What if we're the lukewarm ones? - 7 Sep 2005
"As I'm sitting here at 2am sipping red wine out of a cappuccino mug, I can't get rid of the thought that has been in my head all day: what if we're the lukewarm ones?" Shannon Byous writes.
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That might explain a few things such as bland Christian music, put-you-to-sleep ritualistic Sunday services, or the huge number of believers compared to the minimal power of God we see and experience as a society. |
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It would also explain why we, as the Body of Christ - and I will even go so far as to say even the "emerging church" section of the Body of Christ - cannot (or will not?) get past the point of sitting around and talking, talking, talking about what should be and what is to come.
Now, these days lukewarm is an odd word. It means: Lacking conviction or enthusiasm.
Odd to use it for Christians these days because we are moved by our convictions and are pretty darn enthusiastic about quite a few things, like What Would Jesus Do bracelets, prayer rooms, conferences, church camps, Christian music concerts, even worship, evangelism and prayer.
Are we enthusiastic about the right things?
What I mean when I say lukewarm is simply that we may be convicted and fired up about things, but are they the right things to be fired up for... or rather, do we have them in the right places in our lives?
It seems that somewhere along the line some of us have gotten the idea that doing all of these things means we're following Jesus. While that is true on the surface, the fact remains that if we do not have a strong foundation of relationship and obedience - birthed out of love - then we are simply becoming more and more impotent the longer we try to do, somewhat in our own strength or understanding, what simply following the basic guidelines of our faith, would cause to happen naturally.
What does the Bible say about this?
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It says in Hebrews 5 and 6 in the Bible: "Jesus is God's own Son, but still he had to suffer before he could learn what it really means to obey God. |
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By now you should have been teachers, but once again you need to be taught the simplest things about what God has said.You need milk instead of solid food. People who live on milk are like babies who don't really know what is right. Solid food is for mature people who have been trained to know right from wrong.
We must try to become mature and start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught about Christ. We shouldn't need to keep talking about why we ought to turn from deeds that bring death and why we ought to have faith in God. And we shouldn't need to keep teaching about baptisms or about the laying on of hands or about people being raised from death and the future judgment. Let's grow up, if God is willing."
Ask yourself....
We have to ask ourselves some basic, fundamental questions: Are you obeying Jesus in the things like speaking face to face with another believer when you're hurt because they've sinned against you?
Or how about shutting your mouth instead of spewing out your bitterness or the latest gossip?
Are you sleeping around or thinking you're better than someone else?
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How about this one - do you prefer others over yourself?
Do you sit in Jesus and soak Him in so that His love fuels you, not your need for approval or your need to be doing something to feel like you have worth? |
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These things are the basics. We need to get going with these so that we can move forward in our faith and in the depth of our relationship with God, each other and the people who don't know they're loved yet.
You know, the prophetic and apostolic and evangelism are all good - but they're nothing without the foundation of simply loving Jesus, loving ourselves and loving each other.
We will never reach our full potential in this generation unless we first choose to obey the most basic principles of the kingdom of God. It costs to follow God.
Sometimes it hurts to submit. Sometimes it costs us everything.
Sometimes His love is almost more than we can bear.
Sometimes there is a peace that fulfills all the lonely and hidden places in us that we are afraid to expose.
Sometimes there is such a cool joy that helps make us supernaturally strong and continue on so people can know that He's God... so we can know Him for ourselves.
Sometimes life is brilliant... and that is the beauty of spending everything on following Him.
Shannon Byous is originally from California, USA. As of this year, she is once again a missionary in the UK. Right now, she's just astounded by God because His plans for her life are unfolding right in front of her eyes. She writes, is a photographer, and loves her friends and family very much. Her website is www.10lampsoffire.net
(This a personal piece and does not necessarily represent the views of 24-7prayer.)