Lukewarm Spirituality
Revelation 3:16
Intro: Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Many people have heard those words from Jesus. They’re actually to His Church. Jesus, is at the door, waiting to come in and have dinner with you! He did it at Zacchaeus’ house. He did it at Matthew’s House. He did it at Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ house. He did at Simon the Pharisee’s house.
What a Thanksgiving this would be if we would just open the door and invite Jesus in for lunch with us! So, if you knew Jesus was coming for lunch, what would you serve? Specifically, what drinks would you have? Probably not tepid tea and coffee. Most of what we drink is best if it’s chilled or if it’s hot. In fact, if coffee’s been sitting around long enough that it’s just kind of medium, that’s reason enough, for most people, to throw it out. That’s what the 3:16 we’re looking at today deals with. It’s Jesus’ message to the Church in the city of Laodicea where He says,
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
The first 3 chapters of Revelation contain messages to the Christians in 7 different cities in what is modern Turkey - Asia Minor. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.
These are real places, a part of real history, and there were real people who were Christ-followers there during the 1st century AD.
Jesus had individual messages for the churches in each city - compliments, encouragements, and warnings for people who were encountering pressure under an increasingly harsh government. Once Christianity ceased to be viewed by Rome as a Jewish sect, Christians were pressured to worship the emperor. We’re looking only at #7 - Laodicea. There isn’t one compliment to the Church there. Instead, there’s a description by Jesus that resonates with a lot of people, because it seems to represent very well what Jesus might say to the Church of 2019, in cities just like Rockford, IL.
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Lukewarm. Not cold like a refreshing lemonade on a sweltering summer day. Not hot, like a hot chocolate on a chilly winter night. Just lukewarm.
Remember this scene from the movie “War Room”?
(Play video - 1:45)
Lukewarm. The water supply for Laodicea was piped from 2 sources - Hierapolis, 6 miles to the north, and Colossae, 10 miles to the southeast. Hierapolis had hot springs, and that water started out hot. The water of Colossae came from freshwater springs. It started out cool. And by the time they both reached Laodicea, they were just like water that you find sitting in a summer hose. On top of the temperature issues, it picked up a lot of minerals that also made it taste bad. Yech.
Jesus said there is something about the Christians of Laodicea that made them like a mouthful of grossness; the kind were you spew it out all over the place.
I’ve read a lot of ideas about what it means to say someone is “lukewarm” in their faith. Here’s what I think explains it best. The Christ followers of Laodicea had become a reflection of their culture, rather than being the shapers of their culture.
Look at v17 … Revelation 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
The citizens of Laodicea would have been people to say these very things about themselves. The city had become a banking center, proud of their wealth. The ruins of Laodicea show it had significant structures, including a huge stadium, even though it wasn’t a very big city. A major earthquake damaged it in the year 60 AD, and when the Roman government offered them disaster relief, the city refused it. They paid for it themselves.
Laodicea had a medical school, and it was known for, among other things, an eye medicine they produced.
There was also a significant textile production, made from the wool of a specific black sheep unique to the area. These were the boasts of Laodicea, but when it came to the real spiritual condition of the Christians there, everything that the city had confidence in outwardly was where the Christians were lacking spiritually. “…you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” They needed from the Lord what only the Lord could give them - true wealth, the white robe of righteousness, and healing for their eyes.
I am rich. I have prospered. I need nothing.
Peace and prosperity are a dangerous position to be in. When a city, a nation, is doing well, it’s easy for people to feel less dependent on God for anything. If you have everything you need, who needs God?
Every time I watch documentaries about our nation during the times we’ve been at war, one feature stands out to me: the times that the US has faced the greatest struggles have also been the times that we, as a nation, were seeking most openly and acknowledging our need for God’s help. Presidents and Congress called on people to pray and entreat the Lord’s help, and then to thank Him when He did. But when a nation prospers, when things are going great, beware.
God knew Israel would struggle with this. As they entered the promised land, as life became good for them, He told them,
Deuteronomy 8:10-14 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,
Archaeology indicates that the Christian people of Laodicea were placed in a struggle. They had enjoyed peace and prosperity, but the political climate changed under the Emperor Domitian. Would they compromise their faith and continue to enjoy what they had going on, or would they refuse to acknowledge the emperor as a god and face the consequences?
What we’re reading today indicates they were compromising. The Christ followers of Laodicea had become a reflection of their culture, rather than being the shapers of their culture. This wasn’t what Jesus called them to be.
You hear the warning in that, don’t you, Church?
In so many ways, the Church of our time struggles with this. We want to be relevant. We want the world to see that the truth of the gospel is as important and needed as it ever was, while at the same time demonstrating that we live in this world but are not of this world. Like Paul, we want to become all things to all men so that by all means we might reach some. But we don’t want to be conformed to the image of this world while we’re being transformed by the Spirit of God inside of us.
Let’s learn from Laodicea not to be lukewarm; not to compromise; not to become a reflection of our culture rather than the shapers of our culture. Look again at what Jesus warned and ask:
Am I arrogant?
Am I “self-sufficient” so that I don’t need God’s help?
Are my works showing that I’m lukewarm instead of hot or cold?
While I have usually read the warnings to Laodicea as Jesus’ way of saying “I’ve had it with you,” I want you to notice something with me about the message to this stumbling church.
Revelation 3:19-22
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
This Jesus Who sends this strong message to His Church is the One like the Son of Man in Rev 1 Who John tries to describe. His appearance escapes adequate words and it’s so awesome, so terrifying, that John says he fell down as if he was dead. Then, with gentleness and tenderness, the Lord places His right hand on John and says, “Fear not…”
Conclusion:
You want something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Be thankful that the Lord wants to hang around, like someone Who has arrived outside your front door to be welcomed in for dinner. For all of His strong words directed at Laodicea, this is how Jesus pictures Himself - right at the door, asking in.
You want something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines. If He didn’t care about the Christians of Laodicea, He wouldn’t have bothered sending them a message. And if He didn’t care about you, you wouldn’t be hearing one from Him today either.
Whenever we’re rebuked or disciplined, we have a choice to make. Does it just harden us, or do we allow it to make a change? That’s the choice Rev 3:16 puts in front of us today…
