As I research the writings of my mentor John Stott (1921-2011), under whom I served at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London from 1967 to 1971, for my projected book on his theology, I will share some of his thoughts on his theology of the Church. The following is his commentary on the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11.
The second mark of the church is suffering. A willingness to suffer proves the genuineness of love. We are willing to suffer for those we love. The tribulation they were experiencing was persecution. In the New Testament suffering is an indispensable mark of every true Christian and church. Persecution of the church is inevitable. “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim.3:12). “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Phil 1:29). The ugly truth is that we tend to avoid suffering by compromise. The world sees in us nothing to hate. We are seldom bold to rebuke vice. We mind our own business lest anyone be offended. We hold our tongue so that nobody is embarrassed. We are respectable, conventional, inoffensive and ineffective. The fear of man has ensnared us. We trim our sails to the prevailing theological wind. We dilute the Gospel so as to render it supposedly more palatable. We love the praise of men more than the praise of God. We escape suffering by compromise. We should not compromise on clear, moral and spiritual issues. If we do not suffer it is probably because we compromise and that if we do not compromise we certainly shall suffer.
(WHAT CHRIST THINKS OF THE CHURCH, p.35f.)
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