Executive Summary: The Church of Laodicea is depicted as an interventionist, acting as a mediator between the living and the dying. It is characterized by divine intervention, restoring equilibrium and justice where needed. It is also associated with sacrifice for greater good, embodying the concept of laying down one's rights for the advancement of the Kingdom. However, it has a blind spot, seen in instances from the life of David, where passivity and lukewarmness lead to breaches in the kingdom.
…
The interventionist who cannot say “no” to a legitimate request for help giving what is in hand and not withholding when it is in the power to redeem what is on the verge of disaster or to bring back what is about to be extinguished. This is the archetype of intervention that stands between the living and the dead and intercedes on behalf of the perishing and dying.
NAME OF CHURCH: LAODICIEA The no-signboard ecclesia, the MVP wildcard and the good samaritan on the road from Jericho who binds up the traumata (τραύματα, Lk 10:34) of the wounded and goes out on a limb to rescue you from the abyss and plucks the vulnerable as a brand “plucked from the fire”... (Zec 3:2).
ECCLESIAL ARCHETYPE ”Each of you has a psalm” (1 Cor 14:26) ignites the flame of divine intervention that reverses the domino effect even before the consequences can be felt. This is the eleemosynary genius that feels the pain where the need is the call, to bring resolution to conflict to restore equilibrium and justice.
MODAL EXCELLENCE Divine loss protection by a heavenly bodyguard for the Messiah who were tested at the Cross in their silence and inaction when in fact the temptation to intervene far outweighed the ability to resist (intervention). But it was not for angels to disrupt the most holy sacrifice but to allow the plan of God to be executed accordingly.
NATURAL ENDOWMENT ”The well is deep and we have nothing to draw with” describes exactly the situation when there are no words to express the abiding presence of God’s love that perfects, corrects and directs us to ‘go and sin no more’ - setting the standard for radical disciple-ship whenever we lay down our lives for others.
GENIUS: RESCUE ”... and give my body to be burned” (1 Cor13:3) the One who releases true psycho-spiritual understanding of how sacrifice for the big win produces far greater results than retaliation, not merely non-violence but advancing the Kingdom in hearts and mind through laying down of one’s rights.
BLINDSPOT: DAVID Many instances in the life of David that reveal the gaps, incursions and breaches in the kingdom when her officers let down their guard through passivity and lukewarmness. When the gift gets in the way of what God intends showing mercy to those who merit judgment, bending when rigidity is required, turning a blind eye and deaf ear when what is needed is discernment and discipline.