“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Revelation 3:14-17
Reading these verses and listening to the explanation of these from many teachers opened my eyes to what sort of a Christian I was. And most of us are I guess. The Plain truth hit me once more showing how shallow are we as humans and further still, how narrow and incomplete is our understanding of Christ and his ways. So let us explore in this chapter what “lukewarm Christianity” is and it’s pitfalls.
We all acknowledge we are sinners. Hope at least that truth has sunk in. And further if we are true believers, we know Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross to save us from our sins once and for all. But then as we live our lives as Christians how committed are we to the Lord and his teachings? Generally speaking, lukewarm Christians have one foot in the world and the other in church. True Christians, mature Christians, follow the Lord and seek his will. They try to avoid sin, and they grow in their relationship with Jesus. In the above scripture, we see the words of Christ written to the Laodiceans. It was a church full of false converts, and the Lord was calling them to repentance.
We are not worthy or his mercy. We often compare with ourselves and others and feel good. God is likely to listen to those who are “bad” (in human view) and yet repentant rather than a lukewarm Christian who feels he is “good”- This is what Jesus said as the first statement in the Sermon on the Mount- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5-13.
Being a real Christian means that we take the things of God seriously and we seek to follow Christ and his teachings. Jesus wants us to deny ourselves and follow him. This is the true sign of a Christian.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:15-16
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Matthew 12:30.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:38
This should not be mistaken as God is not forgiving in nature or is not patient. We all recognise that the path to Christianity and salvation can be difficult and is very different for each one of us. But there is a tendency for us to become complacent about the “Truth”. Self-righteousness creeps in with a few thoughts and actions of holiness and then we get lost. And that lukewarm attitude is what Christ refers to above- So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17
What then are the signs of being a lukewarm Christian and how do we redeem ourselves from this. How does the Bible guide us in these matters?
Luke warm Christians think having gone to church on Sundays and having socialised with church members has earned them their place with God. But Love of God is more than mere rituals and practices. It is more deeper
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5
Luke warm Christians often pray more or only when faced with crisis and when they need things. Prayer for them is petitions, not communication with God. Do we have complete faith in him at all times?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46
To Luke warm Christians the rituals and the physical aspects of religion matter. Religion comes above faith. They keep rules and guidelines and they believe in keeping them and are confident they are good as they have kept them.
When Jesus was asked what is good this is what he said- A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”- “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. Luke 18:18
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, Isaiah 29:13
Lukewarm Christians talk of scriptures and Jesus and feel good about their status with God, but have doubts when faced with challenges. They think they know God but doubt his powers and rely on their own works to become self-righteous
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:16
Luke warm Christians value other things more than God and Christ. We forget the value of salvation and forgiveness of our sins which can’t be bought by any of our worldly possessions.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26
Luke warm Christians have their views about sins and types of sins and the self-right to being saved from their sins. At times leading to an apathy to continued sinning or even not realising their continued sins…
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother- 1 John 3:8-10
Luke warm Christians fear socialising their trust and belief in God and giving testimony in public for fear of society.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 2 Timothy 1:8
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, Matthew 10:32
But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:9
But in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 2 Timothy 1:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
Being a Christian does not mean simply believing in Christ and then living your life as though he doesn’t matter to you. Being a Christian means to follow him, to turn from sin, and to tell others about who he is and what he is done for our salvation. If you are a lukewarm Christian, there’s a warning for you. You need to repent and completely trust in Christ and be dedicated to him. If you cannot do that, then you’re not worthy of him
