Pastor’s Corner: “Goldilocks Christians”
Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV) – 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth.
Shortly after Scott Hamilton Olympic skater, won his Gold medal he said, “Someone asked me why I was looking at the medal so intently. What I was doing was looking at 16 years of my life.” Scott Hamilton had been committed to achieving this Gold medal for 16 years. There was nothing half-hearted or momentary about it.
In the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, Goldilocks was hungry and found three bowls of porridge. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl and said: “This porridge is too hot!” She tasted the porridge from the second bowl and complained “This porridge is too cold,” So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge. “Ahhh, this porridge is just right,” she said happily, and she ate it all up. According to Goldilocks, being lukewarm is just right. But what is good for porridge isn’t good for our spiritual lives.
In Revelation 3, Jesus spoke of lukewarm individuals. Jesus tells us that “because you are lukewarm … I am about to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth!” It’s interesting that Jesus said He would prefer either hot or cold. You would think He would have said, “I would rather you be hot. But if lukewarm is all I can get, it’s better than nothing.” You would think that lukewarm would be more acceptable to Him because it is somewhat close to hot. But Jesus was saying, “I don’t want lukewarm. I don’t want half-hearted commitments. I want you to decide. I want you in or I would rather you were out.”
When we are half-hearted in our commitment, we are always put God to the test to see how little we need to do. A half-hearted Christian wants to live with God and in the world, and so they will want to know how far they can push the limit before tipping over to one side or the other. That would be like Scott Hamilton wondering how little he has to train to get an Olympic medal.
Lukewarm and Lovin’ It! How can we know if we are lukewarm? Maybe we don’t cuss much. We don’t sleep around. We go to church most Sundays. We must be a Christian. We say that Jesus died for our sins. We sing the lyrics on the screen. We pray before meals. We give God props for our athletic achievements. We must be a Christian. Sure, God isn’t our all in all. Sure, we never read His word. Sure, we don’t pray very much. Sure, we secretly love sin. Sure, holiness seemed dreadfully boring. Sure, we rarely own Jesus in public or spend time with Him in private. But He understands. We are only human after all, no one is perfect. Does this make you uncomfortable to talk about? Does it hit a little too close to home?
Comparing our faith with others around us (including non-Christians) is a great way to stay lukewarm. The downward glance: we can look down on those who are “lesser” Christians to confirm our complacency. Our assurance of salvation can largely come from the fact that we are outwardly better than many of the other goats who claimed to be sheep. We pray like the Pharisee: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, fornicators, liars, adulterers — I wouldn’t know I was a Christian without them. When a duck compares himself with other ducks, he crowns himself a swan. The upward glance: When we come across real believers, we feel moments of deep conviction. But to stay lukewarm, we conclude that these were simply Christian all-stars. They are A+ Christians, we are the C/C- Christian — but both were passing. And once we establish the superhero Christian category, we search for reasons to put believers who made me uncomfortable into it. Oh, he wants to be a pastor! Oh, they were missionaries for several years. Oh, they grew up in a Christian home all their lives.
Where we don’t glance: The Bible. When we are lukewarm, God’s book is collecting dust in living room, unopened. In God’s Word we read that if we are lackadaisical about treasuring Christ, about repenting of sin, and refused to surrender in joyful submission, Jesus would spit (vomit) us out of his mouth (Revelation 3:15–16).
But the Bible also has Great News for the Lukewarm! While we were worse than lukewarm, the King of kings died for us (Romans 5:8). Although our sin and apathy has earned us death, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23). We also read that Jesus didn’t come for those who are well, but His compassion and grace are for those who are sick in their sin (Luke 5:31) and that the Lord is near to anyone who would return to him for pardon. Jesus offers to the most vile and lukewarm sinner absolute pardon and pleasure beyond what he could dare to hope (Isaiah 55:6–9). If you are lukewarm and reading this, there is great news for you: There is still time! Repent! Believe! Rejoice! Live!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton