Introduction
In the book of Revelation, Jesus delivers a strong message to the church in Laodicea, describing them as “lukewarm” and threatening to “spit you out of my mouth” Revelation 3:16. This concept of a “lukewarm Christian” is an important one for all believers to understand and guard against in their own spiritual lives.
What is a Lukewarm Christian?
A lukewarm Christian is someone who is not fully committed to their faith. They may attend church regularly, outwardly profess belief in Christ, and even participate in church activities. However, their hearts are not truly devoted to God. They are “lukewarm” – neither hot nor cold in their relationship with Him.
Lukewarm Christians are often characterized
– An inconsistent prayer life and lack of genuine, heartfelt communication with God.
A lukewarm Christian’s prayer life is often sporadic and lacking in genuine devotion. They may say the right words during their prayer times, but their heart is not fully engaged. There is a lack of intimate, heartfelt communication with God that should characterize a vibrant relationship with Him.
– Sporadic Bible reading and a superficial understanding of Scripture.
Lukewarm Christians may read the Bible occasionally, but they do not make it a consistent, priority in their lives. As a result, their understanding of Scripture tends to be shallow and superficial. They lack the deep knowledge and application of God’s word that should mark a committed follower of Christ.
– A casual, half-hearted approach to obeying God’s commands.
Rather than wholeheartedly submitting to God’s will and commandments, lukewarm Christians take a more casual, half-hearted approach. They pick and choose which parts of Scripture to obey, based on their own preferences and comfort level, rather than fully surrendering to God’s authority.
– A life that does not demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel.
If someone is truly saved and walking closely with God, it should be evident in the way they live their life. However, lukewarm Christians often lack the visible fruit and transformative power of the gospel working in their lives. Their behavior and priorities do not significantly differ from those of non-believers.
– A divided loyalty, trying to hold onto both worldly pleasures and their faith in Christ.
Lukewarm Christians are torn between their allegiance to Christ and their attachment to the pleasures and values of the world. They try to straddle the line, holding onto both, rather than making the costly choice to fully devote themselves to God and reject the idols of this world.
These characteristics reveal a troubling spiritual condition – one that Jesus finds unacceptable and even repulsive. Lukewarmness is a dangerous place to be, and Christians must guard their hearts against falling into this state of divided loyalty and half-hearted devotion.
The Danger of Lukewarmness
Jesus makes it clear that lukewarmness is unacceptable to Him. He says He will “spit out” those who are lukewarm, indicating that He finds their spiritual condition repulsive and unpalatable. Lukewarm Christians are in danger of:
1. Losing their salvation: While true salvation cannot be lost, Jesus’s strong language suggests that lukewarm believers may not actually be saved at all. Their profession of faith may be empty, without any genuine repentance and transformation.
The notion that lukewarm Christians may not be truly saved is a sobering warning. Salvation is a gift of grace, freely offered to all who repent and believe in Christ. However, genuine salvation is always accompanied by a transformed life and a heart that is fully devoted to God. Lukewarm Christians, who lack this transformative work of the Holy Spirit, may be deceiving themselves about the reality of their relationship with God.
2. Ineffectiveness in the world: Lukewarm Christians are of little use to God’s kingdom. They lack the passion, commitment, and spiritual vitality to make a meaningful impact for Christ in the world.
When believers are lukewarm in their faith, they become spiritually anemic and ineffective. They lack the fire and zeal to boldly proclaim the gospel, serve others sacrificially, and live as salt and light in a dark world. Lukewarm Christians are often consumed by their own comfort and worldly pursuits, rather than being driven by a kingdom mindset and a desire to advance God’s purposes.
3. Eternal separation from God: If lukewarmness is a sign of an unregenerate heart, then lukewarm believers face the terrifying prospect of eternal judgment and separation from God.
The most dire consequence of lukewarmness is the potential for eternal damnation. While the assurance of salvation is a precious promise for genuine believers, those who claim to be followers of Christ but lack the evidence of true conversion are in grave spiritual danger. Lukewarm Christians may one day hear the devastating words, “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:23).
The danger of lukewarmness cannot be overstated. Jesus’s strong language and the potential consequences should serve as a wake-up call for all believers to guard their hearts and ensure that their faith is not merely lukewarm, but rather a blazing fire that illuminates the world for the glory of God.
Becoming a “Hot” Christian
The solution to lukewarmness is to become “hot” – fully devoted, passionately committed, and wholeheartedly surrendered to Christ. This requires:
– Repentance and a renewed dedication to God;
At the heart of becoming a “hot” Christian is a posture of genuine repentance. Lukewarm believers must acknowledge their half-hearted devotion and turn back to God with a contrite heart, seeking His forgiveness and a fresh commitment to following Him wholeheartedly.
– A consistent, fervent prayer life; Prayer is the lifeblood of a vibrant relationship with God. Hot Christians cultivate a consistent, fervent prayer life, where they pour out their hearts to God in intimate communication, seeking His will and drawing strength from His presence.
– Diligent study and application of God’s Word;
Lukewarm Christians often have a superficial understanding of Scripture. Hot believers, however, are dedicated to diligently studying God’s Word, allowing it to transform their minds and shape their lives in radical obedience.
– Radical obedience to God’s commands;
Rather than picking and choosing which parts of Scripture to obey, hot Christians fully surrender to God’s authority and seek to obey His commands without compromise. They are willing to make difficult sacrifices and costly choices to follow Christ.
– Uncompromising holiness and separation from the world;
Hot Christians recognize the need for uncompromising holiness and a clear separation from the values and pleasures of the world. They cultivate a life of purity, rejecting the idols and temptations that so easily entangle lukewarm believers.
– A zeal for sharing the gospel and serving others;
Passion for Christ’s kingdom and a desire to see others come to know Him characterize hot Christians. They are eager to share the gospel with the lost and to sacrificially serve others, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel in their lives.
Becoming a “hot” Christian is not easy. It requires an ongoing, radical commitment to Christ that flies in the face of the lukewarm complacency that so easily creeps into our lives. But it is the only path to a vibrant, fruitful, and eternally significant faith. May we all strive to be hot, not lukewarm, followers of Jesus.
Conclusion
The lukewarm Christian is a dangerous spiritual condition that Jesus Himself finds repulsive. As believers, we must guard our hearts against lukewarmness and strive to be “hot” – fully alive, on fire, and radically committed to following Christ. Only then can we fulfill our calling to be salt and light in a dark world.
