What does Scripture mean with the term "Lukewarm"?

[GoldenEagle]

 

Excellent thoughts by everyone. Perhaps this passage is not so misunderstood as I thought.

May I ask where does the passage refer to those who are "cold" in a negative manner?

Cold water is of value. It satisfies thirst. It refreshes a person. Hot water is of value too. It has medicinal and purifying uses.

 

Food for thought.

God bless,

GE

I think people who are cold are outright denying Christ.

 

Perhaps sister. But why does the passage indicate that either hot OR cold was good and lukewarm was bad?

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

[GoldenEagle]

 

What does Scripture mean with the term "Lukewarm"?

Although you did not elucidate, I would tend to agree. It is a warning to the church (believers) who do not have an accurate apprehension of their own spiritual state.  My take on hot, lukewarm and cold is that it lists 3 states of relationship to God of which being lukewarm is the most dangerous of all - hence the warning of being spit out.  Being hot signifies an ongoing, vibrant and obedient relationship with God - the phrase "on fire for the Lord" comes to mind. At the opposite end, cold signifies a dead relationship with God - no life.  Being lukewarm lies between hot and cold so normally one would think that being lukewarm is better than being cold. However the warning is specifically against those who are lukewarm. Why is that so? I think the answer is that those who are cold know that they have hardened hearts and are in an estranged relationship with God.  They realize that in order to get back into a right-standing relationship with God, some soul searching and repentance may be required. On the other hand those who are lukewarm are double minded and have no accurate understanding of their spiritual temperature. They presume that they are saved when in fact they may no longer be saved. They are oblivious to the lurking danger of being spit out from the Lord's mouth. They are akin to the frog in the kettle who is able to adjust his body temperature to the gradually warming water in the kettle as it heats up.  The frog is able to adapt to this environment by regulating his core temperature but as he does so he eventually becomes boiled alive.  In the same way lukewarm Christians don't realize the danger they are in. Like the frog, they are able to accommodate and tolerate sin in their lives. Verse 17 indicates that they may be materially rich but spiritually bankrupt.  The danger of being lukewarm is that they need to repent but unlike those who are cold, they don't even realize their need for repentance. Verse 20 is addressed to believers who need to repent but this verse is often taken out of context and used to evangelize unbelievers.

 

I would probably tend to agree with you. This passage in context is written to the Church and not to unBelievers.

Lukewarm Believers would tend to think they're spiritually discerning, mature, and following all kind of self-imposed rules that somehow make them spiritual. Yet they're relying on their own strength instead of God's to save and sanctify them.

 

But where does the passage mention being cold in a negative manner? Is "being on fire for God" what the passage is talking about? Why do we assume hot is good and cold is bad?

God bless,

GE

[missmuffet]

 

 

Excellent thoughts by everyone. Perhaps this passage is not so misunderstood as I thought.

May I ask where does the passage refer to those who are "cold" in a negative manner?

Cold water is of value. It satisfies thirst. It refreshes a person. Hot water is of value too. It has medicinal and purifying uses.

 

Food for thought.

God bless,

GE

I think people who are cold are outright denying Christ.

 

Perhaps sister. But why does the passage indicate that either hot OR cold was good and lukewarm was bad?

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

 

The Lord would rather that people be either hot(spiritually on fire for Him) or cold (rejecting Him outright).

[GoldenEagle]

Revelation 3:14-21describes the lukewarm Christian as neither cold nor hot in relation to God.

Matthew7:16-17You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Truly the deeds of the Laodiceans in Revelation were not in keeping with true salvation because the deeds of the true believer will be "hot".

The lukewarm are those who claim to know God but live as though He doesn't exist.

 

I agree with you. But I'm curious where does the passage say that a true Believer will be hot? Where does the passage indicate that being cold is a bad thing?

 

Hot - would be those who became overcomers.

 

Lukewarm - must be the self-righteous.- saying I'm rich, but Jesus said they were poor

 

Cold - could be the weaker Christian yet still striving at that  point when this was written and not being lost.

 

I agree with you about being lukewarm... But where does the passage disparage those who are "cold"?

 

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

Here's my take...

 

I believe in this passage we are told what Jesus thinks of lukewarm Christians... And then we are told what a lukewarm Christian is: someone who thinks they see, someone who thinks they hear, someone who thinks they are clothed (right-eous), someone who thinks they are rich. What better description is there of someone who is zealously following all God's "principles" and "commands" in their own effort? They believe they "see" clearly God, what He wants, and what is the matter with the world. Further, they believe they "hear" the Bible and what it really means (laws, principles, commands), they believe they are "clothed" because they are right and right with God. They believe they are rich because they are zealously following all these rules. This I believe is a lukewarm Christian.

 

To me the cold Christian is the one who knows he is blind, deaf, naked, and poor and utterly dependent on Christ for everything - and the hot Christian is the one who finally realizes just how loved, accepted, rejoiced over, clothed, and rich he/she is in Christ. "Hot" in love, grace, kindness, gentleness, joyfulness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control if you will.

 

Gal. 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering {patience}, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

Why did Jesus give a new command to the Apostles and ultimately to His disciples? I think because it was counter intuitive and counter our nature.

 

John 13:34

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

 

 

 

I think people who are cold are outright denying Christ.

 

Perhaps sister. But why does the passage indicate that either hot OR cold was good and lukewarm was bad?

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

 

The Lord would rather that people be either hot(spiritually on fire for Him) or cold (rejecting Him outright).

