Faith Under Pressure
Thirty-five miles north of Ephesus stood the city of Smyrna. The Church of Smyrna was the second of the seven churches to receive a letter, the words of Jesus, written by the Apostle John. Jesus encouraged the Church of Smyrna to remain faithful in the face of relentless opposition. Jesus understood the immense pressures and the cost of ultimate sacrifice and knew all too well what it felt like to be an outcast in the center of a mission.
The city of Smyrna was known as the “Crown City” for its standing as a premier athletic town. Victors were awarded wreaths of evergreen plants, called stephanos, a symbol of honor and endurance. The city’s competitive spirit thrived among both the spiritually lost and the spiritually found. In a city known for temporary crowns, Jesus offers something greater, a crown of life that does not fade but endures.
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” Revelation 2:10
The city’s population included Jewish groups who strongly rejected the early Christian claim that Jesus was the Messiah. Another not-so-kind group was the non-Jewish population, deeply loyal to Rome and immersed in pagan practices. The church of Smyrna lived in an extremely hostile zip code, where devotion to one God was dangerous.
“I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! Revelation 2:9
To the outside world, the believers in Smyrna appeared poor and afflicted. Their faith was likely to cost them opportunities, status, and safety. But Jesus saw something deeper and eternal. Jesus called them rich. A richness in faith aligns with the upside-down kingdom of Jesus.
Jesus described this upside-down kingdom in his Sermon on the Mount. There he taught that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit and to those falsely persecuted and slandered for righteousness' sake. God’s kingdom doesn’t operate by the world’s standards. Jesus taught that the last are first and that suffering can produce joy. To the unbelieving world, poverty, loss, and persecution would seem like a curse, yet Jesus promises a blessing.
The letter from Jesus to the church of Smyrna is for us today as well. Jesus reminded believers then and believers today not to fear suffering; it's temporary. Jesus acknowledged the tribulation and slander then and now. We still live in a world marked by tension between faith and culture, and between truth and opinion. How often does life tempt us to stay silent, to compromise simply to blend in? How often does tension arise when sharing the gospel is perceived as imposing our religion? Yet when we stay silent, a tension burns within us because we have abandoned the mission. We fear sharing our political opinions because we live in a society that feels like an opinionated firing squad. Some of us have lost family relationships because Christian values are labeled “outdated” or “hateful.”
What can we learn from Smyrna? In our everyday reality, perhaps it's not the grand, faith-filled gestures we read about in scripture. For us today, it may be small, micro-moments that make a big difference. We should remind our brothers and sisters in Christ that our identity is rooted in Jesus. We can live out the gospel through love and actions, not just words. For us today, it is not arguing on social media; it's listening to understand; it's loving without expectations; it's choosing kindness over rudeness. It is pointing people to Jesus and the uncompromising truth. It's recognizing that we are all living in a broken world.
This week, reflect on one area where your faith is under pressure. Ask the Holy Spirit for courage, then choose one small act of faithfulness, such as encouraging someone, speaking with grace, or pointing others to Jesus, even if it costs you comfort.
If this encouraged you, check out more articles from our Flatirons Spiritual Formation Team for practical tools, encouragement, and ways to grow in your faith and leadership. Click here.