Lukewarm

MeridianFlight

MeridianFlight

New Member
I was listening to Air 1 and KJ-52 came on with a quick little segment. Though I'm not really a fan of rap, I usually find his segments (if they're even lengthy enough to be called that) enlightening. This segment's topic concerned being a lukewarm Christian. He talked about how some Christians believe they'll be OK if they live a little for Jesus and a little in the world, as "fence-straddlers." KJ-52 pointed out Revelation 3:16.

"So because you are lukewarm-niether hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16 NIV)

This is just something that really resonated with me. I'm constantly ensnared by the things of this world (videogames, anyone?), and don't feel like I'm living for Christ nearly enough.

Anyone else have issues with being lukewarm?
 
Yes, absolutely!

I think we have a natural tendency to say "How far can I go and still be OK?" The question should be, "How holy can I be?"

Think about it-- you're in high school, on a date, and your initial thoughts aren't "I need to keep myself pure for my spouse, and my date for her spouse", your initial thoughts are "How far can I go? Can I get up under her shirt and be in line with God's will? I know sex before marriage is wrong, but what about (act X)?" At least, when I was a baby Christian in HS, that's what my thoughts were!

In the business world, it never pays off to be perfect, only to seem perfect. That's why we have "best practices"-- what can we get away with to maximize profits and still seem perfect? A man-made standard can change, but God demands that we follow His standards. Making up our own standards is a trap we all fall into from time to time as believers.

The key thing to remember-- the first step to eliminating a problem is to recognize it. Thanks for bringing this up, IBP. :D
 
...?
Maybe this is an inside joke or specifically for Arkanjel, but all i saw was a lady bug crawling on my ceiling light...
 
[toj.cc]WildBillKickoff said:
Yes, absolutely!

I think we have a natural tendency to say "How far can I go and still be OK?" The question should be, "How holy can I be?"

Think about it-- you're in high school, on a date, and your initial thoughts aren't "I need to keep myself pure for my spouse, and my date for her spouse", your initial thoughts are "How far can I go? Can I get up under her shirt and be in line with God's will? I know sex before marriage is wrong, but what about (act X)?" At least, when I was a baby Christian in HS, that's what my thoughts were!

In the business world, it never pays off to be perfect, only to seem perfect. That's why we have "best practices"-- what can we get away with to maximize profits and still seem perfect? A man-made standard can change, but God demands that we follow His standards. Making up our own standards is a trap we all fall into from time to time as believers.

The key thing to remember-- the first step to eliminating a problem is to recognize it. Thanks for bringing this up, IBP. :D
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Hmm...IBP, not the first time I've been called that. Interesting.

Anyway, I completely agree. It's so easy though to try and reconcile what you'd like to do with what God wants you to do. It's amazing to me when I stop and think about some of the times I've sat there and tried to rationalize particpating in something that isn't exactly "profitable" in a way akin to this, "I'm decent Christian, I'd never do anything abhorrently evil, this may not be completely right, but I don't think God's going to mind, it's only something small..."

I don't think there's any partially dying to this world though.
 
Whatever DV!!!! To fear God is everything!!! We all do things that "might" be contrary to Gods will so he sent us Jesus!!! As for games or fun things it is ok to relax and have fun BUT we do have certain things that is expected of us. A christain cannot hide or fly just under the radar.(AKA Christainettes think they can)The desire to please is because of fear(upon knowing you have a soul) and to utilize that fear is to gain or absorb knowledge which in turn becomes wisdom Godly wisdom..
 
He's saying that you made his point by responding the way you did, and so you obviously missed what he was trying to say.

To be blunt, he's right.

The point was that becoming a Christian solely for "fire insurance" ultimately leads to becoming a lukewarm Christian.
 
[toj.cc]WildBillKickoff said:
He's saying that you made his point by responding the way you did, and so you obviously missed what he was trying to say.

To be blunt, he's right.
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Thanks for clearing that up. His cryptic reply is what was confusing me.

[toj.cc]WildBillKickoff said:
The point was that becoming a Christian solely for "fire insurance" ultimately leads to becoming a lukewarm Christian.
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I would have to agree and disagree with you here. Firstly yeah most of those who do it for the "fire insurance" probably will continue on to be lukewarm, afterall look at our nation today. How many of these lukewarm folks are willing to give up everything they have to follow God? "Nah, Ill get to God later, im too busy enjoying my new SUV and draggin my kid to soccer practice. I have to be seen in my new status symbol driving around town." Sorry I live in the metro Atlanta area and this is about 98% of the people sitting in traffic around me with the fish symbols on there vehicle. However I would think that there are those elect few who actually say,"Hey this God is pretty cool, what else can I do to get to know Him better?" They jump the fence to be safe , then notice that the grass is truely greener on the other side. They dont sit at the edge and try and stick there head back between the fence posts eating the grass they just left. Or as one of my favorite christian music artists from LONG ago said,"So you wanna go back to Egypt?"
 
Arkanjel said:
Thanks for clearing that up. His cryptic reply is what was confusing me.
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Sorry, me reply was horribly weighed down by sarcasm. Kudos to WildBill for figuring it out!

BTW, nice new avatar!

I would have to agree and disagree with you here. Firstly yeah most of those who do it for the "fire insurance" probably will continue on to be lukewarm, afterall look at our nation today. How many of these lukewarm folks are willing to give up everything they have to follow God? "Nah, Ill get to God later, im too busy enjoying my new SUV and draggin my kid to soccer practice. I have to be seen in my new status symbol driving around town." Sorry I live in the metro Atlanta area and this is about 98% of the people sitting in traffic around me with the fish symbols on there vehicle. However I would think that there are those elect few who actually say,"Hey this God is pretty cool, what else can I do to get to know Him better?" They jump the fence to be safe , then notice that the grass is truely greener on the other side. They dont sit at the edge and try and stick there head back between the fence posts eating the grass they just left. Or as one of my favorite christian music artists from LONG ago said,"So you wanna go back to Egypt?"
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Now you got it!
 
IceBladePOD said:
Hmm...IBP, not the first time I've been called that. Interesting.
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Are you implying that I might be someone you know?

Let me assure you, WBK is the only moniker I've used online since 1995, when I first signed on to Yahoo and took that as my e-mail addy. I am no "long lost poster" that you may have known. :)
 
[toj.cc]WildBillKickoff said:
Are you implying that I might be someone you know?

Let me assure you, WBK is the only moniker I've used online since 1995, when I first signed on to Yahoo and took that as my e-mail addy. I am no "long lost poster" that you may have known. :)
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No, no, I just thought it was odd. It's usually "Ice" or "Blade" or something. I was not trying to insinuate anything...really.
 
Hmm...do you think some Christians live "lukewarm" in an attempt to hedge their bets? They believe in Jesus Christ, believe his is the Savior, and believe in Salvation, but just in case they could be wrong, they're going to have a little "fun"?
 
This is just something that really resonated with me. I'm constantly ensnared by the things of this world (videogames, anyone?), and don't feel like I'm living for Christ nearly enough.
Click to expand...

I think if you realize that you are having issues of lukewarmness and do nothing about it, you are in real trouble. If you do something about it, then how can you be lukewarm?
 
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