CHURCH ARTICLE | Joshua Welch | Killen, Alabama
modified, via Alfonso Cerezo | Pixabay
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NASB1995).
In the Hebrew context, the “word of God” has the ability to accurately judge the heart, bring to light that which is hidden, and surgically dissect the soul of man with pinpoint accuracy. Like Adam, we may try to hide from the soul-searching God, but we will ultimately fail. Rather than avoiding God’s decrees, we must allow God’s Word to do its work in carving us into the people God calls us to be.
This context is helpful as we consider the opening description of Jesus to the church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17). As Jesus speaks to this first-century church He describes Himself as “He who has the sharp two-edged sword” (Revelation 2:12; cp. 1:16). He sees. He knows. He is able to penetrate through the exterior of man and with X-ray vision and laser accuracy view the interior. In this letter, Jesus wants to dissect the church’s problems and carve out the cancerous spiritual tumor that might be infecting it (which is also a relevant metaphor to a city that worshipped the “healing god” Asklepios). So, consider some of the key points of dissection Jesus strikes with His divine scalpel.
As Jesus places Pergamum upon the examination table, He admits the church in Pergamum is in a difficult place. He says the church “dwells, where Satan’s throne is…where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13). The first-century skyline of Pergamum would have been dotted by temples intended to honor Roman emperors, Greek gods, and more. Idolatrous worship had saturated this city. Satan was hard at work in Pergamum. The persecutors of the Pergamum saints had become so intensely opposed to Christianity that “Antipas” is noted as “My faithful martyr, who was killed among you” (2:13). Despite the civic, cultural, and moral pressures there were still some who “hold fast to My name.” Jesus offers a note of compassion coupled with a tone of appreciation for those who have been in the epicenter of the devil’s playground and were refusing to compromise.
Unfortunately, not everyone was handling the Pergamum peer pressure with steadfastness. Jesus exposes the reality of deceitful traitors in the midst of the Pergamum church. Jesus says, “I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14, NKJV). The “doctrine of Balaam” here is clearly a reference to some type of sinful compromise taking place akin to the relationship Balaam, the prophet of Israel, had established with Balak, the king of Moab, in the Old Testament (see Numbers 22-24). This compromising relationship displayed Balaam’s disloyalty to God, a failure to fulfill his duties to God’s people, and led to a spiritual sinkhole in this period of Israel’s history.
The New Testament Scriptures warn of the character of Balaam in two other places. Jude 11 warns of those who “have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit” (NKJV). Additionally, 2 Peter 2 admonishes against those who are heading towards apostasy because “they have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2:15, NKJV). In both passages, notice the turning from truth to error, the motivating cause (profit/wages), and the ultimate result: apostasy. With this trifecta of New Testament references, it becomes apparent we should study the compromise of Balaam carefully so we might avoid his character and his actions in our walk of faith. So, what might that be? What was the possible “doctrine of Balaam” plaguing many in Pergamum?
Balaam’s first step down the slope of Mt. Compromise was his worldly desires. Just as the Christians in Pergamum were close neighbors to “Satan’s throne,” so Israel was neighboring on the border of the sinful people of Moab (Numbers 22:1-3). Balak, the king of Moab, wanted to use Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam knew it. After all, Balak was clear about his intentions (Numbers 22:6). So, why didn’t Balaam just walk away from evil Balak? Take a look at the text in Numbers 22 and notice a few details that kept Balaam hanging around Balak: “the diviner’s fee” (22:7), “the princes of Moab” (22:8), “princes, more numerous and more honorable,” (22:15), “honor” (22:17). It sure did sound like Balaam was claiming to stand for truth, but the money, prestige, and personal glory offered appealed to his pride. So, instead of walking away he kept hanging around Balak and his messengers. A compromise happens because we have a desire to please both parties in an issue. On the one hand, Balaam wanted to please the God of Israel. Yet, on the other hand, there was some money and prestige he would be leaving on the table if he were to just walk away from Moab. So, the appeal to his worldly desires kept him in the game longer. Clearly, the Christians in Pergamum understood what was involved in serving Christ and the blessings involved in such service. Yet, living for Christ in Pergamum likely meant they would be losing income, be treated like outcasts, and would be viewed as dishonorable for opposing the cultural traditions and immorality of the city. They were struggling with compromise because their worldly desires were at war with their heavenly pursuit. This war between worldliness and godliness is still being waged in men’s hearts today (James 4:4).
