Lukewarm Christians
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not believe it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. (Matthew 13:19)
People within the church who should ideally have an undeniable love for God have an incomplete and ordinary love for God.
A lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron.
Churchgoers who are indifferent are not Christians.
Not everyone who goes to church labeled as "Christian" is a Christian.
Church is not about the building.
It is about the people who represent the body of Christ.
People have a mistaken image of God.
A lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron.
Churchgoers who are indifferent are not Christians.
Not everyone who goes to church labeled as "Christian" is a Christian.
Church is not about the building.
It is about the people who represent the body of Christ.
People have a mistaken image of God.
God deserves ALL of our love, not partial.
A lukewarm Christian is an ordinary person in a Christian community.
Examine yourself, to determine whether you are in the faith, test yourselves. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(Luke 6:26)
What are the Symptoms of a Lukewarm Christian?
Disclaimer: This list is not intended to indicate another believers' salvation. This list should be used for the purpose of checking our own way as Christians to make sure that we don't become apathetic.Examine yourself, to determine whether you are in the faith, test yourselves. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Caution: Do not assume that you are a beneficial soil.
Lukewarm Christians attend church fairly regularly.
- It is what is expected of them.
- This is what they believe "true Christians" do, so they go.
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (I(Isaiah 29:13)
Lukewarm Christians give money to charity and to the church, as long as it does not affect their Standard of living.
- They make their little extra if it is easy and secure.
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Lukewarm Christians choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(Luke 6:26)
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Revelations 3:1)
“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. (Matthew 23:5-7)
Lukewarm Christians don't genuinely want to be saved from their sin.
- They need only to be saved from the burden of their sin.
- They do not genuinely hate sin and are not truly sorry for it.
- They are just upset because God is going to hurt them.
- Lukewarm people do not honestly believe that the new life Jesus offers is better than their "old nasty" one.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2)
Lukewarm Christians are motivated by stories about people who do extraordinary things for Christ, but they do not represent. They think that it is uncertain.
- Lukewarm people think that what Jesus expected of all His followers are difficult.
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(James 4:17)
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. (Matthew 21:28-31)
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”(Luke 14:12-14)
Lukewarm Christians occasionally share their faith with others because they do not want to be rejected.
- They do not want to make people uncomfortable by talking about personal issues like religion.
Lukewarm Christians assess their morals by comparing themselves to nonbelievers.
- They get satisfaction knowing that while they are not as stringent for Jesus, they are not as haphazard as others.
Lukewarm Christians say they love Jesus, and he is a member of their life but only for a fraction.
- They give Him a portion of their lives, but Jesus is not allowed to drive their life.
The Cost of Following Jesus
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)
Lukewarm Christians worship God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.
- They would be able to tell you that they try to love God that much, but that kind of total commitment isn't eminently possible for the average person. It's only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.
Lukewarm Christians love others but do not try to love others as much as they love themselves.
- A Lukewarm Christian's love is focused on those who love them in return and other people they know. There is minimal love left for those who cannot love them back, a lot to a lesser extent for those who knowingly harass them, or with whom conversations are obscene or prejudiced.
- Their human connection is highly reliant and most exclusive, and usually comes with demands.
Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:43-47)Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”(Luke 14:12-14)
Lukewarm Christians serve God and others, but are limited to the lengths that they will and to the time, money, and support that they are willing to give.
All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:21-25)
Lukewarm Christians think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven. It is seldom that they carefully consider the days to come.
If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this - CS Lewis.