Many are concerned today about the spiritual condition of the Church, wondering when and how we got into this lukewarm state. Well, to understand our Church age, we need look no further than the seven Churches of Asia in the book of Revelation. The apostle John wrote several letters to them in AD90; each letter revealed the Church’s true condition, a rebuke or commendation from Christ for their works and His promise to reward all those who overcame (Rev. 3). Although the Churches in Asia Minor no longer exist, theologians believe that they represent the seven Church ages.
Laodicea, the seventh Church of Asia, is said to be prophetic of the last and final state of the universal Church, which concludes with the rapture. It grieves my heart to say it but we are living in the last Church age; the lukewarm condition i.e. the spirit of indifference and complacency that led to Laodicea’s demise, is the same spirit that pervades the Church today (Rev. 3:14-22).
So what do we mean by indifference and complacency? To be indifferent, is to lack concern and interest. It’s a state of apathy, where nothing matters. Indifference is dangerous because it breeds selfishness, self-centredness and leads to inactivity. To be complacent is to be self-satisfied, to be in need of nothing. This is disastrous as contentment with one’s accomplishments leads to stagnation.
In what way are we lukewarm? Although God has given great power and authority to the Church on earth, we are not exercising it: the voice of the Church (although universal) is seldom heard; we keep silent on the religious issues that affect our world. We sit by and watch governments push through policies and laws that are an affront to God e.g. the Abortion bill, widening adoption rights, the legalisation of same-sex marriages. We are reluctant to get involved, to challenge these laws, even to pray as directed in Scripture for those in authority (I Tim. 2:2).
We appear to be unconcerned about the hundreds of thousands being persecuted and suffering daily in foreign lands for the name of Jesus. They need our prayers and financial support. Afraid of reprisals from religious organisations and political regimes, we distance ourselves from their plight.
We are oblivious to the needs of the precious souls around us. We remain unstirred, despite the homelessness and severe poverty; yes, right here in the UK, over one million families rely on food banks to feed their children. So many in our society are depressed, oppressed and suicidal but we “pass by on the other side.” (Luk.10:32); we go about our daily business without a care. We’ve become ineffective in our local communities.
The Church is no longer purpose driven. The zeal that burned within us has fizzled out; that immediacy to take the world by storm and the love that compelled us to bring the gospel message to all has waned. Because the Early Church believed that the coming of the Lord was imminent, they moved with urgency to rescue the perishing but with the passing of time this dynamism has been replaced by apathy. Although we know the terror and fate that awaits the sinner, we remain unmoved.
So what caused our Lukewarm Condition?
Could it be that our blessings have overtaken us, and we have become self-satisfied? The 21st century Church has accomplished much: great edifices, congregations, ministries, and titles. We too, like Laodicea, believe we are in need of nothing but we are so wrong.
Could it be that we have compromised with sin? We have adjusted to this world; put down roots and are no longer pilgrims and sojourners. The Church doesn’t have a problem with sin anymore; for many Christians “it’s not a heaven or hell issue”; we not only accept homosexuality as a ‘norm’ but we are reluctant to speak out as this can offend our friends.
Could it be that we are finding our purpose and fulfilment in everything else except the Church, the Body of Christ? Members sit in the congregation unfulfilled and disengaged. Their gifts which God gave to them to edify His Body lie dormant.
Could it be that we have replaced the knowledge of God and His Word with the paraphernalia of a well-organised Church? Order, professionalism and songs that move our emotions but do not minister to our spirits, wow many; even the preaching and teaching of the pure unadulterated Word of God is now minimised.
So how do we deal with Indifference and Complacency? The answer may be found in the words of Christ to the Church in Laodicea:
Be zealous: The word zealous is derived from the Greek word ‘zeo’, which means to be hot (as in boiling liquid). It points to being fervent, passionate, serving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
To Repent: The Church, must acknowledge its true condition, agree with God’s right assessment of it; turn again to God and amend its ways.
The early Church started with only a handful of men and women; within a few years they turned the world “upside down”. They took the Gospel into the world, crossing geographical, cultural and religious lines: they were passionate, zealous, and relentless. They fearlessly faced kings, world powers, challenged philosophers, and rebuked the licentious behaviour of the day. Laodicea had fallen from this first state, which is not surprising as Jesus was put out of His Church.
Today, Jesus is still patiently knocking, but the question is, will we let him back into His Church?
