Profile of the lukewarm.

I’m reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and chapter 4, “Profile of the Lukewarm” really grabbed my attention. A great list of scripture to read down through.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE…

• Attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. [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 conlflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church. They care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. [luke 6:26, revelation 3:1]

• 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]

• Rarely share their faith with their neighbors. They do not want to be rejected… [matthew 10:32-33]

• Gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. [luke 18:11-12]

• Say they love Jesus, and he is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. [luke 9:57-62]

• Love God, but they do not love Him with all their 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]

• 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]

• Are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. [matthew 25:34, 40]

• Do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. [1 chronicles 29:14]

• Are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God. [1 timothy 6:17-18]

• Feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith, were baptized, come from a Christian home, vote Republican, or live in America. [matthew 7:21]

• Do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. [hebrews 11]

• Probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. [matthew 23:25-28]