Another less fortunate result of Luther's labor was the development of the state churches. Although Luther held strongly to the Word of God,

What was recovered through Luther was good, but it was not complete.

at the same time he would not give up many of the old traditions. This led to a state church that was in many ways just a continuation of the Roman Church. The Lord's word to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:2 predicted this very situation: “Become watchful and establish the things which remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your works completed before My God.” What was recovered through Luther was good, but it was not complete. Watchman Nee comments,

Protestantism did not give us a proper church. As a result, wherever the doctrine of justification by faith and the open Bible went, a state church was established. The Lutheran sect became the state church in many countries....Although there was justification by faith and the open Bible, the Protestant churches still followed the example of Rome and did not return to the church in the beginning....Although they went back to the faith in the beginning, the church herself remained unchanged. Formerly it was the international church of Rome; now it is changed to the state church of England, or the state church of Germany—that is all. So, brothers, do you see? The Reformation did not bring the church back to the condition in the beginning; it only caused the world church to become the state churches. [49]