lukewarm

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16)

"Lukewarm Christianity" is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. I think we tend to think of this as meaning either you love God and firmly believe in him or you don't; and as long as you do love him and believe in him you are "hot" and not lukewarm. But I'm realizing what Christianity is starting to become in our generation. The "cool" and "hip" churches these days are large "mega-churches" with coffee and jeans and an "anything goes" motto. This, I belive, is lukewarm. This notion that "anything goes" and you can be your own unique self and form and tweak Christianity to fit you, is precisely what I believe is alluded to in Revelation 3:15-16. We are becoming so obsessed with individualism and being different from everyone that we carry these beliefs into our faith as well. God's word and God's law are not something that are up for debate. There IS a one-size-fits-all approach because there is one truth. Forming the church and our faith experience to fit US is not what it is all about, we should try to shape ourselves to fit what God desires us to be. I am not trying to say that being an individual is a bad thing, I think it's wonderful to celebrate the uniqueness that God created in each one of us. I am also not trying to bash the big churches that are bringing in thousands of "seekers" because I am so glad that these people have a place where they feel comfortable to go. But for those of us who are sure of our faith, who know what we believe, and are striving to love the Lord with all our hearts, it's not about comfort. The second we get too comfortable we get lazy and we lose the ability to hear the Holy Spirit's nudging on our hearts.

So I am going to try. Try to fight the urge to settle in to the comfort of forming my faith around me. Try to listen to the Holy Spirit and acknowledge that my life constantly needs work and adjustment and study and learning. And I'm going to try to be honest, whether hot or cold, anything... but lukewarm.