Lukewarm: Christian Casualties
Pete just returned from an extended time with family and friends in Arkansass, Alabama and Mississippi. He was blessed to reconnect with family and childhood friends. Southern culture is renowned for hospitality. To spend time in the South is an immersion in “southern comfort.” Church is such an important part of Southern culture that in some towns, there’s a church on every corner. If you’re from the South, it’s assumed that you’re a church-going Christian. However, Down South the danger is that you’ll become a “casual Christian.” The undercurrent of southern culture will carry along casual Christians.
Revelation chapters 2 and 3, John addresses the distinct cultures of the seven churches of Asia Minor. These churches are examples of churches in every age and in every culture. The problem with the church of Ephesus is that they lacked love. Although they thought that they loved God, they didn’t realize that they were lacking in love. You can be in the dark and not even realize it. When the truth of the light of the word of God shines, it reveals the root of the problem. Their problem is that they didn’t know the love of God. The love of God, agape in the Greek, is the only type of love that doesn’t require reciprocity. It requires nothing in return. Agape is characterized b the pure act of giving unconditionally.
The problem in Laodicea was a lukewarm and dead church. The message beginning in Revelation 3:14 says, “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Jesus Christ himself is the Amen, the last true word of God. He is the true witness of the truth. There was a heresy that Jesus Christ was not the true and faithful gospel message of the truth of the Word of God. No church is in the dark so deep that they think that they’re in the light but they’re really in the dark. The Laodicians thought that they were doing fine but they had become “casual Christians.” They had become complacent and had forsaken the true and faithful word, Jesus Christ himself.
Revelation 2:15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The Laodicean church had become “lukewarm.” They fell into compromise with the doctrines of the world. The question is , “What is the condition of your soul?” On a scale of one to ten, One means that you don’t really care. Ten means that you’re on fire with the spirit of the Lord. The church at Laodicea was a one: they had lost their zeal and their dependence on God. How did they become complacent? Laodicea was a banking center and had great natural resources. They thought that they “had need of nothing.”
17. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”
The Laodiceans had a critical spirt. They thought that they were “self sufficient” and could make it on their own. A prideful and haughty spirit cannot approach the throne of God. The wealth and prosperity of the city dazzled and blinded its citizens. Because they were rich in material things, they did not realize that they were poor, blind, naked and wretched in spiritual things. In contrast to the riches of this world, Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Humility is the prerequisite for turning to the Lord. Therefore humble thyself under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time.
The church at Laodicea was lukewarm and apathetic in the things of the spirt.. They were half-hearted and without conviction. Jesus always condemned indifference. The Laodiceans had no zeal for the things of the spirt. They had become “casual Christians.” They were nonchalant and had lost feeling, conviction, and passion for the Lord. Casual Christians become casualties of the spiritual battle.
The exhortation to the church at Laodicea was “quench not the spirt.” As David said, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” We need to be in the word like the Apostle Paul’s charge to the Thessalonians. Our responsibility is to “keep the fire stoked.” Quench not the spirit. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. In everything give thanks.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael