Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:14-22
Isn't that crazy? A lukewarm Christian - the idea of it is absurd.
It is crazy because who starts off their Christian walk like that?
Who, in giving their life to Christ says, "Lord, take half of me! For the rest of my life I will half-heartedly serve you."
Normal people don't say things on their wedding day like, "This will probably last a year or two." or "You know in 20 years I'll be leaving you for someone younger and better looking right?"
Remember those commercials in which all of the children would say what they wanted to be when they grew up? The announcer comes in at the end and says, "No one ever says, 'I want to be a junkie when I grow up.'" Because when we are young we dream of being astronauts and firefighters and ballerinas.
YET IT HAPPENS: innocent kids turn into junkies; starry eyed lovers get ugly, messy divorces and fully devoted followers of Christ lose their first loves and get lukewarm.
(think of all of the directives we read from Paul, Peter, James and the Hebrew writer about remembering the gospel that was preached to you and how things were when you first believed)
It is sad, but it is true.
Frances Chan, in his book Crazy Love writes out his description of a modern day lukewarm Christian (at this point I read an excerpt from that book)
Chan would then suggest that as the lukewarm Laodocians would be spit out of Jesus' mouth, and if they would no longer be IN CHRIST, can we really call them Christians at all? The same warning should be heeded by us.
Lukewarm = Fitting in. Something can be cold or hot, but when it sits at room temperature it will eventually conform to its surroundings.
But fitting in is often what we Christians strive for!
We want a Christianity that is just between me and God. Sometimes we will let others in, but they have to fit a criteria (they must be safe). So we'll share our faith with some friends and some family but they must be Christians as well OR agree to disagree (I'm OK, you're OK - so let's be friends and never talk about religion). Sometimes we will let the church in too - but only if they don't ask for too much of our time or money. Actually, in this brand of Christianity, there is not too much room for God either - not the One True God at least. We prefer to replace Him with the god that serves us (we used to call these idols).
Its kind of like driving. We often get sucked into going with the flow of traffic - even if the flow is breaking the law. We travel down the road and go with the flow. And anything that disrupts the flow - we don't like. If I get cut off... if the person in front of me is too slow... if the person behind me is going too fast... if the speed limit changes... if I see a speed limit sign...that also says how fast I am going... if I see a police car.
In that situation, I am more concerned about my comfort and desires than with what is right.
SO, when Jesus says that He wants us to be known by all men - that disrupts my lukewarm, fit-in, traffic flow style of Christianity.
2 Scriptures: John 13:35 & John 15:8. Jesus gives His disciples two signs by which the world will know who they are. Love one another and bear fruit that glorifies God.
Usually we read these and do not disagree with the command aspect of these verses. We know that this is how we should be as God's children: loving and fruit bearing.
So why do we fall short? Why do we fail?
Its not the command, its the purpose of what Jesus is saying and the results.
"Everyone will know that you are my disciples"
that means we'll be different. We won't fit in. We will stand out. We won't be going with the flow, we'll be disrupting it. It means being HOT. The light in the darkness.
By the way Jesus says that light will be hated by darkness (John 3:19-21) and in John 15:18-25 tells His disciples that they will be both hated and persecuted because of Jesus' name.
WAIT? How is that love? It doesn't make sense. Why would I want to stand out if I will be hated for it and persecuted because of it?
If I knew that my wife and son would be hated and persecuted for knowing me and following me, I would release them. I would tell them it was OK to deny or disown me. I would know they didn't really mean it and I would want them to be safe. You would understand wouldn't you? If it was disown you or get killed - you'd forgive me wouldn't you?
SO WHY IS JESUS SAYING we'll be hated and persecuted and just hours and days earlier says, "OK, here are two ways to let everyone know exactly who you are!"
How does that make sense?
Lets look at Exodus 4.
God is sending Moses because of Exodus 2:24-25 to deliver the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Part of the process is to go to God's people and tell them the plan. But Moses gets nervous and asks God for some help. In chapter 4 God gives Moses 3 signs to accompany him to convince the people that he and his message are from God. (Read or paraphrase Exodus 4:1-9)
(3 signs: staff to snake, back to staff; hand to leperous to whole again; Nile water to blood)
God used the signs to verify the message and the messenger.
Look also at Mark 16:17-20 and the signs that Jesus tells the Apostles that will accompany them as they preach the gospel to the world. Verse 20 says, "and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it."
See also John 20:30-31
PATTERN: God uses signs to confirm His Word!
He gave Moses signs, Jesus signs, the Apostles signs and HE GIVES US SIGNS!!!
WHY? They confirm His Word. The love we have for one another and the fruit we bear lets the world know that they message we have is from God!
2 Fundamental, foundational truths:
1) Christianity is NOT a social club - it is a MISSION, it is a WAR! It is not about you, it is about the cause, it is about Christ (example: if you left the church today, Christianity would march on, if Jesus left the church... you get my point). If we think getting together on Sunday and singing some songs and listening to a lesson is having arrived, we are sadly mistaken. We've been given signs because we've been given a mission and a message (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
2) God is a winner!!! When did God ever lose? When has He ever sent His people out ill-equipped? NEVER! Doesn't mean it'll all be easy or without danger. He tells us about the hate and the persecution. But He is on our side - We are on His side and He is a winner!
God is a winner and Jesus Christ was/is His greatest weapon
Following Christ is a movement. It is a mission. it is war
if we want to win:
it must be obvious which side we are on
no fence sitting
no lukewarmness
no going with the flow
we will stand out.. as Christ's men and women we will love one another deeply and we will bear fruit that glorifies God & these are the signs to the world that we are His & the message we bring is from Him.
Did you know that there is virtually no difference in the numbers when it comes to divorce, abuse, addiction, suicide, depression, etc. between Christians and non-Christians?
Are God's people losing? Or are there a lot of lukewarm people who've been spit out of Jesus and don't even realize it?
What will you do? Will you stand up and stand out and be different for God?
If you are still on the fence then you've missed the point. You've lost your first love - lukewarm and about to be spit out.
I URGE YOU - fan the flame and get hot. Quit the club and join the army of the Lord!
