lukewarm

Time for some deep thinkin ya'lls.

So... I've been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Excellent book.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

There was one chapter that really spoke to me...

and I wanted to share it with all of you.

It's the profile of the lukewarm.

Lukewarm people:

-attend church fairly regularly

(Isaiah 29:13)

-give money to charity and to the church... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living

(1 Chronicles 21:24; Luke 21:1-4)

-tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict

(Luke 6:26; Revelation 3:1; Matthew 23:5-7)

-don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin

(John 10:10; Romans 6:1-2)

-are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act

(James 1:22; James 4:17; Matthew 21:28-31)

-rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends

(Matthew 10:32-33)

-gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselvs to the secular world

(Luke 18:11-12)

-say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a party of their lives. But only a part

(Luke 9:57-62)

-love God, but they do not love Him with all thir heart, soul, and strength

(Matthew 22:37-38)

-love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves

(Matthew 5:43-47; Luke 14:12-14)

-will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give

(Luke 18:21-25)

-think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven

(Philippians 3:18-20; Colossians 3:2)

-are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor

(Matthew 25:34, 40; Isaiah 58:6-7)

-do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty

(1 Chronicles 29:14; Matthew 13:44-46)

-are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control

(1 Timothy 6:17-18; Matthew 10:28)

-feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age 12, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America

(Matthew 7:21; Amos 6:1)

-do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens - they have their saving account

(Luke 12:16-21)

-probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren't very different from your typical unbeliever

(Matthew 23:25-28)

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

2 Corinthians 13:5

This profile of a lukewarm Christian makes you think doesn't it?

I know I fit every single one of those.

Lukewarm people consider themselves Christians... but are they really?

"...any of you who doesn't give up EVERYTHING he has cannot by my disciple."

Luke 14:33

This is something I've been struggling with.

Giving up everything.

I'm still working on this and getting my life back on track.

I don't want to be lukewarm anymore.

Do you?

Happy deep thinking Friday, loves.

P.S. Amanda... I think you'd like this book so I'll bring it over when I'm finished. Only 3 more chapter to go!!