Healthy, Growing Churches (5)

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3.15, 16

Commentary on the Apocalypse 3.16-17
Andrew of Caesarea (early sixth century)
“Just as that which is lukewarm induces vomiting in those who take it in, so also, he says, I will vomit you out through the word of my mouth into eternal destruction, as though you were rotten food. For mixing together the seed of the divine word with the thistles of wealth, you have become unaware of your poverty in spiritual matters and of the blindness of your spiritual eyes and of your nakedness in good works.”

God said the land of promise vomited out its inhabitants because they had become odious to Him (Lev. 18.24-30). He threatened the same to His people if they should forsake His promises and seek anything other than to fear, serve, love, and glorify Him. The church at Laodicea was beginning to taste like pagan porridge to the Lord, Who was just about ready to spew it out. Yet all the while they thought they were doing just fine. Well, no, they weren’t increasing in the gold of truth. And the white garments of holiness didn’t suit them quite as well as the go-along-to-get-along behavior of their pagan neighbors. And they had long since cast off the vision of Christ, exalted in glory. But still, everyone seemed to like their church and their pastors; all their programs were humming along, and their budget was being met. They saw themselves as just about right; but Jesus was just about ready to be done with them. Talk about an undiscerning, childish congregation! And how many churches today, believing themselves to be healthy and growing, cannot discern that they have drifted from the Lord, are off course with His agenda, and are deceived about their true condition?

What signs would you look for to discern if your church were becoming lukewarm and distasteful to the Lord?

T. M. Moore

Healthy, Growing Churches
Our assessment tool, Twelve Questions that Could Change Your Church, can help you discover the extent to which you are building the Lord’s church as He intends. Use this tool with your church leaders to discern the health of your church, then to plan the next phase of your growth as the Body of Christ. You can download Twelve Questions for free by clicking here.T

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations from Church Fathers are from the Ancient Christian Commentary Series, published by InterVarsity Press.