Lukewarm Christianity
Updated: Aug 6
7th March 2025 l Ava J Dearden
What is a lukewarm Christian?
There are two very distinct camps emerging in Christianity. God is moving, He is separating the wheat from the chaff. There are many Christians who appear to be blinded to the current day world events that are undeniably aligning with Bible prophecy. They have itching ears, not wanting to hear God's truths. They are living worldly, they are lukewarm.
2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
Is a lukewarm Christian the same as being backslidden?
The terms lukewarm, backslidden and fallen are sometimes used interchangeably. They all describe Christians who are currently not living righteously, they are not living for God.
Choosing the wide or narrow path
There is danger in choosing the wide path - living worldly. Human nature dictates that we will eventually choose our lives here over the things of God. Our hearts will harden, quenching God's Spirit and in the end we won't be able to hear His voice, worse still... we simply won't care.
Matthew 7:13-14 - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Christian in name only?
The saved but lukewarm / backslidden / fallen away Christian - God's Spirit lives in them, they are converted, born again but they currently have more interest in worldly things. They live for themselves, not for God.
The none saved lukewarm Christian - Christian in name only. They may have said a prayer of salvation at one time, or responded to a Church alter call. They are not truly converted and have little to no interest in the things of God.
'Saved by grace through faith'?
We are absolutely 'Saved by grace through faith', but this one Bible verse doesn't negate thousands of other Bible verses that teach us how we are to live righteously. Many modern day lukewarm Christians are sadly using God's precious gift of grace as an excuse to continue living in their sin. Yes, God is sanctifier but we are expected to use our free will to obey His voice, to grow in our faith and become more like Jesus, to move closer to God and purify our hearts.
Shall we go on sinning?
James 2:14-26 - Faith Without Works Is Dead What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
There are consequences to living lukewarm
God tells us clearly that if we choose to continue on the wrong path, there will be consequences for the unsaved and for lukewarm Christians.
1 Peter 4:1-8 - And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
1 Corinthians 3:13 - But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
1 Peter 4:17 - For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
God loves us still, despite all of our flaws.
We can't make the Christian journey in our own strength, we were never meant to. Call on Jesus. God's love for us is immeasurable. If we have strayed... if we have become lukewarm, He waits with open arms to welcome us home.
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