“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I would that
you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
What does it mean to be a lukewarm Christian? Is there such a
thing? Do any of these sound like you?
1.
A lukewarm Christian believes in God, but is not quite comfortable
sharing Him with others.
2.
A lukewarm Christian presents him/herself one way around believers
and another around non-believers.
3.
A lukewarm Christian doesn’t want to lose friends by standing up
for their beliefs. Christians are called Christians because they are Christ
followers and they believe Gods Holy Word…the Bible. Lukewarm Christians only
choose to believe parts of the Bible.
4.
A Lukewarm Christian doesn’t allow God to control their life.
5.
A Lukewarm Christian makes decisions based on life on earth
without thinking of eternity.
6.
A Lukewarm Christian lives in the flesh and not the spirit.
7.
A Lukewarm Christian stands up for what the world believes in and
not what God calls us to represent.
These above are just a few examples. I have been
guilty of some or all of them at one time in my life. Even today, I find there
are times that I am convicted of my actions because God has revealed to me that
I am not living according to His Word.
This world is ever changing. Daily we are faced
with many issues that we must decide which side of the fence we sit on. Christians
do not want to appear hypocritical, mean, judgmental, or rude so they bite
their tongue when it comes to heavy, soul saving, life changing issues.
I think where Christians at times get hung up is
that yes, Jesus wants us to love all. However, many think that a part of loving
is to ignore sin and remain quite so as not to hurt anyone’s feeling. Yes, He
wants us to be compassionate, caring, giving, and loving. But, part of loving
is pointing out sin and standing up for God and His word. Jesus pointed out sin
to the sinful often and lovingly, without condemning…“go and sin no more” John
8:11
Below are some verses which explain how God
wants us as Christians to be in the world, but not a part of the world. I hope
they help you as they have helped me.
1
John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires
of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the
world.
Matthew
12:30
Whoever is not with me is
against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
James
3:10-12
From the same mouth come
blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a
spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig
tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt
pond yield fresh water.
Matthew
16:26
For what will it profit a man if
he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in
return for his soul?
2
Timothy 4:3
For the time is coming when
people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will
accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2
Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be unequally yoked with
unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what
fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what
portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple
of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I
will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate
from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says
the Lord Almighty.”
2
Timothy 3:4
Treacherous, reckless, swollen
with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
1
Peter 3:15
But in your hearts honor Christ
the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks
you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and
respect…
It is my prayer that I will be a
true follower. I pray that those who I disagree with will know that it is not
out of hate but out of love. We will never agree with everyone on the same
issues. I do not hate those whose opinion differs from mine. Often times with Christians
that is not the case, as people will believe I am being close minded and
hateful. I only hope that regardless of whether someone thinks I hate them or hate
the sin, that at least I am genuine and true to God. I want to be a HOT Christian on fire for God.
Rachel W. Clark
