I've been re-reading books as of late and last night I was reading Francis Chan's book: Crazy Love, more specifically, the chapter which is called: 'Profile of the Lukewarm'. Of course, there's way too much information to share in one day, so I estimate that the next couple of blogs will contain 'Crazy Love' information.
So here's what you'll get: Francis Chan snippets for you to chew on. After his description he provides scripture, click on the scripture to be redirected to Biblegateway.com to read it-there will be no additions from me. Enjoy!
'Profile of the Lukewarm':
Lukewarm People attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe 'good Christians' do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13.
Lukewarm People 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. After all, God loves a 'cheerful giver,' right? Luke 21:1-4.
Lukewarm People 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) rather than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, and Matthew 23:5-7.
Lukewarm People don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only 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 life. John 10:10 and Romans 6:1-2.
Lukewarm People 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. Lukewarm People call 'radical' what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, and Matthew 21:28-31.
Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33
Lukewarm People 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. Luke 18:11-12.
In closing, I'd just like to say that our Christian journey to become more Christ-like is just that...a journey, a process of change, but we cannot and should not be so quick to give God the backseat when things get rough.
Hopefully, I'll have more for you this weekend. Until then, please meditate and pray on what Francis described...is that you? I think it's all of us because we all struggle, but if it is you, chew on God's Word in relationship to where you are currently at. There's always room to grow and if you buy the line about 'you can't teach old dogs new tricks'...then you've lost focus of what God can do.
2 comments:
WOW...forgot this blog and came back and no one still didnt write on here...hhmmm thats too bad because i think a lot of people need to read this one and step back and take a look at their walk and who they really are as a Christian. This really steps you back and makes you stop and think about where you are at. its a good blog to call you out on your thinking. i know it made me think about where im at and i am going to try and change what i can so im not so luke warm, that is definitly not where i want to be...thanks again for the wonderful thoughts! :)
the stuff about choosing what is popular over what is right reminded me of these verses.
grrawr the 'pull' of popularity and pleasing men and not God..(Luke 14:13-15)
and the stuff bout giving to the church, CS Lewis wrote about that.. his idea was similar, that if your 'giving' doesnt make you sacrifice somewhere else(movies, eating out, whatever) then you arent 'giving' enough. (can we actually give God what He made and owns anyway?)
oohh and rules taught by men... idk it seems that is something that struck a chord with me so to speak.. but now i dont know why. :P oh! Chris has talked about that, and he may have been referencing this, i dont remember, but about people who just go to church on Easter or Christmas, what is even the point? God doesn't forgive you for going to church, if that were true then why would He have come to us and suffer and bleed everywhere?
hm. i think i was almost analyzing my thoughts on that there... wowo...
the part about being saved from punishment, that is the first degree of moral reasoning according to some psychology guy. *shrug* if it makes any difference.
ooh the story people! i notice that A LOT in my own life. crazy cool stories of all that God has done, yet we manage to find 'reasons' that we cant do something, just one teeny action/whatever for Him... darn you laziness!!!
lotsa text...
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