We claim to be a Christian nation. Are we? Most Americans claim they believe in God. Do they live as though they do? Is God first in their lives? First before work? Before money? Before things? What about in your life. If God is not first – the first thanks you give when you awake and the last praise on your lips as you relax into slumber – do you truly believe you are saved?
We are warned in Revelation 3:14-19 that lukewarm Christians are NOT saved:
- And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Revelation 3:14-19 (KJV)
Only those whose eyes and heart are full of the Holy Spirit will notice that you can not be a true Christian by going through the motions without making Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit absolutely first in your life. That means before your job, before your concerns over money, before your family, before your possessions, before entertainment – FIRST BEFORE EVERYTHING – WITHOUT EXCEPTION!
I am not alone in asking “Are Christian Churches Lukewarm?” Brother Mike provided this excellent definition of a Lukewarm Christian: “Being lukewarm is a lip service Christian. They go to church, may even give money, but God is not first in their life. They conduct their life as if there is not God.”
Another writer even has a new name for it: Goldilocks Christianity. Here is your challenge as a reader: be able to read all opinions, finding the truth and leaving behind the errors of interpretation. Many otherwise excellent writers and preachers have never questioned the non-Biblical beliefs they’ve been raised in so they mingle those with the Biblical truths.
I believe this is why Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Without Jesus we can never know the Truth. Even with him, we must be aware enough to ASK HIM. Few question the beliefs they’ve been taught so many believe untruths even though they have Jesus.
- To benefit from their insights yet not be misled we must learn to listen and read with Spiritual Discernment.
I will be linking to other sites when they provide great insight even though, in many cases, these same sites will be writing many things that are not Biblical and are not true. Often they are very passionate about their beliefs – both the true and the misleading. Only those who place Jesus first in their lives will know – and only if they question their assumptions.
Remember that “normal” is however you’ve been raised or whatever you’ve been taught by schools, the media, and society. Being widely accepted does NOT make something true. Specific interpretations of the Bible are not necessarily correct simply because they are widely accepted. Churches and individuals who use the Bible to argue secular beliefs would benefit us all by sticking to what is most important.
And what is that? Why are we here?
God created the physical world to experience, learn, and grow. He created us – with free choice – to do the same. I believe the purpose of life is to realize that the very best use of that free choice is to surrender to God totally and completely.
We can either surrender to God or continue to “play God” – and look at the mess we have made of our lives and environment by thinking we know enough to “play God”.
God is not “in control” of this World. He told us this. He is not waging war, or starving us, or forcing us to submit to the evils all around us. Once we surrender out lives, thoughts, and actions to Him we will be guided in our path. We will be provided for physically. We may be protected or it may be our calling to endure for His sake.
One thing we will have is peace in our hearts and of our minds regardless of what is going on all around us. And most important of all, we will have eternity with Him in a far better world where life is worth living; unlike this end game we are experiencing now.
RELATED POSTS ELSEWHERE:
- How Not to Be a Lukewarm Christian (Nov. 10, 2008) – (Note that Our Lord inspires many to write on the same subject on the same day. I woke up with this post in my mind yesterday and today and only after typing it found this other post.)
- Confusion Message (Nov 09, 2008) – While this post has insights – and note the date – was divinely inspired, it focuses on politics while I do not believe Jesus would advise we do that. The few who are true believers are not going to be able to change the world through activism any more than Jesus tried to do so in his time. How much time did he spend trying to change the system? How many doors did he knock on? Where did he spend his time?
- Guard Your Affection for Christ – Bible Study covering the warnings given to Lukewarm Christians in Revelation and describing deep, enduring love for Jesus
- Inconsistencies of Mainstream Christianity: Does Doctrine Really Matter – This site has an exceptional depth of information
- The Child of God
BIBLE REFERENCES:
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By Their Fruits 