Do You Think the Church in America is Lukewarm?
My brother in the faith and Mercy Ministries board member Mike Mazyck posted a thought-provoking piece to his blog recently. If you think that the church in America is lukewarm, then I would encourage you to read it.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:14–16)
Let’s summarize: God just told the church at Laodicea that He has taken the temperature of their hearts, and they are in grave danger. He’s telling them they make Him nauseous. Their version of Christianity made Him want to puke them out of His mouth. Their moderate, somewhere in the middle, response to the message of the Gospel disgusted Him. And He is warning them in the most serious way possible.
But what goes through your mind when you read those words?
Do you, like many, find yourself wondering; These words were written to His “church” at Laodicea, yet they will be vomited out of His mouth. How could this be so? What does this really mean? Surely He isn’t telling His “church” they are in danger of Hell!
Maybe you say to yourself; These words were written to those Laodiceans two thousand years ago; they don’t apply to us today!
Or maybe this popular thought crosses your mind; These words must have come from the Father – that God of the Old Testament that was full of wrath and fury! They could not have come from my New Testament Jesus, the gentle and tender one, who is always longing for His children to come snuggle up in His lap? My loving New Testament Jesus will certainly keep me from this divine threat.
I would like to address a few of these things…