What is Lukewarm Christianity?
"The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." - Isaiah 29:13
Nothing which is lukewarm is all that pleasing. Whether its food or drink, a job, people or a partner-- a luke warm attitude does not necessarily tend to ignite a fire beneath those who are met with its air of non-chalance. Luke warmth doesn't inspire passion; it doesn't stir longing for something great, it only barely quenches thirst, it leaves one wanting more, and it falls short in satisfying the senses when hungry.
Imagine being so in love with someone, truly in love, to where you'd do anything for that other person. They make you feel incredible. You would go anywhere with them, and you desire to do life with them. Now imagine that you profess these deep emotions to this person- singing their praises, and their response in return, after you've confessed your deep and pure love for them, is something along the lines of: "thats so nice!" or "cool" or worse, "yeah, same."
How would you feel, if you were to pour out your love for another, whether a romantic prospect or partner, a friend, or a family member, and you were met with what feels like indifference?
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. - Matthew 7:21-23
Friend, there is much to be said about luke warmth when it comes to Christianity. There is even more which has already been said in scripture, about what our devotion, obedience, and love for Jesus ought to look like.
Lukewarm Christianity doesn't only deprive the spirit of truth and commitment to pure boundless love, it is fervently warned against in the word of God.
"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." - Revelation 3:15-16
The issue many of us Christians have is navigating a life with Jesus and what that must look like. With the ever-increasing demands of our world to conform, perform, and be acceptable to those who identify with the things of the world, we often forget that our true identity rests in Jesus Christ. Navigating a relationship with Jesus comes with both the pressure and tension our flesh feels in its desire to fit in, and attempting to meet its needs by indulging in the things of the world and culture.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:15-16
Say you have a friend who is Christian, claims Jesus as their Lord and savior, attends mass every Sunday, and even tells their non-Christian friends about their faith. However, what if that same friend likes to go out with their friends who aren't in the faith and drinks to excess with them, has a lifestyle which isn't evident of the works of Christ, sounds like the world, concerns themselves with things of the world such as gossip, lewdness, jealousy, constant dramatic situations, and is also not involved with their church's community.
Would that friend be an example of someone who produces good fruit? Would they be demonstrative of what it means to be Christian for those around them who aren't believers?
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:15-20
If this hypotheical friend is so like the world; in behavior, speech, and presentation, how could the world know that they have been set apart to be a child of the Kingdom?
"Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy." - Leviticus 20:7-8
As a Christian abiding in the word, cultivating your relationship with Jesus by pressing into Him, taking all matters to prayer, and looking for examples in scripture as to how to handle whatever life throws at you; having a friend who has succumbed to lukewarm Christianity could actually be a slippery slope which invariably leads you to sin. Associating with lukewarm Christians without discernment can lead to spiritual danger, and can influence you to move away from your walk with God.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14
"Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”- 1 Corinthians 15:33
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works." - 2 John 1:10-11
"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” - 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Having association with lukewarm Christians is tricky. On one hand, we are not called to save others from themselves, as only Jesus has the authority to change mans heart. However, as lukewarm Christians are also in the body of Christ, and as scripture clearly states, we do have a responsibility to 'call out and call higher'. We need to challenge lukewarm Christians to discern their choices, and plainly ask if those choices are in alignment with Gods will for them.
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." -Proverbs 22:3
Generally, lukewarm Christians are more concerned about what the world thinks about them than what God says about them. If this is the case in a situation you may be in, shake the dust off your feet, and leave it to God through prayer to change the heart of those you worry about.
Approaching a loved one- a friend, or even someone in your church family you notice straying from community and living unrighteously in heart posture- must be done in love, with permission from God to minister to them, and done with all humility.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” - Colossians 3:12
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:8-10
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2 ESV
Here are some ways to approach a loved one, who may be lukewarm in their faith:
1. Invite them to outings with others in your church community.
2. Ask them about what has been on their heart lately.
3. Ask about their friendships and relationships outside of church, and inquire if they notice a difference in themselves when out with either crowd. (Do this gently.)
4. Share about how your faith walk has been; be honest and vulnerable. Then, invite them to share about how their faith has been going for them, and what they wish they could change or improve about their relationship with Jesus.
5. Pray with them and for them.
In my practice, I help clients struggling with a lukewarm faith by aiding them to witness their targeted experiences objectively, and by observing the difference between having Jesus as an anchor and attachment figure, with having things of the world as an anchor or identity. One way is broad, but it is built on sand. The other way is narrow, but is built on a rock and leads to life. By using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy frameworks and Faith Therapy principles, clients are facilitated to identify the faith deficits in specific areas where they feel their needs aren't being met, and we challenge it with scripture, what we know is true about God, and how the world will ultimately fail every time to truly fulfill our needs.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." - Matthew 7:24-29
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14
Dear Christian, I know it can be confusing, hurtful, even abrasive to have friends who you feel you are not able to connect with fully, because you are at different places spiritually. Though you are on fire for the Lord, diligent in your fruit bearing works, and committed to your prayer life and church family- there is never a good reason to get your ego involved with those also in the body of Christ.
We are called to love one another; not to be boastful or prideful-- no matter where other Christians are in their faith walk. You may, however, offer support, continue being a pillar of faith shining the light of Jesus through your words and deeds; and by staying obedient to what the Word says about you.
Through these, you may find that no conversation is needed. All Christians have to do is live by example, and the world will notice that the gospel is living and truthful in what it says about who we are--which is "Fearfully and wonderfully made. -Psalm 139
There is nothing the world has that can give you the love, attention, care, safety, and salvation that will truly fill you the way believing in and receiving the blood of Jesus can. The more you abide in this truth, the more you'll find those in the world who are curious about you and your God-- those will be your kinds of people.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." - Matthew 5:8
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." - Psalm 51:10
Thalia Longchamp is a Christian Counselor and CBT Practitioner in New York, NY specializing in grounding any overwhelming emotional, psychological, and spiritual experiences for her clients. Her office is located in Manhattan.
