“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:16
As long as I can remember, I can remember this verse being spoken from many a pulpit and Sunday school class. And I have a near photographic memory, which can be a blessing and at times a curse. Although it has helped me in academics, memorization, and excelling in most things; I also do not forget the bad memories either.
As I now have a few years on me, made a profession of faith at the age of 15, and surrendered and pursued that profession of faith in my 20s, I do not necessarily 100% believe what I have been told by some Pastors/Preachers/Evangelists on that verse in Revelations 3:16. Too many have sought to leverage that verse in the pursuit of perfection and self proclaimed self righteousness. The, “Don’t dance, drink, smoke or chew, nor date those who do” type mentality. Yes, I have been told, and preached to that I as a man of God should wear my Sunday best to church which meant a suit, tie & pressed shirt, and ladies a dress to below their knees. I have been told and preached to that as a Christian I am not to drink, dance, watch movies above PG-13… I have been told and preached to that God hates divorce and a divorced man cannot be an elder, deacon, teach Sunday school or lead ministries…. I have been told and preached to that I am not to be around “the worldly”, listen to “secular music”, that rock music and pop music is of the devil… I have been told and preached to that depression is because a person lacks faith, not truly saved, or possibly being possessed by a demon… I have been told and preached to that I should not sit at a bar, or be in a bar and grill which serves alcohol. I have personally witnessed an elder/deacon of a church ask what seemed to be a homeless person in very poor and dirty clothing to leave a church and escorted him out with other men of the church…. I have personally witnessed a Pastor/Preacher say that those that are not of his certain denomination are next to heretics, and are not of God, nor saved….
So this verse:
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:16
Doesn’t necessarily mean to me as some have preached in the past. I think it may be more speaking to those Christian leaders and “the church” speaking division, perfectionism, and demonstrating man made doctrine in the flesh. Maybe these below verses may sum it up better. And to the body of believers, Christians, “the church”; don’t be a “goat”, be “sheep” God’s sheep, God chosen people, a royal priesthood, God prized possession (1 Peter 2:9) and not self righteous, judgemental, legalistic, arrogant idiots. Or God may “spew you out”, and say “depart from me”, “goats”, “for I never knew you.” To me, the Light of Christ, His love is bright and hot, it’s burning love, neither cold, and neither lukewarm. And love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” — Matthew 25:31–46
