Knock Knock Series

Knock Knock

I don’t happen to be a coffee drinker but I have worked around a lot of people that are. I have noticed that many of them have a tendency of having several foam coffee cups on their desk, each with different levels of coffee. On occasion I have been around when the person picked up the cup and took a sip and made some kind of a yuck statement. It would be especially profound if they sampled a cup left over from early morning of before. The general response was that they spit the coffee back into the cup and moved it or threw it away.

The coffee in a mild way made them feel sick or as if it would make them sick.

According to our scripture this morning that is the response of Jesus Christ when speaking to John about this church in Laodicea.

The church in Laodicea makes Jesus sick, or grossed out.

It makes him ready to toss it out….

The scripture makes references to several known details about the city and the industry

In general, Laodicea was a very, very wealthy city, founded by Antiochus II and named after his wife Laodice.

The city was strategically located where 4 highways converged, thus it was highly commercial. Sort of like Atlanta is a major interconnection location for travelers and Trucks.

It was well known for its banking industry, its manufacture of black wool and a medical school that produced eye ointment.

The wealth in the city had been used to build theaters, a huge stadium, lavish public baths and fabulous shopping centers.

Sound familiar?

It, sounds like any typical American city.

This city was so wealthy that when an earthquake almost entirely destroyed it in 60 AD, its citizens refused help from Rome in rebuilding the city. They were self sufficient….not necessarily like Atlanta.

If you were a real estate agent at the this was one of the booming cities that you would want to work in. It was a great place to live, the land of opportunity.

That is why I feel this scripture is connected to this church. The basic similarities of situation. No persecution. A safe place. Financially ok or at least resources available.

--- This week we are going back to the central thought that some Christians all too often lean toward the Open Minded Atheist tendencies in other ways.

The point today is that some Christians don’t want to go overboard.

What we are considering is that middle of the road Christianity is a sign of trouble in the lives of many Christians.

-- Too many Christians say that they believe that God exist but live as if God does not exist.

-- The scripture identifies that Jesus is addressing church in Laodicea. From the Amen – the one that makes things so, from the witness and creator.

“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.”

We tend to like hot and cold things. We already talked about coffee. I have know people drink hot coffee and some like ice coffee.

Hot and ice tea both good. Room temperature tea not so much.

Hot and cold milk…room temp – not so much.

The Bible translation I read chooses the mildest interpretation …spit…for the readers. It actually gets much more graphic if you look into the exact word used.

That is a pretty direct indication of how Jesus feels about the church. He knows their deeds and He knows that they are neither hot to cold and It is not like Goldilocks. The is not telling them that they are just right.

The lukewarm intensity of the church causes a physical response in Jesus.

Lukewarm Christians make Jesus/God nauseous!!!

Christians making Jesus sick is an idea that makes me feel confused.

In a complex way that is an oxymoron….

Does everyone know what I mean? …..no don’t point at your spouse…..

Oxymoron is a set of words that are used together that mean opposite things.

Government efficiency, A fine mess, A little pregnant, Alone together, Christian evolutionist, Crash Landing, Serious fun, Wise fool, Lukewarm Christian

Lukewarm Christian….should not be an oxymoron because a Christians is to die to self and to live for Jesus Christ.

Being a Christians means living with a passion for people…A passion and love for God.

To be halfhearted to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on behalf of all mankind, Is insulting to God.

It makes God sick.

Unfortunately is seems that there has always been “Christians” that make God feel sick.

Maybe I need to describe how we can identify a lukewarm Christian:

A lukewarm Christian :