Lukewarmnicity

Well I am back from a writing sabbatical. I didn’t go anywhere, but I just took a few weeks off from writing. I want to take a trip to Colorado soon though; anyone want to join? Well, I didn’t plan on taking time off writing. There are things that have been on my mind, things I have felt like writing about. There are things I have wrestled with; issues and topics. Things I don’t understand. I’m still relatively young and I know that there’s a lot I don’t know yet about life and walking with God. I have a lot to learn.

A few weeks ago I was reading the Bible. I was in Revelation reading the Jesus’ letters to the churches. I came across the famous letter to the church in Laodicea and the whole ‘lukewarm’ statement. You know, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This is one of those passages that just jumps off the page. We probably have all heard sermons on the dangers of being lukewarm. We probably have all heard people trying to scare us into obedience so Jesus will not spit us out of His mouth. And of course, this passage raises questions. Why does Jesus say that those who are lukewarm would be better off cold? How is this Jesus who spits people out of his mouth the same Christ who welcomes and forgives all? And the big question, what does it mean to be lukewarm?

I heard a great illustration from Pastor Francis Chan of California a few weeks ago. I will probably butcher it, but bear with me. If I were going to go in the army, I would meet with the army recruiter. What would happen if I told the recruiter that I didn’t want to commit to serve 3 years? “Hey Sarge, check this out. How about I only serve a year? That works better for me. And the whole boot camp thing, yeah I’m gonna sleep in and probably only train when I feel like it.” I doubt the recruiter would let me sign up. He’d probably yell at me and kick me out of his office. Why? Because when you sign up for something like the army, you are pretty much signing your life away for those years. But if I am going to be truthful, sometimes I have this attitude when following Christ; like I don’t want to be all in. I think that’s the heart of lukewarmnicity.

Anyone can pray a prayer. And one can say Jesus is Lord. Anyone can get dunked underwater in front of a church. But those things aren’t what it means to follow Him. Die to yourself. Pick up your cross. Hate your mother. Hate your brother. Unless I am not first in your life, unless you would leave it all for My sake, then you’re not following me. You are lukewarm.

In this verse in Revelations, Jesus is basically saying that we are either all in or all out. There is no middle ground. Here’s another example. Say I am dating someone. (I’m not.) Let’s say this woman I am dating sort of likes me and sort of don’ts. She thinks I am a good person and enjoys spending time with me, but she’s constantly looking for the next better thing. (I could make a joke here but I will refrain.) For her, it’s a relationship of convenience. Okay, I would have to be stupid to be in this relationship. Hey, either you like me or you don’t. Either you are with me or you’re not. That’s what Jesus is saying.

Yes, Jesus is redemption and love and forgiveness. But he also wants to be number 1. He doesn’t do second place. Just think, He went all the way for us. He didn’t tell Pilate, “Yeah, this whole death thing, um, I’m not really feeling it. Say, how about I just take a few lashes and be done with it?” Of course not. He went all the way for us. I know there are times in my life that I am lukewarm. It’s not that I don’t love Jesus; I guess I just get so caught up in everything else. But I guess if my life is not fully for Him, nothing else really matters. I am tired of my own lukewarmnicity. I want to be all in. Walk in love…

matt