Nothing Cool About Being Lukewarm

Have you ever experienced trying to eat a bowl of ice cream after it’s been sitting out at room temperature for a while? Who likes soupy ice cream that has lost its “cool refresher” properties? Definitely not the remedy for a hot day.

 

How about going to a restaurant for an eagerly anticipated meal and being disappointed to discover that when the food’s served, it’s barely warm? You’re tempted to spit it out of your mouth. I don’t know about you, but I like my cold food and drinks cold, and hot food and drinks hot. Not lukewarm or barely chilled.

 

'Jesus Knocking on the Door'
by William Holman Hunt

It’s the same with relationships. Ideally the time we spend with our loved ones is characterized by enthusiasm. We enjoy being together. We don’t have to feel excitement all the time – that’s unrealistic – but should look forward to hanging out with one another. It can be disheartening for a parent to return from a long business trip and instead of a warm ’welcome back!’ from spouse and kids, to receive nothing more than a collective shrug. Someone even coined the term, “Meh.”

This can be problematic from a spiritual perspective as well. During my young adult years, I attended church, but it didn’t take a lot of persuasion or rationalizing for me to skip a Sunday. I believed in God, but my religious practices were little more than routines or rituals, hardly devotion. And during the week you would have been hard-pressed to discern any spiritual convictions based on how I conducted my life. My “faith,” if I could have called it that, was lukewarm at best.

 

We find this kind of attitude vividly illustrated in Revelation, the final book of the Bible’s New Testament. The apostle John was instructed to write letters of both commendation and rebuke to major churches in the province of Asia. Among them was the church in the city of Laodicea. 

 

Unlike other assemblies of believers that were commended for their commitment to the Lord, the Laodiceans received no figurative pats on the back. Instead, speaking through John, God chastised them: “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” (Revelation 3:15-16).

 

These folks were “lukewarm – neither hot nor cold.” They didn’t offer strong opposition, but neither did they exhibit a zealous commitment to the Lord. If charged with being followers of Jesus Christ there probably wouldn’t have been enough evidence to convict them.

 

Sadly, 2,000 years later things haven’t changed much. Many churches are filled with individuals going through the motions, half-hearted in their convictions, impatiently waiting for the worship service to end so they can get on with their lives. Is it any wonder that despite the high percentage of people categorizing themselves as “Christians,” the impact of biblical values and principles in our nation has been low?

 

Reading further in the brief passage directed toward the Laodiceans, there’s some encouraging news. After this stern reproof, the lukewarm believers were given a compassionate admonition: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). The love and kindness God extends toward His children – even wayward, complacent ones – are limitless. He longs for us to return to Him, using discipline when needed to correct us and regain our attention. He doesn’t want to spit us out of His mouth.

 

Toward the end of this message, we find words that many of us have heard applied to evangelizing non-believers. However, the context clearly indicates it’s directed primarily toward tepid believers who have closed the Lord off from their lives. “Behold, 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” (Revelation 3:20).

 

This evokes the image of Jesus Christ standing outside a door waiting to be invited inside. There are even numerous paintings of this scene, some depicting Him rapping on a door having no outside handle. If the door is to open, it will have to be opened from the inside.

 

In my case, the Lord kept knocking on my heart’s door for years before I came to a clear understanding of my sinfulness and need for His forgiveness and redemption. I can’t point to a specific day and hour when I came to saving faith in Christ but can recall a time when I knew that I knew that I knew – no more doubts – that I was a child of God, eternally secure in my relationship with Him. As Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).

 

It's never a bad thing to reassess where we stand with Jesus. Have we invited Him to stay, to have continual fellowship with us, or is He still knocking at the door of our hearts while we settle for a casual, lukewarm existence? 

Legacy of a Lukewarm Life

You’ve probably heard about the guy that was asked, “What’s the greater problem, ignorance or apathy?” His response: “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Many people today could say the same. If it doesn’t directly affect their lives, they have no interest. But is this as it should be?

Since I don’t know much about ignorance, I’ll focus on apathy – whether you care much about it or not. (Wink, wink.)

Despite the shouting, arguing and carryings-on we see and hear about in our society today, in reality we seem beset with an epidemic of apathy. We get this term from the Greek: “apathy” – “a” (without) and “pathos” (passion). We might get fired up about our favorite football team, whether we’re winning (“I love my team!”) or losing (“Fire the coach!”) But rarely does such passion spill over into our everyday lives and routines.

Sadly, this applies to too many who convene within the walls of what we commonly call “the church.” We sing the songs – or hymns, depending on how contemporary or traditional your congregation happens to be. Some raise hands, or sway, or shout “Amen” at appropriate times. There are those who even dance a bit in response to the music. But soon after exiting the doors and retreating to our real lives, the apathy – without passion – resets.

Imagine Jesus having to knock to receive
admittance into our hearts and homes.

This isn’t a new dilemma. In the book of Revelation, we read this listless, lethargic malady afflicted the ancient church. Addressing the church in the city of Laodicea, God says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:14-16).

Another translation says, “I will spew you out of my mouth.” I like that wording better. It pictures someone drinking or biting into something very distasteful and without hesitation, spewing it out, no matter where it happens to land. Like unpleasant food, or sour milk.

But “spewing” was the effect. The cause was the Laodicean church’s apathy, being “lukewarm” – neither cold nor hot toward things that matter to God. During worship services, or small group meetings, the men and women might have expressed their love and devotion to the Lord, but outside of those gatherings, it was hard to find evidence of Him at work in their lives.

“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 3:17). Tough words – but apparently directed to a bunch of folks going through the motions, whose hearts weren’t really in it.

We hear about children coming from “Christian homes” that go to college or get out on their own and, before long, disavow the faith they once professed. There’s much to be said about this, but perhaps in many instances it’s largely because their families were “neither cold nor hot” toward Christ in an everyday sense. Biblical values and virtues got lip service, but weren’t lived out on a genuine, consistent basis. Maybe kids who later reject the faith are living out that legacy.

Why is this? Even though followers of Jesus are increasingly targets of antagonism in the U.S.A., we’ve not yet approached the levels of persecution believers face in other lands. It’s easy, therefore, to feel comfortable – complacent – in our faith, never needing to count the cost and take a bold stand that might bear serious consequences. We’ve grown apathetic, “lukewarm” toward God.

I’m one that doesn’t like lukewarm food and drink. I prefer ice-cold beverages, and if my meal at home cools off, I’m prone to stick it in the microwave and “nuke” it for 15-20 seconds until it’s hot again. God feels the same way about us. He doesn’t want us to grow cold toward Him, but neither is He satisfied with lukewarm belief.

In the same chapter of Revelation, we find a verse we typically apply it to those who haven’t yet made commitments to Jesus Christ. However, the context shows it’s directed to people who already claim to be members of His family. “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” (Revelation 3:20). I’ve seen paintings of this passage showing Jesus knocking on a door without an outside handle. Imagine Jesus needing to ask to be invited into our homes and our hearts?

How can we “heat up,” getting past lukewarm-ness? Sometimes it helps to hear someone tell a powerful story of what God has done in their life. We can read an inspiring book, or listen to heart-tugging spiritual music. But the best way is to spend time with the Lord in the Scriptures, as well as reflect on all He’s already performed in our lives.

The worst thing we can do is follow the example described in Psalm 78:9-11, which tells of, “The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.” Let’s not be like them. Let’s say no to “lukewarm.”