Secondly, Balaam’s “doctrine” was one built upon questioning rather than obeying God. Read through the text of Numbers 22 and note God gave a clear, definitive answer to Balaam: ‘you shall not curse the people” (Numbers 22:12). Balaam gives the appearance of saying all the right things to Balak too: “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (22:18). So, if the doctrine was settled, why does Balaam go back to God a second time and re-ask him on behalf of Balak (22:19). Then, why does he go a third time and ask God again (23:3)? Simply, there is still money on the table. So, perhaps, Balaam is hoping God might change his mind and he can take that “diviner’s fee” after all! He wants to please God and keep the money. He wants to simultaneously be the prophet of Israel and grow in popularity with the rich and renowned princes of Moab. He was a “for-profit” prophet. So, he questions God, and hopes if he can ride the fence a bit longer he can have it both ways. Sometimes, we cannot have it both ways! We must preach the truth and doing so may have negative consequences in the financial and social realm! Like Balaam, Pergamum needed to stand for God rather than waffling between the will of God and the will of the city. They needed to quit pretending they just were unsure as if God’s will was uncertain. Some preachers sound a lot like Balaam. They preach their doubts, their uncertainties, their questions to appease those with doubts in their audience rather than standing for the certainties and clarity of God’s will. We must preach with less question marks and more exclamation points! Be content to speak the simplicity of God’s will plainly and unequivocally.
Thirdly, Balaam’s compromise led to Israel’s demise. Balaam’s willingness to spend time with Balak was apparently a bad influence on Israel. Balaam may have left Balak’s presence, but much of Israel stayed (Numbers 24:25; 25:1). Meanwhile, Balak had learned enough about Israel to figure out how to curse them himself—entice them to sin! Balaam’s compromising and lingering relationship with Balak allowed Moab to influence Israel to sin (25:1-3). One person’s compromise and questionable behavior can be a stumbling block to others. Some, in Corinth, had excuses for eating in idols’ temples but were not to be stumbling blocks (1 Corinthians 8:1-13). Some, in Pergamos, likely had similar justifications but were not to be stumbling blocks (2:14). We should be careful to avoid being a hindrance to others by our compromising actions (Matthew 18:6-7; Romans 16:17-18). One parent’s liquor cabinet may become their teen child’s drunk driving accident one day. One sister’s trip to a lascivious dance might become another one’s parking lot pregnancy as lust reaches its peak. Sharing the pulpit with one false teacher (even if he does not teach falsely in our church) may open the door to the acceptance of false doctrine by those who become his disciples. One person’s compromise can become another person or group’s demise. Balaam was negotiating with the spiritual terrorists of Israel and there can be no negotiation with the enemy. The church in Pergamum was faltering because of such self-willed compromises and their influence was stagnating.
Conclusion
What was Pergamum’s key problem? Compromise. What is it we really do when we compromise? We try to find middle ground with the enemy, Satan. Give Satan an inch and he’ll become your ruler! What is it that motivates us to compromise? Like Balaam, we are covetous of profit, popularity or social promotion! Pleasing God should be more important than pleasing man (Galatians 1:10). How will our compromise affect others? Putting ourselves in questionable, misleading situations will lead others to make the same and worse choices. Pergamum needed to think of their influence! To get back on the right track, there was a simple command: “Repent, or else…” (Revelation 2:16). This compromise could be “overcome” and beautiful promises were attached to the overcomers (2:17). When it comes to compromise, the question for each of us is—will we overcome the temptation for short-sighted fulfillment and seek the greater promises God has laid up for us? May God root out the “Balaam” that exists in our hearts so Christ may rule entirely. “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear!” (Revelation 2:17).
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October 2025 | GROW magazine
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