Born Again…Again! There is Hope for The Lukewarm!

“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. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve for your eyes so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:17-19

In my last two posts I talked about the accelerated danger I and many others believe our nation is in. We believe it has largely been enabled by a “lukewarm” evangelical church that has been “missing from action.” “We,” as I am part of it, have created a void by being silent about evils where neutrality, if we are to be faithful to Christ and the scriptures, is not an option. The last post I quoted from Eric Metaxas’ paradigm-shifting book, “Letter to the American Church.” He spoke of the frightening parallels between Nazi Germany in 1933 and the United States in 2023. This is the “macro view” of our predicament. I believe we need to be awake, to listen to our Lord, to pray and be ready to act when and where he calls us to act. I am praying, along with men like Dutch Sheets, who does a wonderful teaching Mondays through Fridays called “Give Him 15” that God is not finished with the American church. A repentant and revived church by can play the key role about a spiritual renewal in America and then the world. Our brother Dutch is believing God for a harvest of a billion souls! May it be so, Lord!

So, what of the church that has been “lukewarm?” When I say this word think “indifferent and complacent.” It is not being overtly immoral or irreligious, but rather holding secret sins in the heart that can be best characterized as “sins of omission.”  Being lukewarm deadens one’s sensitivity to hear God’s voice, hardens the heart and saps the passion for Him and desire to fervently follow Him. As “the church” is a collection of individuals it creates a whole culture of “good men that do nothing” that Edmund Burke warned about.

I have a personal understanding of being in this state for a several years. I am no more. I am part of FLCNA (Former Lukewarm Christians Not Anonymous). Thankfully our membership is growing. But paying my dues to FLCNA wasn’t cheap. It was a humbling 10-year-long journey that began for me in May of 2013. Without going into too much detail, I will provide enough information that hopefully you, my reader, will be able to see at least a part of your story in mine.

Notice in the Bible passage at the beginning of this post, Jesus says the did “not realize” how self-deceived they were. That is the thing. The lukewarm do not know they are lukewarm! We become spiritually de-sensitized like the proverbial frog in the kettle being slowly cooked to death by the incremental process of the temperature rising. It is only when Christ’s “severe mercy” of discipline is expertly applied that we can be awakened from this cursed slumber and be born again…again. “Those I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)  

Only in retrospect do I understand that there were two major areas of my life that I made into idols. The Lord mercifully allowed these “two twin towers” to fall. They were two areas where I gained my sense of significance and security apart from Him…my family identity and my financial security. In 2013 the first tower, my marriage of 38 years failed. In 2020 the second tower, a restaurant business that I invested much of my money in, also failed. These losses were the rebuke and the discipline I desperately needed from the Lord to bring me to a place where I could “be earnest and repent.” During this all He was merciful when He brought an amazing woman into Colleen into my life 9 years ago this month. We were married in 2014 and celebrate our 9th anniversary this month.

He did in me personally what He said He would do to the lukewarm church. He removed the idolatry I wasn’t aware I had. These “gifts” had taken the place of “the Giver” in my heart. Along with these losses, like added insult to injury, came criticism, slander, and judgment from those I hardly knew. But this was all part of the discipline I deserved. I had done the very same thing in my past, judging others when I too didn’t know the full story behind their marriage or business failure. “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep thy word…It was good that I was afflicted that I may learn thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:67,71 KJV) 

I have born again…again! There is hope for the lukewarm. I am not going back or turning back. I am not ashamed to say who I was or who I am now. He is the only Hero of my story. In America we as Christ’s church are undergoing His discipline right now for our failing Him. The discipline, repentance and renewed obedience that happens in individual lives is now beginning to occur in the body of Christ in America as a whole! And that is the greatest hope for our nation and our world!

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you didn’t spit me out of your mouth but mercifully rebuked and disciplined me and have brought me back into fellowship with You (Revelation 3:20). You have done this and are doing this with our brothers and sisters all around our nation and the world. Lord, please awaken all of us now so that we can be partners with You in what You desire to be done at this time for your kingdom and your glory! In Your Glorious Name, Amen