Part 2: Smyrna – The Church That Refused to Break

Scripture: Revelation 2:8–11

If you’ve been following the podcast for any length of time, you know I’m not a fan of "Cotton Candy Christianity." I’m talking about that fluffy, sugar-coated gospel that promises you’ll never have a bad day, your bank account will always stay full, and your biggest problem will be deciding which vacation to take.

If that’s the version of Jesus you’ve been sold, the letter to the church in Smyrna is going to feel like a cold bucket of water to the face.

Smyrna wasn't a "mega-church" with a light show. It was a suffering church. It was a bleeding church. And yet, of the seven letters Jesus wrote, this is one of only two that doesn't contain a single rebuke. Think about that. Jesus had nothing "against" them. Why? Because the fire of persecution has a way of burning off the fluff and leaving only what’s real.

The Reality of the Pressure

Smyrna was a beautiful city, a hub of Roman culture and Emperor worship. But for a Christian, it was a graveyard. If you didn’t bow to Caesar, you didn’t work. If you didn't offer the pinch of incense, you were a social pariah.

Jesus says to them: "I know your tribulation and your poverty." Let’s stop right there. The word for "poverty" here isn't just "I'm a little short this month." It’s ptōcheia—absolute, grinding destitution. These people had their homes looted and their jobs taken. They were "losers" by every metric of the Ephesian or Laodicean world.

But then Jesus adds the parenthetical statement that changes everything: "(But you are rich)."

The Wealth of the Wounded

Church, we have to talk about this. We have become so obsessed with "blessing" as a material metric that we’ve lost the ability to see spiritual wealth. We think a "blessed" church is one with a $10 million campus. Jesus says a blessed church is one that is broke but won't bow.

I look at the landscape of "Christianese" today, and I see us complaining because a brand we like doesn’t share our values, or someone gave us a dirty look at the grocery store for our "Jesus Saves" shirt. We act like we’re being martyred because our tax-exempt status is being questioned.

Meanwhile, the believers in Smyrna were being thrown into prison and faced with the literal choice: Caesar is Lord or The Lion’s Den.

Real-Life Example: The Cost of Conviction

I think about a brother I spoke with recently—let's call him Sam. Sam worked for a high-level tech firm. He was told he had to lead a "diversity training" that required him to explicitly renounce his biblical stance on marriage and gender. He didn't make a scene. He didn't go on a screaming rant on social media. He just quietly and firmly said, "I cannot do that because I serve a higher King."

He was fired that afternoon. No severance. No "thank you." His "friends" stopped calling him. His income went to zero.

By the world’s standards, Sam is a failure. His LinkedIn profile is a ghost town. But when Jesus looks at Sam, He says, "Sam, I know your poverty... but man, you are loaded." Sam has a treasure in heaven that the HR department can’t touch. He has a spine of steel and a heart of gold.

Are we willing to be "poor" for the sake of the Name? Or are we so addicted to our middle-class comfort that we’d rather "nuance" the Gospel away than lose our seat at the table?

The Instruction: Stop Being Afraid

Jesus tells them, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer." Notice He doesn't say, "Don't worry, I’m going to swoop in and stop the Romans from arresting you." He actually tells them that some of them will go to prison and that they will have "tribulation for ten days."

He isn't calling them to a life of safety; He’s calling them to a life of courage.

We’ve become a fearful people, haven't we? We’re afraid of what people think of us. We’re afraid of "losing our influence." We’re afraid of the next election. We’re afraid of the future. But Jesus tells Smyrna—and He’s telling you—that death is the worst the world can do to you, and for a Christian, death is just the doorway to the Crown.

The Bold Call Up

I’m calling us up today. I’m calling us to stop praying for "easy" and start praying for "faithful."

If you are going through a season where your faith is costing you something—maybe it’s a relationship, maybe it’s a job, maybe it’s just your reputation—rejoice. You are in the company of Smyrna. You are in the company of the martyrs.

Jesus’ promise to Smyrna is the same one He offers you: "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Don't trade your crown for a comfortable life in a world that’s passing away. If the world hates you, remember that it hated Him first. Stand tall. Don't flinch. The King is watching, and He knows exactly what you’ve lost—and He’s prepared to give you everything in return.

Next Step: Ask yourself today: What has my faith actually cost me lately? If the answer is "nothing," it might be time to ask if you’re actually following the Jesus of Smyrna or just a version of Him that doesn't make waves.