How do you define a lukewarm christian?

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error

error

Senior Member
#1
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#1
I just heard a song that someone posted here on cc. It made me think a bit...

Sometimes I feel myself like a lukewarm ch. I don't go to church regulary. Sometimes I don't read my Bible and I don't want to pray. I have my cold and hot periods. One day I can be so excited and all that->and another day I can loose my interest in reading my Bible and praying. This is very serious topic. I don't want to find myself in the category of lukewarm christians.

"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"
Revelation 3:16

So, how do you define a lukewarm christian?
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#2
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
79
48
#2
This is a serious subject indeed.

Sometime last year, I seemed to notice more and more that many attend church and serve only when it's convenient. Sure, there are seasons of rest and sometimes we have so many personal things on our plate that it may be appropriate to step down for a while. However, I am referring to an ongoing attitude. I try not to make individual judgements because ultimately, this is between them and God.

In another category are those (it seems the majority of those who call themselves "Christian") that while they call themselves Christians or believers, don't seem to want anything to do with God. They may lead somewhat moral lives, but have no real relationship with Christ. I think many like the idea of God in one's afterlife but don't want Him in one's present life.
 
G

GRA

Guest
#3
#3
error said:
I just heard a song that someone posted here on cc. It made me think a bit...

Sometimes I feel myself like a lukewarm ch. I don't go to church regulary. Sometimes I don't read my Bible and I don't want to pray. I have my cold and hot periods. One day I can be so excited and all that->and another day I can loose my interest in reading my Bible and praying. This is very serious topic. I don't want to find myself in the category of lukewarm christians.

"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"
Revelation 3:16

So, how do you define a lukewarm christian?
Click to expand...
'neither hot nor cold' ;)

:)
 
error

error

Senior Member
#4
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#4
GRA said:
'neither hot nor cold' ;)

:)
Click to expand...
Yea. But we are ppl. I can't be excited most of the time. I get tired emotionally, physically and spiritually. I don't know... Maybe sometimes I lack motivation or something...
 
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error

error

Senior Member
#5
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#5
CatHerder said:
This is a serious subject indeed.

Sometime last year, I seemed to notice more and more that many attend church and serve only when it's convenient. Sure, there are seasons of rest and sometimes we have so many personal things on our plate that it may be appropriate to step down for a while. However, I am referring to an ongoing attitude. I try not to make individual judgements because ultimately, this is between them and God.

In another category are those (it seems the majority of those who call themselves "Christian") that while they call themselves Christians or believers, don't seem to want anything to do with God. They may lead somewhat moral lives, but have no real relationship with Christ. I think many like the idea of God in one's afterlife but don't want Him in one's present life.
Click to expand...
Sometimes I feel like that. I guess press on is the key. I guess I'm a lazy christian. It takes something to be a good christian.
 
G

GRA

Guest
#6
#6
( I hope you know that I meant that in a light-hearted way -- hence, the 'wink'... )

error said:
Yea. But we are ppl. I can't be excited most of the time. I get tired emotionally, physically and spiritually. I don't know... Maybe sometimes I lack motivation or something...
Click to expand...
In the context of the passage, I believe that it is talking about the overall sense of things rather than hour-to-hour--day-to-day--at-any-moment type of activity. It is focused on works with a specific mention for attitude/complacency/pride.

:)
 
M

MidniteWelder

Guest
#7
#7
error said:
I just heard a song that someone posted here on cc. It made me think a bit..

Hello Error :)
While it may be good to be uplifted or caused to think because of a song, we should take care not to substitute songs as a guiding light to replace the blessing of scripture God provided for us.

Sometimes I feel myself like a lukewarm ch. I don't go to church regulary. Sometimes I don't read my Bible and I don't want to pray. I have my cold and hot periods. One day I can be so excited and all that->and another day I can loose my interest in reading my Bible and praying. This is very serious topic. I don't want to find myself in the category of lukewarm christians.

