Jogging on the treadmill has to be one of the most boring ways to burn calories but if I have the choice of jogging indoors in a comfortably heated room compared to jogging outdoors through snow and ice in 20 degree windy weather, I’ll take the treadmill. Sometimes I watch the TV in the exercise room or listen to music on my ipod. Today I thought I would put a podcast on and it really helped. Now if I could just have something fun to look at while I jog other than the electrical outlet straight ahead of me on the wall.
One of my new favorite “web pastors” is Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv. I’m in the midst of the series called “Practical Atheist” – about when we claim to believe in God but we live as if He doesn’t exist. The message I heard today was about when Jesus spoke to a church from Laodicea (in the book of Revelation). He said this to them, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Rev. 3:15-16 The Greek word used in that last phrase is “emeo” which means to spew, spit or vomit. When we say we believe but live as if we don’t, it makes Jesus want to throw us up. That’s pretty graphic!
According to Craig (and author Francis Chan) Lukewarm Christians:
- Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
- Rarely share their faith in Christ.
- Do just whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.
- Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven…stuff, image, money, etc.
- Gauge their morality by comparing to others.
- Want to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their ways.
- Only turn to God when they’re in a bind.
- Give whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living. Studies show that Non-Christians are actually more generous than most Christians.
- Are not much different from the rest of the world….same morals, entertained by the same things…
- Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who He is.
WOW. That is a tough list. Tough message. The truth truly does hurt sometimes but how absolutely vital it is! Have I become a full-time mom, wife, worker, friend and a part-time Christian? It can happen so easily. I’m backwards much of the time.
Why are we like this? How do we become lukewarm? Many of us had emotional conversion moments when we really felt cleansed of our sin, when we first gave our hearts to Jesus. What makes the difference between someone who has lost that fire and become lukewarm and someone who is still burning with God’s passion and love in their heart? One reason is that it’s so “easy” to believe in God here in our country. There is no price to pay, no sacrifice compared to believers in countries where it’s against the law to profess Jesus as their Savior, where they may lose their jobs, families or lives for remaining faithful to Christ.
If we read on in Revelation, Jesus offers, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (v. 20) He was saying that to the “believers” in Laodicea – it sounds like he’s not in yet. They couldn’t really follow and live for Jesus because they didn’t know Him, because they hadn’t let him come in. Think if someone had invited you over for dinner, someone who wanted to get to know you better, but once you arrived they stood in the open door, not allowing you to step inside. Awkward to say the least. It reminds me of how I behave when someone from Jehovah’s Witnesses comes to my house. I don’t want them to come in. I’ll listen to them at the door while they stay outside and then politely tell them I’m not interested. Sometimes we’ve even ignored their knocking on the door, pretending to not be at home. I know, that’s kind of pathetic isn’t it?
Jesus said he’s knocking. He’s ready and willing to come in and let us know Him, but we have to open the door and let him in. We’re not just talking about letting him stick his foot in the door. He needs to come all the way in. Close the door behind Him. Sit down with Him. Engage in conversation. Listen to Him. There is no in between, no halfway, no little bit of Jesus – either you ask Him all the way in or you leave him outside on the porch.
Come in, Jesus, please.
To watch Craig’s message, click here.
Along the Narrow Path 
I would urge you to look at this from another perspective. I agree with Pastor Groeschel’s proposal that most Christians (and I would hypothesize, most people of faith, period) live largely atheistic lives. They espouse a belief in God but then live their lives as if he doesn’t exist. I will depart from Pastor Groeschel at this point, however. I believe that this is a good thing. I believe that this is the human brain rebelling against that which it knows, rationally, can not exist. The greatest power possessed by human beings is the power to reason. That power can not–in most people–be entirely suppressed. So, most people reach a compromise with that part of their brain which can’t be silenced. They agree to ignore the inconsistency between their irrational religious beliefs and the methods by which a person should live their life. It is self-deception bred from a fear to abandon the God myth and the closely-held indoctrination of one’s childhood and culture. People know from their rational observations of the world that:
It is foolish to crave acceptance from a God who we’ve never seen nor heard from.
Sharing one’s faith in Christ is uncomfortable for both people involved in the exchange because it is an admission on one’s part that he or she believes in something that they know, deep down, is false and it forces the recipient to face that same self-deception.
It would be unwise to think about a life in heaven or hell to the detriment of life on earth because only life on earth is known to exist.
The penalties of sin are unreasonable and arbitrary–based on rules that are not only contrary to human nature but inconsistent within themselves.
They only turn to God when they’re in a bind because it a desperate appeal–a “hail mary”, if you will, when all reasonable courses of action have been exhausted–and desperation rarely breeds truth or logic.
It would be foolish to give any more to the church than what one can comfortably afford because maintaining the self-deceptive belief in God is simply not worth any more than that.
Etc. etc. etc…Each point can be taken and examined through the eyes of a person who believes because they believe they should–not because they actually think the belief is true. Why the internal fight? Your mind (or the minds of those who are being highlighted in Pastor Groeschel’s sermon) is telling you how to live. It is telling you to focus on the here and now, the rational, the logical, the true. It is telling you to abandon superstitious beliefs and mystical obsessions. You’re almost there. I don’t think it is Jesus who is knocking at your door, I think it is rationality–and you’re right that you should open up and let it in.
I’m not skilled in arguments (as you’ll probably see by reading my response) 🙂 but I will say that you are presenting yours as if it is a proven fact there is no God and that what I believe as a follower of Jesus is a lie, is false. That is your opinion/belief/theory and I respect what you believe and think. I don’t claim to have all the answers, for sure. Truly this issue is wide and there are many viewpoints. I believe we should use our minds and think. I also believe we have a spiritual side – a soul – so I believe there’s more to life than just the earthly, temporary stuff around us. Sacrificing for God has not lessened the quality of my life. I find purpose in my relationship with Him and in living following the teachings of the Bible. It’s true that part of my faith is based on experience and you just have to take my word for it when I share that. I probably can’t convince you of what I’ve experienced. I’ve experienced love, peace in the midst of awful circumstances, provision for me and my family when things seemed dire, a freedom and forgiveness from mistakes along the way, a real enjoyment of life. I don’t think there is anything wrong or foolish in hoping for something we haven’t seen with our own eyes or that is not “known” right now. I’m not living in denial of reality around me, I just have faith that there is more, that there’s a God who created me and everything I see, that He loves, that He is good. I think the internal fight happens in everyone – we’re seeking purpose and meaning in life. We want to understand. Wewant to know where we came from and if there’s more than just a few years on this planet and then death. I’m searching and trying to find answers as I go along, too.
I may not be giving the best explanation of where I stand, but if you read through other posts here you’ll see my heart. I appreciate your comment and the fact that you took the time to read what I shared.