Would any coach want an entire team of mediocre football players? Would any business want a company of uninterested employees? Would any pastor want to lead a congregation of complacent believers?
No, of course not, and neither would Jesus. He condemned such attitudes in His followers. There was a group of Christians that lived in the city of Laodicea, that once lived like this and Jesus called them out, saying, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. 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.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
Jesus used temperature language to illustrate where professing believers stood in relationship with Him. The Laodiceans did not have a cold distant relationship, nor a passionate one with Christ. They were somewhere in the middle, which Jesus called – lukewarm.
The believers had good biblical doctrine. They were morally upright, not lazy, a group of doers always getting much done. Consequently, their divine rebuke did not result from their beliefs, morals or activity. Instead, it came from their attitude toward Jesus. They acknowledged Him, talked about Him, but they did not operate their church, nor live in dependency on Him. And anyone that visited the church, or spent time with any of the believers could sense this. Someone may not have been able to put their finger on it, but clearly, something was wrong.
This is the state of so many churches today. They have wonderful buildings, faithful congregations, dependable supporters, encouraging weekly services, but something is missing. It is the state of many believers also. They declare their belief in Christ, attend church services, have been baptized, take communion, have gone through confirmation and donated their hard-earned money to the church. However, Jesus says to them what He said to the Laodicean church, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:19) Like those in Laodicea, many believers today are missing a zealousness for Christ. There is no burning passion for Him. Just a contented lukewarmness. And others can feel it. Amidst the professions and religious activities something is missing.
In love for His church, Jesus comes to its door and patiently knocks. All the while, the door remains closed to dependency on Him. Even so, He still knocks, waiting for anyone to come and welcome Him back in. However, if they refuse His patient knocking, He will “spit them out of His mouth.” But if they respond and turn from their lukewarmness to a renewed walk with Him, He offers a great promise of blessing upon them.
Take time to examine the spiritual condition of your church and your own walk with Christ. Where is the passion for Jesus? Where is the boiling love for Him? Where is the heavenly zeal? This is not about feelings, but about the bent of one’s whole life and the spiritual state of a congregation.
Listen to Jesus’ loving and persuasive words to His precious bride, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:20-22)
Hear the Spirit’s call to His church and respond. Repent of your lukewarmness and be awakened to a fresh zeal for Christ.
A prayer for you – Lord God, search my heart. Point out if I have strayed from you and lost my zeal. I repent of my love for the world and dependency on myself. I turn to you asking that you pour out upon me a renewed passion and love that burns with a raging fire, that nothing in this world can extinguish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Clint Decker is president of Great Awakenings. Please share your comment at cdecker@greatawakenings.org and follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot.com.
