Are You in a 'lukewarm' state in your faith as a Christian?

Do you find yourself sometimes unsure about your faith, not too passionate but not completely indifferent either? What does being a lukewarm Christian mean to you, and have you ever wondered if you're in that season right now? Read the blog to find out.

We're all familiar with the notion of 'lukewarm water,' a term defined by Merriam-Webster as 'moderately warm' or, more tellingly, 'half-hearted.' Yet, in the realm of Christianity, the concept takes on a deeper significance. What does it truly mean to be a 'lukewarm Christian,' and does this notion find its roots in the Bible? The answer is unequivocally yes. In fact, this is one of the most condemned ways of being a Christian, an undeniably dangerous state to be in this modern day. If you relate to this, do not worry, you are not alone but Jesus has got your back. Join me in understanding the dangers and consequences of navigating the delicate balance between wholehearted commitment and wavering devotion.

Who is a 'lukewarm' Christian and why does God hate it so much?

In Revelation 3: 15-18, the Bible explicitly talks about the dangers of being in a 'lukewarm' state while embracing your faith.

 "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."

The grave tone in these verses paints a picture of how serious a crime it is to not be determined and convicted about your faith. Interestingly, a lukewarm state does not mean you are away from God or you are an atheist. Abandoning your faith like an atheist would automatically put you on the cold side of the analogy. Then what will be the warm side of the analogy? Those will be the committed Christians who are actively spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and fervently following the commandments of the Lord, our God. Those who are in the warm state are not half-hearted in the pursuit of God, and they are actively seeking to walk in the path that would lead them to eternal peace.

The concept of 'lukewarm' Christianity is self-explanatory at this point. Lukewarm Christians are most of the time regular church-goers (our mothers will kill us otherwise), we might be listening to sermons (we need motivation here and there), we read the Bible occasionally, we pray when things go bad and the list goes on. However, one thing lacking in such a form of Christianity is the absence of a true relationship with God. Lukewarm Christians love the idea of being moderately spiritual but are uncomfortable with the idea of committing to a discipline that is required for 'warm' or in other words passionate Christianity.

What makes us lukewarm Christians?

In Matthew 13: 3-8, Jesus Christ describes the plight of lukewarm Christians through the parable of seeds and soil. The seeds that fell on "stony places" and "among thorns" symbolize the heart of a lukewarm Christian. The idea is that when you listen to sermons, read the Bible, or pray, the Word of God does create an impact in your life, however, your lack of foundation in faith along with your worldly commitments choke the sprout of the seed so fast that you never commit to faith for a long time.

Jesus Christ himself provides the reason or solution to this problem of commitment. In Matthew 6: 24, God clearly states:

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money"

The binary of two masters here explains the conflict behind the dichotomy of lukewarm Christianity. Leading the life of a committed Christian is definitely not a cakewalk. That would require abstaining from many worldly pleasures that prevent you from walking the path of holiness that God has invited you into.

Starting from our uneasiness to proclaiming our faith to our affection for our current way of life, lukewarm Christians are on the fence about their commitment to Jesus Christ. Here is what 1 John 2:15-16 says about the love of the world:

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."

The two masters' binary is made clear again here. The love for God and the love of the world and everything it represents cannot coexist together. When you try to play it safe by being Christian for your namesake and at the same time indulging in worldly pleasures, you resort to lukewarm Christianity and I would like to remind you again of the verse we started the blog with - Revelation 3:15-18, God will spit us out from his mouth if we continue to stay in the rotting state of lukewarm Christianity.

How to escape from the state of lukewarm Christianity?

1. Try to reflect on your relationship with God. Acknowledge the state of your faith.

Take some time and think of your standing with your faith. Are you committed to your faith or are you uncomfortable with the idea of surrendering to your faith and the possible commitment to God's will for your life? Always remember you cannot be on the fence about your faith in today's world. It's all or nothing.

2. Do not be embarrassed to proclaim your faith.

Do not be hesitant to express your faith. God reminds us in 1 Samuel 2:30 that God will honor those who honor him and those who despise him will be disdained. Proclaiming and accepting your faith will be your first step out the pit of lukewarm Christianity.

3. Pray without ceasing.

Prayer is our weapon. It is very important to establish a routine of morning and night prayers to thank God for His love and mercy. Consistent prayer automatically brings you closer to God enabling you to build a relationship with Lord. God is waiting for you to take one tiny step toward him so that he can run towards you to embrace you.

4. Follow his commandments.

Most of us choose to stay in the comfortable state of lukewarm Christianity for the majority of our lives because of the 'comfort' it provides. It is a state where we can hold grudges against each other, we can hate others, and we can go on in our lives without ever having to repent or reflect on what God wants from us and how He wants us to live. To come out of a lukewarm state means to be aware of the two biggest commandments of the New Testament - Love God and love one another. If we cannot follow this rather simple-looking, however the most profound teaching of Jesus Christ, we cannot be his true followers.

5. There is no getting away without knowing the Word of God.

One of the most common dangers of lukewarm Christianity is the aversion to reading the Bible. Most of us think that praying is enough and reading the Bible is only for people who preach or teach about the word of God. That is the plotting of the devil to keep you in lukewarm Christianity forever. There is no shortcut to knowing the will of God except from His Word. From my own experience, dedicated time to reading the Bible is the way to grow closer to God and deepen our understanding of faith.

6. Cultivating a life away from worldly pleasures.

Be conscious of our actions and be careful not to prioritize the world before God. We need to redirect our focus to doing what God wants us to do instead of what the world lures us to. This year should be a year of conscious decisions to move closer to God. We cannot let what we see, and read on social media govern our lives. We cannot afford to remain in lukewarm nature anymore.

With the assurance that the Lord is our comforter and shield, we find strength to face the challenges. In the relentless conflict between our flesh and spirit, our willingness to stand firm becomes the defining element, and through this commitment, we draw closer to the transformative power of our faith.