Profile of the Lukewarm

I'm reading a book by Francis Chan titled, "Crazy Love." It's a book that talks about the radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love of God - and what our relationship with Him should look like. (It's great - and relatively short -, by the way if you're looking for something new to read!) The title of this post comes from chapter 4 - what it looks like to be lukewarm. We are told in Revelation 3:15-17:

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

God is not interested in fake people - he is not interested in those who ride the fence and in those who live in the middle. God is not interested in half-hearted Christianity. Most people exist in this place - in "American Christianity." Chan says, "the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That's for "radicals" who are "unbalanced" and who go "overboard." Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering." - that's halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed Christianity.

Lukewarm People: (Francis Chan)

• Attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do - so they go.
• 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.
• 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.
• Don't really want to be saved from their sin; they only want 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. (**WOW**)
• Are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for "extreme" Christians, not average ones.
• Rarely share their faith. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
• Gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren't as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street
• Say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
• love God, but they do not love God with all their heart, soul, and strength.
• Love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love is typically focused on those who love them in return. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached.
• 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.
• 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.
• are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.
• Do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them...."How far can I go before its considered a sin? How much do I have to give? How much time should I spend praying and reading my bible?"
• Are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.
• do not live by faith. They don't have to trust God and they don't need His help or depend on Him on a daily basis.
• probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they aren't very different from your typical unbeliever.

Chan says that we are all messed-up humans and no one is totally immune to the above behaviors - BUT there is a difference between a life that is characterized by these sorts of mentalities and habits and a life that is in the process of being radically transformed.

So... do you fit the lukewarm profile?! I am reminded time and time again that God is not interested in halfhearted Christianity...that it actually makes him SICK. He wants all of us. He wants my whole heart, my whole self, my everything. Not just the part of me I'm willing to give sometimes. He wants it all.