Are You Lukewarm?

This past Sunday (Easter), my pastor made a statement that really hit me right between my eyes.  He stated he believed that at least 50% of all those sitting in the pews of our churches across this land were not saved and thus, would not be going to heaven.  WOW!!  - After the service, I hunted him down and asked for further details.  He then told me that many church leaders felt that the number was probably much higher.  He stated that in a recent Barna research poll, they felt that the number could be as high as 80+%!  ...... So we need to talk about this ..............

Zephaniah 1:12 says that He (God) will "punish those who are complacent."   ... Are you lukewarm? ... Ever afraid of being so? .....

One of the most powerful and sobering passages in our Bible is found in Revelation 3:15-16 where it says, "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."

In this scripture, Christ was talking specifically to the Church of Laodicea, the last of the seven churches spoken of in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3.  It was evident that this church had become very complacent in their faith. Scripture tells us that they were rich and in need of nothing.  Here's a fact .... This passage in Revelation has become so well known that the word 'Laodicean' actually appears in the dictionary.  It signifies those who are 'mediocre, half-hearted, not fully committed to what they are doing.'  They've become complacent, or lukewarm.

Here's another fact ...  This not only speaks to the Church in Laodicea, but also to each and every church that exists today. ... It is a clear warning to ALL generations.

So what does this condition really describe?  It's people who CLAIM to be God's people, but do not live according to His teachings. ...... Lukewarm people claim to be in God's 'Inner circle' but don't bother to obey His commands.  When Jesus says, "I know your works" (Rev.3:15), He's talking about the way we live.  ... We can quote the Bible but still behave like the world.

It's story time ... (us old people have a million of them) ...  A few summers back, a group of local churches held a community fair at one of the local elementary schools.  A friend of mine volunteered to help out and later, during one of our conversations, he said that as the day wore on, it dawned on him that he couldn't tell the Christians from the non-Christians .... a sobering thought .....  which brings to mind this quote - "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" 

This lukewarm condition .. is it the same as being cold? ABSOLUTELY NOT!  We who are lukewarm lead fraudulent lives, thus causing great harm to the gospel of Christ.  How?  We claim to be Christians but are led by worldly appetites. ... This becomes a ruinous and destructive testimony.  ... It is worse than the 'cold' person who admits that he or she doesn't much care about God ... at least they're not a bunch of phonies play-acting their piety!!

Let's for a moment go back to vs. 16 and look to where it says ... "I am about to ...".  This simply points to the opportunity to change our lukewarm condition.  There is forgiveness for the sins of the lukewarm, just as there is for the hot & cold. ... He is always available to wash away sin from any of us!  God's wrath against sin was fully satisfied at the Cross, setting us free from all guilt. .... And yet, we're not just forgiven. Jesus also imputes His righteousness to us.  In other words, He put His Spirit within us, giving us righteous power over sin.

So here's the problem - lukewarm believers don't allow God's righteousness to affect them ... and that's a tragedy. ... The lukewarm have experienced the purifying, all-consuming fire of God's presence ... they've heard about Christ's victorious power over sin ... yet they accept these facts with a yawn.

.... We can now more clearly understand WHY He feels the way He does about lukewarmness ......

So let's for a moment try and identify some of the signs, or 'conditions' of lukewarmness ---

  * Disobedience to God's word -  We read the word but we don't SEE or HEAR it.  We read the words but we don't take them to heart.  We get involved with all the modern gimmicks like ..  'Read the Bible in one year' - or - 'Read five chapters a day' - stuff like that.  We go through these processes but really receive nothing except a gold star for completing the task.  ... Then again, it's amazing when we see someone get a glimpse of the Holy Truth and how their lives can completely change.   It happened to me!!! (but that's another story for another time).  Once I realized that substance was more important than speed-reading, I instantly loved to read God's word.  Now it's not unusual for me to spend hours, days, or months on several verses or just a chapter ....... but the lukewarm believer has a different response. He or she is like the man described in the Book of James, chapter 1, vs. 23-24 where it says that he looks at himself in the mirror and sees his condition -- but when he walks away he quickly forgets what he's seen ... he quickly forgets that being called to Christ is an ALL-CONSUMING passion.

  *Prayerlessness - Want to make a christian feel guilty?  Ask them about their prayer life.  ... But in reality, a half-hearted prayer life reveals something about any believer.  That person's works - or lack of them - reflects a condition of the heart. ... Prayer is a Godly work that SPRINGS from a SPIRIT-FILLED heart ..... and its' one of the first things that goes missing when a heart is lukewarm.

  *Inconsistent in gathering with fellow believers - I meet so many fellow believers in our community who are no longer affiliated with any particular fellowship.  While I can understand their concerns regarding the 'condition' of today's churches - I've been there myself - the DANGER lies in the lack of fellowship leading to apathy toward God Himself ... hence, lukewarmness.  Acts 2:42 says that "they devoted themselves to the fellowship ....".

  *An indifference toward apathy in the church - A lukewarm christian doesn't care whether his or her brothers & sisters are lukewarm also.  They are simply content to sing worship songs with them and hear sermons without allowing much of anything to sink in.  ... Simply put, if they had their way, nothing about the church would ever change ... just keep it comfortable & don't stir the water or rock the boat ... To the point, he or she could care less whether it becomes a vibrant servant-body to the community.

  *Little regard for the lost - When the lukewarm believer is shown reports of the lost & the desperate - whether here or overseas - they remain unstirred.  Even when considering their own unbelieving loved ones, they're not much bothered.

Is there a cry in your soul for those you know who are wandering in darkness?  Does the light of Christ break through in your prayer time to show you their true condition? .... When you see the pressing needs for the sick & afflicted or the starving - here or in other places - does a spiritual ambition rise up in you? ... Do you have a fire in your heart to see the lost & deprived come to know Jesus love? ... Does any or all of these things fit into any part of your current walk with Christ? ........................... 

So what's the good news here? ... In the same passage in Revelation 3, verse 19 says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." ... There is hope for all - even the lukewarm!  It is Christ's love that causes Him to speak to us in this way.  Here we see the Gospel of Grace reaching out to even the most lukewarm among us. .... Simply stated, Jesus is telling us that no matter how stale or complacent we've become, His loving forgiveness is there for us.

Jesus' love can awaken even the most mediocre commitment ... and He offers us this in verse 20 .. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." ...... Also in verse 21, He says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." ... Could there be any better news for lukewarm believers?!  We must always remember that Jesus does not want any to be cast away or lost.

In conclusion, Christ's offering of salvation for each of us is real ... but we must NEVER take this offer for granted. ... I implore each of you to search your hearts ... don't wait for your pastor or friends to approach you & point it out ...

A lukewarm believer can seem to others like he or she is on fire because they worship and show outward affection for Jesus.  Their disobedience goes unseen to all but the Lord. ............. Have you grown lukewarm? ... Do you lack the 'want to' for your Godly passion to be restored? ... I have two words for you ... SIMPLY KNOCK ... then keep knocking.

Your heart is precious to Him - He said so - and He has promised to bring you back to Himself ... He has declared His love for you even in your lukewarm state ... and His warning to you is the surest sign of His love ..............

Until next time,

Red  
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