 

 

I see. But does the passage disparage (Regard or represent as being of little worth. Synonyms are depreciate and belittle.) those who are cold? Where is there an indication that the cold ones are rejecting Christ outright?

 

See my previous post on my take on this passage and concept.

God bless,

GE

[nebula]

The church of Laodicea was built near a confluence of two rivers. One river came from the mountains and was cold. The other river came from a hot springs area and was hot. The cold mountain waters were good for refreshment. The hot water was used for healing baths. The joining of the rivers produced a lukewarm mix that was neither of these but instead grew unhealthy bacteria.

 

This provides the background for the contrast Jesus spoke of.

 

I have come to regard hot and cold to not mean "on fire for God" and "distant from God" but rather "ministering healing" and "ministering refreshment". Does it not make more sense that Jesus would appeal to the church to be one of these, rather than appealing He'd rather them turn away from Him and worship other gods? 

[rebbell]

I believe cold 'water' is a thirst quencher, but will soon thirst again, cold christians are seeking but have not totally committed their life to Jesus yet, however, they keep striving to understand more and yet are able to quench anothers thist but that is about all you can get out of them

I believe luke warm 'water' isn't much use at all. These are those that put on the face and profess to be but as soon as they open their mouth they are gossiping, bickbiting, two faced (double minded), high minded, jealous, ......all the fruits that are not the Holy Spirit. They are focused on self, not God.

I believe hot "water" has been in the fire, and now the fire is in you. This is one who brought forth gifts worthy of repentance. These are those that held nothing back. God has cleansed them, purged them, santified, justified, has gotten them dressed and ready for battle. God's word is fire; if the fire doesn't clean one up, it will burn you down.

God bless

[Willa]

As said, Ice tea is good, hot tea is good, luke warm tea is insipid. However this passage is used for believers and not churches, while in fact it is about churches. The thing that hit me was that Jesus is OUTSIDE of the church and asking to come in! So perhaps this is referring to a church that quenches the Holy Spirit, does not encourage repentance, no longer loves God's Word, but that thinks they have it all together because the numbers are increasing.. After all, they have soup kitchens, play bingo and bridge, go caroling at Christmas, have self help groups and day cares. There are quilting groups and golf groups, antique car groups and fellowship groups for any hobby. But they have left Christ at the door knocking to come in. They no longer have alter calls or invitations for prayer. They read books on how to grow a church instead of leaving that up to the Holy Spirit. They no longer pray about supporting missionaries or about the direction the church should take. They read books. People are invited to become members but are not invited to become Christians. In short, they have become a great social organization.

So perhaps a luke warm Christian is backslidden and without a relationship with Christ but doesn't even know it because they are active church attenders. They are busy in church but God is no longer at the center of their activities.

Matt. 24:12 speaks of the love of many will grow cold because lawlessness will abound. I have walked into many cold curches with cold, frowning, unfriendly Christians. They are most solomn. They ask people to leave if their hair is uncut or they aren't wearing a tie, or slacks or a dress or a hat. They give special recognition to those who have given the pastor the best gifts or have contributed the most money to the building fund so they name it after them. But I don't know why God would prefer an unloving church to one that luke warm. There is nothing refreshing about a cold Christian. And I don't know how they might be more unaware of their need than the luke warm one except that the luke warm one has filled their lives with fun activities and busyness. Ususally cold Christians are convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong. The cold church is more apt to be dying and might be more likely to remember how it was in the beginning. My best guess.

[GoldenEagle]

Again, where does the passage say that being cold is a bad thing? I think we super-impose our culture into this passage... for some reason making the cold a bad thing when there's no indication it was as such.

Here's a perspective I think explains where a lot of the misconception surrounding this passage comes from... Part 1...

 

 

http://www.ericpazdziora.com/the-myth-of-the-lukewarm-christian/

There’s this sermon I’ve heard a few dozen times. You’ve probably heard it too. It goes like this. Some Christians are really passionate and sold out for the Lord. They do great things. They live ri­ghteously. They don’t do anything that could be considered worldly. They only listen to Christian music. They have biblical family values. They’re on fire.

And others? Well, they’re “lukewarm Christians.” Sure, they say they believe, but they’re not that committed. They show up in church to warm the pews, but they still do worldly things. You should see the way they dress and those movies and music they listen to! If only they knew all the right things to do so they could be on fire like us. Jesus says, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16). That, strong children, is why you have to be on fire for the Lord. Let us pray.

Obviously, I can’t object to an exhortation to be more committed to the Lord, and I dislike “easy-believe-ism” as much as the next disillusioned evangelical does. But if you know about Spiritual Abuse, you recognize a few other all-too-familiar themes lurking in the subtext.

 

There’s a strong temptation to elitism there—you want to be better than all those “lukewarm” folks, don’t you? Legalism’s waiting to pounce, too; it blends in perfectly as long as you define “On fire” as “Doing our things” and “Worldly” as “Not.” All that’s left is for us to spin “I will spit you out of my mouth” as “You might be eternally lost if you don’t do our thing” and we’re practically in cult territory.

But it’s biblical, right? It even has a Bible verse in it, and you can find dozens of people interpreting that verse in exactly that way, pretty much that same sermon, even. Tweak the applications a bit and it’s good for weeks.

Well, there’s one tiny problem: That’s not what that Bible verse means. Actually, it means pretty much the opposite.