Lukewarm?
A friend posted a snippet from Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" on her Facebook today, and it got my mind rolling. It has been awhile since I read this book, and think I'm going to have to read it again. Michelle's quote was: "LUKEWARM PEOPLE probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong." Chan gives a variety of points in his book about "Lukewarm" people that are really to the point and give a harsh slap of reality to the reader. The point simply is this...
Lukewarm people are deceived into thinking that their token attempt at religion has them safe from Hell, but they are in fact, in a position which makes God sick. Revelation 3:16 says; "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
This is one of Satan's greatest tactics... luring people into a state of lukewarmness, where they feel safe, but they are in danger of hellfire.
Another quote from Chan that sums up the Lukewarm person well is : "LUKEWARM PEOPLE don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one."
These are people who put in a little time at church, give every now and then when there is a little extra, or they feel they need to pay a little penance for their wrongs. They are involved just enough to appease their conscience but not enough to change their lifestyle.
Lukewarm is a dangerous place to be, because there, one find's comfort and are totally unaware of the reality of their circumstance. We need all constantly examine ourselves to make sure we are not slipping into a place of being lukewarm. If you've not read Francis Chan's book, I'd highly recommend it.
Lukewarm people are deceived into thinking that their token attempt at religion has them safe from Hell, but they are in fact, in a position which makes God sick. Revelation 3:16 says; "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
This is one of Satan's greatest tactics... luring people into a state of lukewarmness, where they feel safe, but they are in danger of hellfire.
Another quote from Chan that sums up the Lukewarm person well is : "LUKEWARM PEOPLE don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one."
These are people who put in a little time at church, give every now and then when there is a little extra, or they feel they need to pay a little penance for their wrongs. They are involved just enough to appease their conscience but not enough to change their lifestyle.
Lukewarm is a dangerous place to be, because there, one find's comfort and are totally unaware of the reality of their circumstance. We need all constantly examine ourselves to make sure we are not slipping into a place of being lukewarm. If you've not read Francis Chan's book, I'd highly recommend it.
