Revelation 3:14-22
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the [a]angel of the church [b]of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [c]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.[d] Therefore be [e]zealous and repent.20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Go back and read that again. Meditate on it. Chew on it for a few minutes and reflect on the condition of the church in the United States today. We often see news stories of some denomination of other that has caved to the world and has agreed to perform same sex marriage ceremonies or teaches that homosexuality is okay in the eyes of God...the same God whose very Word says otherwise. Does He love those who are homosexual? Absolutely He does, without question. But does He condone the lifestyle they practice? No, He does not. We, Christians, Children of God, are called to be holy, as He is holy. Unrepentant sin is not holy. The church has lowered itself to the standards of the world instead of doing its best to bring the world up to God's standards. Welcome the sinner into your midst, yes, but do not tell that sinner that his/her sin is okay. Do not participate in their sin. This isn't just about homosexuality either.
We have a church here locally whose pastor committed adultery with a married woman and then married her after she divorced her husband. The church hired him knowing he had done this. That church, by allowing him to be a shepherd to that flock, is telling the congregation that adultery is no big deal. That sin is acceptable.
We are called to be set apart from the world. To hold ourselves and those who lead us to a higher standard- God's standard. Our country is, compared to many others, a very wealthy country. We have what we need and much of what we want. We go to church because it makes us feel good about ourselves, because the pastor tells us that Jesus loves us, forgives us, shows us grace and mercy. We put a few dollars in the offering plate and it makes us feel like we've accomplished something good. Pat ourselves on the back and go about living our lives the rest of the week no differently than the rest of the world.
If someone is watching you live your life and also watching your atheist neighbor, will they see a difference between you? Will they know by watching you that you are a blood bought child of the King?
Christians in China pray for persecution to come to the American church because they know from first hand experience that persecution makes a church better. We, American Christians, are, for the most part, lazy, complacent, and unwilling to fight for what is right if it means we have to sacrifice something. We like our comfortable lives and we don't want to do anything that might risk it or make us uncomfortable. So we've become lukewarm and if we don't wake up and see what we're doing, we will be spat out from the mouth of God! Be hot or cold! Be on fire for Him or turn your back on Him but do not be in the middle! Tell your pastor you want true Biblical teaching and if he/she won't turn back to God, find a new church. If you continue to be lukewarm, you have to answer to God for that! You! Because you have the power to change your life, to live a life that reflects God's holiness and not one that reflects the garbage of the world.
What do you choose to do? Today is the beginning of Lent...Spend some time reflecting, praying, looking in the mirror of your life and asking God to show you what needs changed in you. I know that's what I'll be doing because I know that I've spent too much time being lukewarm and complacent. I choose to be on fire for Jesus, no matter what the cost.
