1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly.
It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do,
so they go. Isaiah 29:13
2. 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? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke
21:1-4
3. 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. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew
23:5-7 4.
4: 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. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.
5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people
who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such
action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people
call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22,
James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31
6. 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. Matthew 10:32-33
7. Lukewarm people gauge their righteousness or
“goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel that
while they aren’t living up to God's standards, their own standard is
nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.
Luke 18:11-12, "The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast
twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is,
indeed, a part of their lives and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed
to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62
9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love
Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure
you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion
isn’t really demonstrated in their actions. Matthew 22:37-38
10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to
love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is
typically focused on those who love them in return, like family,
friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little
love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those
who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs,
or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is
highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings
attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14
11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but
there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and
energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25
12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much
more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on
today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation.
Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians
3:18-20
13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their
luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as
possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7
14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to
keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare
minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1
Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46
15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with
playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on
safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28
16. 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.
17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their
lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God
if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They
don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place.
They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they
have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily
basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in
good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if
they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21
18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less
than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from
your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives
with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke
14:34-35