"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"
Revelation 3:16

So, how do you define a lukewarm christian?
Click to expand...
Some other thoughts I may offer you,
We could think of lukewarm as exactly that
If you took hot water, and then mixed in some cold it now becomes lukewarm
This could also be related as a comparison of God's will compared to our will.
If we look at God's will which would be hot and then mixed in our own will which could be considered cold in comparison we now become lukewarm.
We don't always have to feel excited or on fire. For example Job was down when trials came his way, Jonah was down and upset in his situation.
The thing is they followed God's will
One thing that may help you is anytime you're feeling questionable, you could ask yourself if you're listening to and contemplating God's will with all things. The bible tells us that everything we do should be as if for the Lord.
If at anytime I'm unsure of something I ask God and seek if I'm in his will
Lets say for instance something makes you angry, that's a good time to go look at scripture.
See what the bible says and has examples of your particular situation. Then the bible would tell us it's alright to be angry but not sin in our anger.
Then even a step further blessed are the peacemakers
Just throwing that out there.
Try and remember the enemy like someone you're in battle with tries to get us off balance in preparation for a spiritual attack.
If we're off balance in our stance with God those attacks can be easier for the enemy.
On the other hand, if we're well grounded (balanced well spiritually with God's armor) it makes it very difficult for the enemy to throw us off balance because we're already prepared for it and know the countermeasure.
God's word is very powerful in our lives not just for our own salvation but also to keep the enemy from tripping us and making us fall :)
God Bless
 
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error

error

Senior Member
#9
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#9
MidniteWelder said:
Some other thoughts I may offer you,
We could think of lukewarm as exactly that
If you took hot water, and then mixed in some cold it now becomes lukewarm
This could also be related as a comparison of God's will compared to our will.
If we look at God's will which would be hot and then mixed in our own will which could be considered cold in comparison we now become lukewarm.
We don't always have to feel excited or on fire. For example Job was down when trials came his way, Jonah was down and upset in his situation.
The thing is they followed God's will
One thing that may help you is anytime you're feeling questionable, you could ask yourself if you're listening to and contemplating God's will with all things. The bible tells us that everything we do should be as if for the Lord.
If at anytime I'm unsure of something I ask God and seek if I'm in his will
Lets say for instance something makes you angry, that's a good time to go look at scripture.
See what the bible says and has examples of your particular situation. Then the bible would tell us it's alright to be angry but not sin in our anger.
Then even a step further blessed are the peacemakers
Just throwing that out there.
Try and remember the enemy like someone you're in battle with tries to get us off balance in preparation for a spiritual attack.
If we're off balance in our stance with God those attacks can be easier for the enemy.
On the other hand, if we're well grounded (balanced well spiritually with God's armor) it makes it very difficult for the enemy to throw us off balance because we're already prepared for it and know the countermeasure.
God's word is very powerful in our lives not just for our own salvation but also to keep the enemy from tripping us and making us fall :)
God Bless
Click to expand...
I like your answer. Thank you very much.
 
R

Relena7

Guest
#10
#10
To me a lukewarm Christian would describe a person who worships without passion. They just go through all of the actions of doing what the bible says without putting much feeling or inspiration into it.
 
J

jinx

Guest
#11
#11
error said:
"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"
Revelation 3:16

So, how do you define a lukewarm christian?
Click to expand...
I define it as someone who is "straddling the fence" so to say.
A person who has one foot doing as the world does and the other foot as GOD would have then do.
A person who curses and blesses at the same time.
A person who is sweet and nasty.

These are unstable people. People with no roots.

If they are "all in" for GOD then Great!!!
If they are cold for GOD, then we have a chance to win them back.
But if they are stagnant and they know the joy but it just doesn't do it for them anymore and they are as hypocrites, then there is nothing you can do for them.

That is what lukewarm is to me.:)
 
error

error

Senior Member
#12
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#12
GRA said:
Where exactly is that? Got a link? Thanks in advance.

:)
Click to expand...
(chorus)

(to luke-warm people)
if you're halfway
get out of the way
we don't need you here or in our way
you know what's wrong
then fight for good
you know the truth
you know what's true
 
error

error

Senior Member
#13
Oct 23, 2009
1,244
10
38
#13
Relena7 said:
To me a lukewarm Christian would describe a person who worships without passion. They just go through all of the actions of doing what the bible says without putting much feeling or inspiration into it.
Click to expand...
hm..................
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#14
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
79
48
#14
Relena7 said:
To me a lukewarm Christian would describe a person who worships without passion. They just go through all of the actions of doing what the bible says without putting much feeling or inspiration into it.
Click to expand...
I don't know if I agree with this or not. I think it's okay to be honest with God and admit that you are going to church or serving more out of discipline than desire. Often when I do this, He reignites the desire and passion.
 
