Dear Daisy,
Can you help me understand something please? I was raised going to church, asked Jesus into my heart when I was 5 and got baptized. I’ve been in church pretty much every time the doors are open. I’m happy to volunteer and serve wherever needed, I attend small groups, I lead small groups, I tithe, and give to the needy when I can. I am not good at reading my Bible or memorizing scripture, but I read it when I can, even if it’s for five minutes a day. My pastor says if I read the one year Bible plan the church provides everyday, that is better than nothing. Now I’m starting to hear about “lukewarm” Christians and how they won’t go to Heaven. What does that mean exactly? I want to make sure I’m not one of those. Signed ~ what is a lukewarm Christian?
Dear what is a lukewarm Christian,
Thanks for writing in. This is a very important question and a title we do not want to wear. Let’s break this down for you and get you some scripture to make sure you are one of the “hot” Christians.
Your choices: Hot, cold, or lukewarm?
All of us have choices because God does not force us to love and follow Him. You have free will to choose how you want to live life. However, it’s important to note that only one path leads to eternal life, peace, and joy. The other two lead down a very destructive, hopeless, lonely life that end in a dark hot place for eternity. Let’s break down your choices so you can make a wise , informed decision.
Your three choices:
- Hot = On fire for God – wholeheartedly following Him – ALL IN
- Cold = Turn your back on God and do life without Him
- Lukewarm = Doing some of both. You call yourself a Christian. You invited Him into your heart, but you don’t want to leave your old life behind. You keep the same habits, same friends, same sins. But you go to church on Sunday and do all the things Christians are expected to do, while continuing to live in sin.
According to scripture there is only a remnant of “Christians” that are wholeheartedly following Jesus in all ways, on fire for Him, in love with Him, and spreading His love and truth to anyone who will listen. I have parentheses around Christian because its definition has changed. In the beginning, during Jesus’ on-earth ministry, that word described those who wholeheartedly believed and followed Jesus. Over time that definition has changed and it’s merely a denomination title. Just stating facts here. There are many people who call themselves Christians now that do not follow Jesus wholeheartedly; rather they go through the motions of what a “good Christian” is supposed to do. These “new age” Christians do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They know of Him, they may have invited Him into their heart, but they did not turn from their life of sin. They are still striving for success and money while more worried about what others think of them than what Jesus thinks of them. These ones look for their identity in how others view them and their successes and accumulation of things, and trips traveled, than in who Jesus says they are. These new age Christians believe they are going to Heaven merely because they asked Jesus into their heart. Again, I’m stating facts here.
Yes, scripture says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. But that’s not all it says. You must follow Jesus wholeheartedly in all ways. Scripture says that even the devil believes. Believing is just the first step. The lukewarm Christians are literally playing with fire. They want to go to Heaven when they die, but they want to live life without Jesus interfering unless they call on Him for help.
We are warned in scripture that this very thing would happen in the “last days;”
and it is happening now.
“3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen
to sound and wholesome teaching.
They will follow their own desires
and will look for teachers
who will tell them whatever
their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth
and chase after myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“24 Wherefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,
to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,
and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
Romans 1:24-25
“28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind,
to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,
disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things are worthy of death,
not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Romans 1:28-32
(Read Romans 1:18-32)
Look! This is happening all around you.
What does God say about the lukewarm?
Read this passage very slowly and ask the Holy Spirit to show you truth here.
God says,
“15 I know all the things you do,
that you are neither hot nor cold.
I wish that you were one or the other!
16 But since you are like lukewarm water,
neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth!
17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’
And you don’t realize
that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—
gold that has been purified by fire.
Then you will be rich.
Also buy white garments from me
so you will not be shamed by your nakedness,
and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
19 I correct and discipline everyone I love.
So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20 “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.
21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne,
just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit
and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Revelation 3:15-22
There’s no wiggle room here. You can’t mock or trick God; He knows your heart. You can’t be half-way with Him; it’s all or nothing with Him. He knows where your heart is so there is no point in trying to pretend you are all in. Pretending to be a wholehearted follower of Jesus is considered lukewarm in His eyes and He will spit you out! But in the same breath, He pleads for us and says that He is standing at the door of our heart knocking for us to allow Him to move in. Why? Because our Creator loves us!
If you are pretending to be a follower of Jesus, stop, drop, and pray. Repent and lay your life down at His feet and turn from your old life. That means letting go of your old friends, habits, routines, etc. Letting go of anything that wants to come between you and Jesus.
Let’s break that down further…
What does lukewarm look like to God?
Are you lukewarm according to God’s definition? Here’s a few ways to know if you are: (this list is not exhaustive but gives you a general idea.)
