When Lukewarm Ceases to be Enough

I realized something today. I guess I’ve known for a long time now. I’ve been a lukewarm Christian most of my life and I’m tired of being lukewarm. Experiencing anything lukewarm is terrible in everything I have ever known. Lukewarm food and beverages are a unsatisfying and so are lukewarm Christians. In American culture we like to think lukewarm is a step in the right direction; that it’s better than being cold, right? No! The bible clearly tells us otherwise.

Revelation 3:14-22 “…These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 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 to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

As we began ministering in India, for the first few days, if you felt led to do something at an outreach you asked if it was okay before you made a move because you didn’t want to offend anyone or disrupt the culture. But Harvest India is grounded in scripture so you are always affirmed to do as you feel led by the Holy Spirit. Eventually, you stop asking and you just do as you feel led, or at least it is there hope that you respond this way. It’s probably the best lesson I’ve learned in being here. It’s this sense of feeling as though because these people don’t know me and because I probably won’t be here permanently (and even if I am, the likelihood I‘ll ever see most of them again is rare) your feel free to speak openly however you feel led. That freedom has developed one step further in me, during my time in India. I now take that freedom with me wherever God calls me. The worst case scenario is obsolete because it just doesn‘t matter what people think about you when you’re being obedient to how the Holy Spirit is leading you. At home, in the states, this is not the case. Everything I do is up for scrutiny. I allow myself to be consumed by the fear of how I will be viewed if speak out openly and honestly as the Holy Spirit is leading. I let this fear hinder my potential for spiritual growth and rob Christ of moments He should be shining light into darkness, through his chosen child. God commands us to be hot. Not just at church, on Sundays, when we are in our element and free to be fired up about how amazing God is, but all the time. I know that there are times I’ll be waiting in line somewhere or in traffic with the windows down in my car and the car next to me and I just think… wouldn’t it be cool to just share the gospel with these people right now? And then terror strikes and I get consumed by how crazy I’ll look for speaking out in such faith. But that’s what get’s God so fired up about His kids! It’s when we are just crazy in love, in reckless abandon to His message of love, sacrifice and salvation that we are reflecting Christ’s love best! When we are acting out foolishness to the world we are living out scripture.

1 Cor 3:18-23 “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness;’ and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’ So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

It’s all throughout scripture. I feel compelled to share it often. I’m given opportunities regularly. Yet, I miss them almost every time. I’m crazy for God in India! Why does it feel like it can only exist here. I’m praying that God let’s me return to the states in March but there is much to learn in the coming months about how to live out my faith in all moments of my day. I hope and pray He doesn‘t let me leave this spiritual place of growth until I can grow in Him in the next place he takes me… wherever that is.

Convicted and growing, John