R

Relena7

Guest
#15
#15
CatHerder said:
I don't know if I agree with this or not. I think it's okay to be honest with God and admit that you are going to church or serving more out of discipline than desire. Often when I do this, He reignites the desire and passion.
Click to expand...
I don't mean lukewarm means a person is a "bad Christian". If someone is disciplined and wants to stay on the right track, then they are still making better choices than most of the world and God will see that they are trying. I just meant I think of a VERY ALIVE and inspired Christian as a very different thing. A heart overflowing with love and faith that can't be tamed by the peer pressures of the world is a beautiful thing, and anything but "lukewarm".

It isn't a competition about who can be the "best" at serving God. And everyone is at a different spiritual stage. I am not saying this to put anyone down. We're all trying.
 
I

iTOREtheSKY

Guest
#16
#16
jinx said:
I define it as someone who is "straddling the fence" so to say.
A person who has one foot doing as the world does and the other foot as GOD would have then do.
A person who curses and blesses at the same time.
A person who is sweet and nasty.

These are unstable people. People with no roots.

If they are "all in" for GOD then Great!!!
If they are cold for GOD, then we have a chance to win them back.
But if they are stagnant and they know the joy but it just doesn't do it for them anymore and they are as hypocrites, then there is nothing you can do for them.

That is what lukewarm is to me.:)
Click to expand...
Just like a Sour Patch Kid!!!!;)
 
DuchessAimee

DuchessAimee

Senior Member
#17
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#17
I'm sure someone or multiple people will tell me if they disagree with me. :)


In regards to the passage which Error provided, I think that "lukewarm" may be relative to the person God is dealing with at the time. Think about it. Someone who lives a double life (which all of us do to a point), or someone who worships without passion (how would you even measure that?) or someone who only goes to serve (again, how is that evaluated?), or many other situations that could be regarded as lukewarm can only be judged as such by God. Lukewarm is a heart issue, not a law issue. I think lukewarm Christianity is between the person and God.
 
H

HollyLoree

Guest
#18
#18
DuchessAimee said:
I'm sure someone or multiple people will tell me if they disagree with me. :)


In regards to the passage which Error provided, I think that "lukewarm" may be relative to the person God is dealing with at the time. Think about it. Someone who lives a double life (which all of us do to a point), or someone who worships without passion (how would you even measure that?) or someone who only goes to serve (again, how is that evaluated?), or many other situations that could be regarded as lukewarm can only be judged as such by God. Lukewarm is a heart issue, not a law issue. I think lukewarm Christianity is between the person and God.
Click to expand...
I disagree with you. (kidding) What you're saying is that God would judge our "luke-warmness" on a comprehensive level. Right? As in, how were we all of our lives, or even at the end of our lives? Or at the end of the day? Like the people the farmer hired late in the day but paid them the same wage He did the workers that started in the morning?
 
DuchessAimee

DuchessAimee

Senior Member
#19
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#19
HollyLoree said:
I disagree with you. (kidding) What you're saying is that God would judge our "luke-warmness" on a comprehensive level. Right? As in, how were we all of our lives, or even at the end of our lives? Or at the end of the day? Like the people the farmer hired late in the day but paid them the same wage He did the workers that started in the morning?
Click to expand...


I'm saying that being lukewarm is a heart issue. For instance, what if someone has been through a very hard life and are emotionally shut down. They show up to a church and because they don't appear to connect to God in worship, they're judged as lukewarm. Or they serve in a couple of ministries, but because they aren't joyful or talkative, they're deemed as lukewarm. Or because they're human they still sin and do stupid stuff, they're thought to be lukewarm Christians. But in reality, because God looks at the heart, He sees that they love him with everything they have. God sees that they're trying, and He sees the plans he has for them.

That's what I mean Holly. We may think that the person is lukewarm, but God sees their heart, and knows differently. I don't see being lukewarm as an issue of the Law. I see someone being lukewarm as a heart issue.


Besides, that passage is talking about the church in Laodicea specifically. It's not talking about the Church in general.
 
T

Tandemtruths

Guest
#20
#20
I don't make a habit of touching people, so I couldn't tell you what temperature they are.
 
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