Lukewarm?

So a few weeks ago some ladies from my church and I come together every other Thursday and are going through the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This book has challenged us and I wanted to share some of the things said in a couple of these chapters.

Chapter 4 is on lukewarm...

So there is an incalculable, faultless, eternal God who loves the frail beings He made with a crazy kind of love. Even thought we could die at any moment and generally think our puny lives are pretty sweet compared to loving Him, He persists in loving us with unending, outrageous love. In the United States, numbers impress us. We gauge the success of an event by how many people attend or come forward. We measure churches by how many members they boast. We are wowed by big crowds. Jesus questioned the authenticity of this kind of record keeping, According to the account in Luke chapter 8, when a crowd started following Him, Jesus began speaking in parables--'so that" those who weren't genuinely listening wouldn't get it.When crowds gather today, speakers are extraconscious of communicating in a way that is accessible to everyone. Speakers don't use Jesus' tactic to eliminate people who are not sincere seekers. The fact is, He just wasn't interested in those who fake it.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained that the seed is the truth (the Word of God). When the seed is flung onto the path, it is heard but quickly stolen away. When the seed is tossed onto the rocks, no roots take hold; there is and appearance of depth and growth because of the good soil, but it is only surface level. When the seed is spread among the thorns, it is received but soon suffocated by life's worries, riches, and pleasures. But when the seed is sown in good soil, it grows, takes root, and produces fruit.

MY CAUTION TO YOU IS THIS: DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE ON GOOD SOIL.
I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.

Most of us have too much in our lives. As David Goetz writes, Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually.

A lot of things are good by themselves, cut all of it together keeps us from living healthy, fruitful lives for God.
I will say it again.. DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE ON GOOD SOIL.
Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live? Do you see evidence of God's kingdom in your life? Or are you choking it out slowly by spending too much time, energy, money, and thought on the things in this world?
Are you satisfied being "godly enough" to get yourself to heaven, or to look good in comparison to others? Or can you say with Paul that you "want to know Christ and the power of HIS resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his Death" (Phil 3:10 )

Listen to what Mr. Chan is saying about us lukewarm people.

Lukewarm People attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.

The Lord says These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hears are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. (Isa. 29:13)


Lukewarm People give money to charity and to the church...as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?

 King David replied to Araunah, No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing (1 Chron. 21:24)

 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, This poor widow has  put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" Luke 21:1-4)

Lukewarm People tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

Lukewarm People don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don't really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.

Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

Lukewarm People gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren't as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

Lukewarm People feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in  America. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a "Christian nation."

He goes on about Lukewarm People and pulls straight from the bible to back up just what he is saying.

NOW HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF? I pray you examine yourself to see if you really are HIS. Also read 1 John and test yourself.

Serving Leftovers to a Holy God is in Chapter 5

Mr. Chan adds.. "Because we don't usually have to depend on God for food, money to buy our next meal, or shelter, we don't feel needy. In fact, we generally think of ourselves as fairly independent and capable, even if we aren't rich, we are "doing just fine".

Which is more messed up--- that we have so much compared to everyone else,or that we don't think we are rich? That on any given day we might flippantly call ourselves "broke"or "poor"? We are neither of those things. We are rich. Filthy rich. The reality is that, whether we acknowledge our wealth or not, being rich is a serious disadvantage spiritually. As William Wilberforce once said "Prosperity hardens the heart".
It's easy to fill ourselves up with other things and then give God whatever is leftover. Hosea 13:6 says, "When I fed them, they were satisfied;when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me'. God gets a scrap or two only because we feel guilty for giving HIM nothing. A mumbled 3 minute prayer at the end of the day, when we are already half asleep. Two crumpled-up dollar bills thrown as an afterthought into the church 's fund for the poor. Fetch, God!
Let's stop calling it "a busy schedule or bills, or forgetfulness. It is called evil. God is holy. In heaven exists a Being who decides whether or not I take another breath. This holy God deserves excellence, the very best I have. "But something is better than nothing! some would protest. Really is it? Does anyone enjoy token praise? I sure don't. I'd rather you not say anything than compliment me out of obligation or guilt. Why would we think God is any different?

Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It must be central to everything we do and are.


There is so much in all this that speaks volumes to me. I will not post things to see how many comments I get or if there are any comments at all. My prayer is that in everything I say or live out that if only one "gets it" or will be drawn to HIM (since HE does the drawing and gives the increase) HE will be glorified.I pray HE continue to break me and mold me and that the very things that hurts HIM will hurt me too and that I love the things of HIM and from HIM. I just pray that if anyone stumbles across this blog they will find HIM.

Another favorite song of mine is Hosanna...Listen to the words


I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Yeeeah

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest [x2]

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

[Chorus]

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

[Chorus x2]

Hosanna in the highest