The command to John in Revelation 1, verse nineteen gives the key to the book of Revelation. Understanding revelation is dependent upon using the key.
Church Activity
There is nothing wrong with participating in church activity. But why do you participate? What is the motive? Do you participate because if you don’t participate then you will not be accepted in the church and thereby not saved nor enabled to enjoy a full gospel experience? Wrong motive! Dark faith! Don’t share the chair/throne! We sometimes put church activity on the throne. The throne of our heart mind and soul belongs to Jesus only. Not church activity. It belongs to Jesus exclusively.
Exclusivity
The high place in our heart mind and soul should be set apart exclusively for Jesus only. Why? Because He said so. Luke 14:26. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. We all love our families. So how can I hate my wife? Hate in this instance is a comparison. My relationship with Jesus is primary. High and above all other relationships and activity. Our relationship with church activity is not what saves us. Our personal relationship with Jesus is what secures our salvation! But how do we know that we know Him? 1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
The correct motive for participating in church activity is that you love Jesus, you know Him, and are thankful for what He has accomplished for you at the cross! You love people and want to encourage them in the faith. You love the lost and want to encourage them towards the faith. These are correct motives for participating in church activity. These correct motives are experienced when we put Jesus in His proper place. On the throne of our heart mind and soul! Church activity shouldn’t replace your relationship with Jesus. It shouldn’t even be equal with your relationship with Jesus. It should be a result of your relationship with Jesus! How can I have a relationship with Jesus?
Dark Church Activity
Some religious groups would have us to believe that participating in their particular brand of church activity is the only way to interact with Jesus. The church activity becomes Jesus. Sometimes pastors don’t even realize that this is what they are promoting when they present a Sunday message. People need to be pointed towards Jesus which involves repenting and trusting in Him only. I recently endured a church message proclaiming that anyone who didn’t participate in a certain church activity/function was “the Devil”. In other words, church activity is our salvation. This is starkly juxtaposed with biblical truth. Some religious groups have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is a characteristic ascribed to cults. Extreme personal devotion to Jesus and Him only should be the goal of our lives!