Profile of the lukewarm:
1) Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly either because it’s expected of them or because they like the people there. It’s what “good Christians” do.
2) Lukewarm people give money and time to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it’s easy and safe to give, they do so.
3) Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right in conflict. They want to fit in both inside the church and outside of it. They care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their heart.
4) Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want to be saved from the penalty for their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and are not truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them.
5) Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. These people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all of his followers.
6) 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.
7) Lukewarm people love God, but they don’t love him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much but that sort of devotion is only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.
8 ) Lukewarm people want pastors that will point out to them their gifts, but not pastors who will point out to them their sin.
9) Lukewarm people are continually concerned with safety and comfort. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.
10) Lukewarm people ask
“How far can I go before it’s considered a sin?” instead of “How can I keep myself pure as a temple of God’s Spirit?”
“How much do I have to give?” instead of “How much can I give?”
How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?” instead of “I wish I didn’t have to go to work so I could sit here and be with God longer.”
Does it not seem that a lot of are churches are filled with the Lukewarm?
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You are very correct. This is a great post…full of truth. One of the points is especially true for SB’s, and even some SB Pastors. This one: “3) Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right in conflict. They want to fit in both inside the church and outside of it. They care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their heart.”
We see this one played out all the time.
David Worley, National Spokesperson
Southern Baptist Average Joe’s and Rednecks
volfan,
I think you are right… Number 3 seems to hit the SBC the hardest.
I would agree that are churches are filled with the lukewarm, and imagine that this scenario is not confined to the SBC. As I read the list, I was thinking that it’s the 80% or so of lukewarm membership that pays the bills and keeps the lights on. You may have noticed that about 20% of your congregation pretty much does everything in your church. The same people who sing in the choir also teach the Sunday School classes, lead small groups or teach youth on Wednesday nights, teach/work during VBS, go on the mission trips, and so forth. For the majority of church members/attenders, the work of the church is a spectator event.
Clarks last blog post..Our Call to Discipleship
Now let’s have a profile of the piping hot.
Matt or Dave,
Could you give an example of what you have in mind about point # 3? I’m not challenging your conclusions. I’m just not grasping.
Darby Livingstons last blog post..A Scalpel or a Sword: Surgery or Slaughter?
Darby,
First, I want to clarify. I am not saying the denomination as a whole has been one to only please people rather than God. On the issues of complementarianism and private prayer language we have taken a strong stand for the better. Our comp stance is certainly not a world-pleasing stance.
Most of you will learn that when I say SBC I usually mean the people who make up the convention, not the convention itself, make sense?
What I am saying is that our churches are FILLED with world pleasing christians. This, IMHO, is due to lack of biblical conviction. Our convention does lack a fervor for Scripture and this usually results in people-pleasing followers of Christ.