Lukewarm Christianity
4 minute read
Hi, hey, hello.
My name is Mary Clay, and I’m a wannabe teenager obsessed with the song Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo. (It has 2 f-bombs - you’ve been warned). This week, I asked two of our cute, teen babysitters if they love it as much as I do, and neither of them had heard it yet, sooo, either my pulse on pop culture is a little off OR I’m a better teenager than my babysitters.
You choose.
The song has me reminiscing about getting my own driver’s license, and while a whole lotta memories come flooding, the gift my sweet sister gave me for my 16th birthday keeps coming back to me.
Allie was in 8th grade when I turned 16 my Sophomore year, and she was as involved with her church group as I was involved with sneaking cigarettes.
She gave me a Jars of Clay CD and a Christian fish for the back of my car, and I don’t think I’ve ever been less excited about a present. Ever.
My loving younger sister was putting my feet to the flame without even knowing it: Do you identify with Jesus?
NAH little sis.
I identify with the butterfly sticker from Gadzook’s for my rear window and this Crash CD, please and thank you.
However, if you’d asked me at the time I opened the present whether I was a Christian, I would’ve said, yes of course! And I was! I believed Jesus came from heaven, walked this earth and lived a perfect life, died on the cross for my sins, rose again and defeated death, and I believed He was coming again.
But was I living like it?
Lol.
But alas, I was 16, and I’m not going to sit here and regret my adolescence. I had a ton of fun with girls who are still my best friends tothisday while learning a lot of lessons, and if it wasn’t for those years, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Proooobably not God’s best for my life, but as we talked about last week, He works it all for good.
So while yes, I was a Believer, I was clearly lukewarm.
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Rev 3:16 ESV
Ouchie. While I was a professing Believer, I for sure didn’t want to identify with Christ. Why or how could I when my identity was in self, boys, volleyball, parties, making straight A’s, my new Hot Tools hair straightener, and having the perfect body?
It was easier as a 16 year old to live how I wanted to live and then show up at Young Life or church every once in a while.
But now?
Lukewarm ain’t gonna cut it. This is because of a) my age and also because of b) the state of the world.
In a webinar I highly recommend by Lance Cashion we listened to in our small group this week, he said something that really stuck with me:
“It is no longer convenient to be a Christian.”
And really, you only have to look at the world to see this. Heck, look at the Church! We’re divided as ever! (PS this is not ONLY because of the election!) In the webinar, he teaches on how politics is the last bastion of culture. There are sooo many other layers of our culture over the years leading to the point of where we are politically. Think about that for a minute. And again, highly recommend this webinar - I’m not doing it justice with this brief synopsis.
So this inconvenience of being a Christian… What do we do about it?
Scripture, prayer, and sound doctrine mean more now than ever. If you are unchurched, now is a wonderful time to start the search! (Poet - didn’t knowit). More on this down the page. (Meaning more on what we do, not more about my poetic aspirations. You’re welcome).
For the moment though, let’s take a look at Acts 24-26. I promise I’m not firmly equating where we are right now with AD 55, but these passages did jump out at me.
For context, the following is said by Tertullus who is a modern-day lawyer presenting a case against Paul to the governor.
“We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as The Nazarenes.” Acts 24:5 NLT
An aside whispered to the audience from stage left: For the record, I’m not subliminally condoning riots by sharing this passage, and hold your horses because that part isn’t even true. Also sect is the term used in the ESV version, but I am dramatic and I liked cult better so I chose NLT on some of the passages.
To this accusation, Paul replies in verses 12-14, “My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.”
In Acts 25-26, Paul’s case moves on up the ranks, and he continues to state his case to Felix and Festus and finally Herod Agrippa before going all the way to Caesar in Rome. When speaking to Agrippa, he relays his conversion on the Road to Damascus, and he tells of Christ’s directive for his life to tell the world of Jesus and what is to come and to “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:18 ESV
Further into Paul’s recount, Festus shouts, “ ‘Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.’ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.” Acts 26:24-25 ESV
Reading this got me thinking… Am I willing to be accused as being a part of a cult? Am I will to be called out of my mind? Am I willing to be so on fire for Jesus in these potential forthcoming days of persecution no fear of any man could make me stutter step?
I say I am, but am I?
One more passage because this is just the most motivating scripture ever. In the book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are being questioned by the King as to whether they serve his gods.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ ” Daniel 3:16-18 ESV
Y’all. I want that faith. I want to step into the fiery furnace and not bow to what the world says I need to bow toward!!!! (God saves them btw, they emerge UNSCATHED). BUT EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T, they were still standing for God.
Dear Christian, if this world starts to put your feet to the flame like Allie did to mine (subtly), like Festus did to Paul (more intensely), or like Nebuchadnezzar did to S,M, + A (yowza!), are you ready?
If this gives you pause, it’s ok. It gives me pause too. And you know what’s cool about God? He meets us right there in the, Ehh I dunno God. My life is pretty comfortable. I don’t like confrontation. I’m not equipped. I don’t know enough Scripture.
ALL it takes is asking Him to ready your heart for whatever He has in store for you in HIS will and in HIS truth. Not the world’s 12312491478 versions of truth. Not you finding your truth. HIS TRUTH.
So what else do we do to stop living lukewarm lives and step into the furnace for Christ?
We pray for readiness.
If you are unchurched, start looking. You can literally do it from your couch right now. I would be happy to guide you! You can also reach out to those you know who love their church and seem to attend (virtually or otherwise) regularly.
If you are churched, and your church is open, but you’re still not going person, yet you go to the grocery… maybe it’s time to get your butt in a pew? (This is a personal pep talk to myself btw).
Read the word daily. Start to memorize it.
Keep praying for readiness, pray for your family, pray for our leaders.
Father God, you are worthy of all persecution and uncomfortable conversations. We know this, we believe this, but so often we cannot act upon this. Will you please forgive us? Thank you for equipping us and appointing us just as you see fit - not as we see fit - as you, our Sovereign Lord, sees fit. God ready our hearts. Whatever this means for the person reading this, ready us! We want to be soldiers jumping into the furnace, but so often we fall so very short of this faith. We need your help to do it, and we believe you will equip us as you call us! We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus! Amen.
Here’s a list of scripture to study through this week.
Sunday/Monday: John 3:16, John 14:6
Tuesday: Matthew 6:33
Wednesday: 2 Tim 1:7
Thursday: Prov 16:9, Psalm 16:11
Friday: Jeremiah 17:7-8
Saturday: Daniel 3:17-18