Francis Chan on the luke-warm church

[@mommabird22]

As a missionary on furlough I have been speaking and sharing what God is doing in the lives of those I serve. I have been awestruck at the lukewarm, even cold, response I have received. One woman in a church said that I shouldn't be talking about money and religion so much. WHAT????? I can't provide food or care for others in the name of Christ without money. And I do what I do only for Christ. I am heartbroken.

[@HITTEAM100]

Amen brother

[@Slapmastaoffunk]

AMEN

[@synapsesound]

Amen.

[@MoonPhaze5]

:) thumbs up! I like this Chan guy!

[@Sach1stistheverybest]

AMEN-KEEPING IT REAL-TELLING THE TRUTH FROM THE BIBLE-NO COMPROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RichMengYiMing]

Great response...the church really needs to wake up!

[@HostileRespite]

absolutely correct.

[@EvaElyse]

@edadan2009 Amen. God will continue to raise up real men and women of God that are ready to be available for HIM and ONLY HIM.

[@Benji4231]

@mommabird22 I love you brother in christ

[@TheExastrologer]

Part 2 of post with quote from NET Bible: "Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. . . Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness."

[@3nails1salvation]

Right on!!!! Nowhere does God say that the luke-warm church is of saved believers! There are many people in the church today or just full churches that are luke-warm. Thats why the BIBLICAL gospel needs to be preached, especially in the church!!!

[@lovewins19]

How would I know if MY church is lukewarm?

[@firstbornjordan]

If Jesus aint talking to Christians, can we then identify those in the church congregation who are unsaved? And if unsaved (you will know them by their fruits) can we please preach the Gospel to them? Why do we fellowship with unbelievers, accommodating a compromised Gospel so as not to offend? And if we accommodate "them" will we ourselves become lukewarm by virtue of our own fear of man and not fear of God. While I agree with Chan, I think his premise needs further exploring to enable the Church to do God's will and encourage the believers to allow God to work His will in them that they may bear fruit. Today I talked to another believer about his Church Bible study on being filled with the spirit. I asked him before his Bible study to ask the elder how do you know if you are filled or not? He could not tell him the answer and I am concerned that when I press the issue, this believer is beginning to clam up. Catherine Booth was right; people cherish sin in their hearts and do not fully surrender to God. Is this lukewarm? See what I'm tryin to say? We must explore the passage further to see if we deceive ourselves or neglect to proclaim the full Gospel. For if we are making disciples and yet disciple those who are not saved are we doing the will of God?

[@TheFamilyguy421]

@brendos444 While the Laodicean church may have been using the name "Christian" the point of Revelation 3:14-22 is that they are not really Christian. Although they are using the name, their actions reveal their true identity.

[@TheExastrologer]

This has nothing to do with our meaning of lukewarm. "Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water." see part 2 of post

[@Girlibra1]

This message would be unpopular because it is the truth so it is expected that people would have problems with it (scribes ans Pharisees). Christians need to exam ourselves and do what needs to be done to avoid being spewed out of the mouth of God. God help us to have ears that hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us now.

[@yellownotepad8627]

Everybody is talking about bearing "fruit" but what exactly does that mean to you?

[@jhweh2007]

WOW, SOME BODY STOOD UP.

[@califbozo]

Jesus loves you and I hope you will meet Him as your best friend instead of your judge. Imagine if people accepted other people as equal like Jesus does. Rich or poor, all have equal opportunity and access to His love. This earth is the worst suffering His followers will ever endure, while eternity without Him , well...the worst is yet to come. Play it safe--meet Him and follow him and peace will be yours forever

[@baller1788]

Jesus sees your struggles all you have to do is to confess it to Him and ask Him for a heart that would desire what He desires and hate what He hates. All of us are imperfect but the blood of Jesus is what cleanses us and causes us to be righteous in His eyes.I pray that Jesus would give you a heart of repentance and you would see that He loves you and He is there for you every step of the way.Dont depend on your own strength but trust that Jesus is the one that will be your strength in weakness

[@faithlocket]

@DSunited Huh? I mean, why @me?

[@faithlocket]

@patty7beth Lets say you're right. Why risk being on border of those two! Get hot or cold!

[@Maxfli82]

Jesus himself says what Chan is saying here in Matthew 7:21 - ""Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (NLT)

[@RandomArtistry]

I think you're probably not too far from the truth here. Chan seems to ignore verse 19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." So that makes me think that the "spewing out" is chastening rather than wrath. The difference is important.

[@barttheanorak]

It is possible to begin good and then drift. Most of the Lord's warnings about hell were to his own followers. The Laodicea letter is a final warning to that congregation that they can fatally harden their hearts.

[@miamimonk216]

The hot obviously are in the kingdom the lukewarm obviously have one foot in and one foot out and the cold are just not even believers.. That is why the Bible says that we can depart from the faith. And let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest lest any of you should seem to come short of it. Galatians 5 19 thru 21 is addressed to Christians warning: them that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God..

[@StefanJato]

@mike santa - you gotta learn the doctrines of grace bro. When sovereign God calls you, you are his child. The "being made" his child is shown through a radical abandonment and a radical love of God. Just read the word homie.

[@djonnyboy]

I believe in god and I believe In Jesus. Is that enoug to enter the kingdom of god? Or do I have to carry good fruit. To be honoust, I do not carry good fruit at all. I lie to people, betray my friends and familie all the time for my own good, I sometimes get drunk at parties and live lot life just like any other person.

[@mikeyj441]

I would seriously suggest that everyone read the KJV only. I have done much study on how the newer versions came about and the indivduals involed. The other bibles have changed a number of things. This helping along the lukewarm church. If you don't believe me, just check out the publishers and the other kind of material that they produce. Plus the KJV is the only bible that cannot be copyrighted. Thus, not profitable.

[@mariuspieter]

@mikeyj441 This is not a universally true statement, some of the other bibles are way more literal and accurate to the original Greek&Hebrew language than even the KJV, this issue on translations is not about one particular translation being absolutely accurate and all the other suck, it is more about the way that they word what the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic is saying and if that version accurately convey what the original authors were communicating. only SOME are not accurate.

[@brendos444]

Revelation 3 is to the Laodicean church who definitely were Christians.

[@patty7beth]

I love Francis Chan, but I'm not sure he's correct that all lukewarm people are not Christians. If so, they wouldn't be called "lukewarm,", but rather lost, or unbelievers. Scripture talks about those who are saved, but "so as by fire" - arriving in heaven, but with no "well done, thy good and faithful servant" at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Some may be forgiven, but squander their gifts, talents and be distracted from pursuing intimacy with God - pathetic Christians, but still Christians.

[@baller1788]

Hey If you look at 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 it talks about the people that will not inherit the kingdom of God. The Unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. The sexually immoral, idolators, adulterers, men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards,nor revilers , nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. James 2:26 "Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works." Ask Jesus to help you remove anything that is not of Him.

[@califbozo]

THERE ARE NO FOLLOWERS OF THE REAL JESUS WHO CAME TO BE TAKERS--MK10:43-45

[@djonnyboy]

The bible is very radical. According to you the "bible-reality" is far away from how we see the world and think today. How the hell am i supposed to just give up everything i believe in, and follow Jesus when i dont know who he is. I am gonna live the way i want to. That doesn't mean that i am going to be greedy or whatever. Remember that there are other religions too who are more committed to their religion just like you are..The bible do not convince me..so according to you im going to hell :/