Many times people participate in Christian activities like Bible reading, church attendance, prayer, giving, volunteering to help, etc. out of obligation, guilt or some other form of misguided legalism. Some attend church because they have always attended church. They think if they do all the right things they will be the right kind of Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In Matthew 13:44, we read a short parable. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid; and from joy over it goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
What a great response to Christ. He is the treasure and we must give up everything to follow Him. The man in the parable responded to the treasure like we should – follow Christ with abandon. Unfortunately, many follow the Lord for reasons other than love. In Revelation 3:16, these are called lukewarm. Lukewarm Christians cause God to want to vomit. That’s what the word for spit actually means. The church is full of lukewarm (casual) Christians that serve God for the wrong reasons.
They attend church weekly out of obligation. They give as long as it doesn’t interfere with their standard of living. They are only interested in being saved from the penalty of sin rather than daily repentance of sins that separate them from God. Lukewarm Christians are motivated and inspired during sermons but take no action. They invite others to church but rarely actually share their faith. They love people but not as much as themselves.
FYI: There is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian. Do you really think God wants to spend eternity with those who make Him want to puke? Of course not. Lukewarm (casual) Christians do not exist. It’s all or nothing.
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