a testimony according to God’s thoughts (and honoring to our blessed Head in heaven) concerning the church’s unity, purity and love for one another. Doctrinal and moral contamination, worldliness, bickering with one another, and spiritual pride in which we have walked when separation from others has been necessary are all a sad testimony to this ruin.
May we take diligent heed to our blessed Lord’s words in Revelation 3:2: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.”
“Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:11).
R. K. Gorgas