- You asked Jesus into your heart at some point in your life but you kept living in sin (things that you wouldn’t do if Jesus was sitting next to you). Nothing changed except you added in some new things
- You go to church most times
- You do all the Christianeze things that you were taught to do out of “habit” or peer pressure, not out of relationship with Jesus
- You do them because you have always done them
- Because you were told that is what you have to do to get to Heaven
- You dread the Christianeze process
- You fight on the way to church and then try to be the first one out to go back to your worldly routine
- You force yourself to do a 5-minute one year bible study, almost everyday out of guilt, not joy
- You only read parts of the New Testament, refusing to read the entire Bible, except for Proverbs and Psalms, because you were taught thats all you needed to read.
- You’re to “busy” to study the Bible and believe that God knows you would if you could and doesn’t care
- You believe that going to church on Sunday, tithing, and serving is good enough to get you into Heaven
- You want to be entertained at church or you’re not going
- You want the preacher to “tickle your ears” telling you what you want to hear, making you laugh, and not addressing sin
- You participate in Halloween (a satanic very demonic day – [do your research]) even at church, and think it’s ok with God.
- You begin to judge others sin while you hide your own
- You allow other things (idols) to get your focus, ie., yoga, crystals, meditation, love of money, success, fame, power, perishable things, obsession of sports, social media, dark things – things you keep hidden, etc.
- You ignore God’s Holy Bible Prophecy
- You make fun and mock those who do believe God’s prophecy
- You refuse to watch for the signs God sends, and mock those who believe
- You choose to believe the lies, because the truth is uncomfortable, or hurts
- You have become desensitized to sin
- Where good is evil and evil is now good
- You make excuses for sin
- You rationalize sin saying that God won’t mind
- You believe your sin is no big deal, there are people worse than you
- You asked Jesus into your heart but continue to live life on your terms, not God’s.
- Still living a life of sin, that you don’t think is “bad” sin
- You believe “white” lies are ok with God
- You want to fit in and be accepted by others more than you want to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and be accepted by Him
- You don’t want to be persecuted for your faith, so you don’t share it.
- You think your relationship with Jesus is “private” and no one should dare ask you about it
- You place your hope in a person, not Jesus
- You are more concerned about what is going on in this world than you are in what Jesus wants you to do
- You conform to the ways of the world to fit in and be accepted
- You gossip
- You literally fight with others over what you believe is right as if that is what God wants you to do
- You allow others to bring their sin into your life
Hopefully this list helps give you a better understanding of what is lukewarm in the eyes of God. If that is you, stop, drop, and pray. Jesus has already died for your sins. He forgives you, forgive yourself. Turn from your old life and follow Him wholeheartedly.
Help from John (a wholehearted follower of Jesus)
He walked with Jesus during His ministry. He loved and learned from Jesus and was highly favored for his obedience and dedication to Jesus. Hear his words to encourage you.
“1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.
He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—
and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.
4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments,
that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.
5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him.
That is how we know we are living in him.
6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:1-6
You can’t get more clear than that. Plain and simple instructions – what you need to do.
Then John goes on to warn us,
“26 I am writing these things to warn you
about those who want to lead you astray.
27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you,
so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true.
For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know,
and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie.
So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
1 John 2:26-27
This is a passage that is not taught in any church. Why? Because here we are told that the Holy Spirit is our teacher and we don’t need anyone else to teach us. If you want to get the truth firsthand, allow the Holy Spirit to teach you all things. He is waiting for you to ask Him.
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and shew thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.”
Jeremiah 33:3
Jesus said,
“15 If you love me, obey my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,
who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.
But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
John 14:15-17
The Holy Spirit is our gift from Jesus after He ascended into Heaven. Why would anyone not want this special living gift that cares for us and teaches us?
Heart check time
Jesus is coming back soon to get His Bride. Let’s make sure your heart is right with Him. Don’t complicate the process for salvation. Keep it simple. Even if you have prayed this before, rededicate your life today and go “all in” with Him. It’s time for a deeper relationship with your Creator, Adonai.
Do the ABC’s and repent today.
- A: Admit that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)
- B: Believe in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and that He died for your sins and rose from the dead for you. (John 3:16-18, 1Corinthians 15:1-4)
- C: Call on Jesus and repent of your sins and turn back to Him and ask Jesus to show you the way. (Romans 10:9-13, John 14:6)
May God bless you and keep you.
“Put everything to the test.
Hold on to what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
In closing,
Always ask Jesus what you should do in every situation. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. If it’s not okay with Him, He will check your spirit and you will have an uneasy feeling and doubt about going forward. Always follow Jesus; NOT your heart; our hearts are fickle and can’t be trusted. Listen to the Holy Spirit; He is trying to protect you. You have a choice to obey or ignore. Choose to obey and stay under His protection.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;
who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.“
Proverbs 3:5
“When you know you grow!”
Take note:
“I am not your teacher, the Holy Spirit is.
I’m just the messenger leading you back to Jesus and His truth.”
Daisy Hawkins ~ 1John 2:27, Jeremiah 33:3