Criticism
Adam Moore
“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” Revelation 2:14-15
Criticism is something that the average person does not stop and realize how much they do. Do you ever get around a person who is negative, or constantly critical? Our culture has branded the term “Debbie Downer” as a person who is always negative or even critical. Most people do not care to be around a “Debbie Downer” unless they themselves are a negative person, in which case, misery often loves company. Throughout Scripture we are reminded not to criticize, complain, scoff, mock, or murmur. Sadly, God had to get the attention of the Israelites several times due to these negative attributes that many of us are still guilty of today.
Our verses today have a lot of a back story to them. In order for you to get the full story, you would have to read several places throughout Scripture, but mainly here in Revelation and within the book of Numbers. For the sake of keeping this writing limited to a daily devotional, I am going to somewhat paraphrase, but I would challenge you to dig into the Scripture and study the church of Pergamum.
The church of Pergamum was located in one of the most wicked places in the world, and the Lord implores them not to compromise with the wickedness that is going on around them. Pergamum is so wicked that just one verse earlier, the Bible describes it as a place where Satan’s throne is. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Bible refers to Satan as the God of this world. We are still implored as Christians not to compromise in this modern-day for the days are evil.
Some of the believers in Pergamum stood strong and never compromised, while others fell to the teaching of Balaam, and some to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Balaam was warned by God not to say anything in a destructive manner concerning the children of Israel for Balak the king of Moab. The king was afraid of the Israelites because of their might and strength, so he asked the prophet Balaam to curse God’s people the Israelites. Balaam could not directly disobey God and curse the Israelites which angered the king. After several meetings with Balak the king, Balaam finally devised a plan that could bring Israel’s destruction. Balaam had the king utilize a scheme of idolatry and sexual immorality to entice the Israelites and bring about destruction resulting in the death of 24,000 people. The church of Ephesus hated the works of the people called the Nicolaitans, so God commended them for hating their works and mentioned that he hated their works as well.
As wickedness began to run rampant throughout the camps of Israel due to the influence of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, I am sure that criticism began to run rampant as well. Those Israelites who had seen the miracles of almighty God and witnessed His deliverance were starting to justify their appetite for sexual immorality and worldliness. Church, the enemy still uses these tactics today. Oftentimes, the enemy entices us with the things that appeal most to our flesh, and the best way to defeat an enemy is to know their tactics and then recognize the stumbling blocks that are put in our way. For starters, always strive to praise God and never criticize. God loves it and begins to move when His people begin to praise!