Jesus spoke very directly and harshly about lukewarm faith throughout the New Testament. His words on this topic, recorded in Scripture, communicate the seriousness with which God views half-hearted commitment to Him. By examining Jesus’ teachings, we can better understand the dangers of lukewarm faith and the importance of pursuing wholehearted devotion to God.
Jesus’ Rebuke of Lukewarm Faith in Revelation
One of the strongest rebukes of lukewarm faith from Jesus comes in Revelation 3:15-16. Speaking to the church in Laodicea, Jesus says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This is a stern warning about the disgust that lukewarm faith brings to God.
The imagery Jesus uses is that of spitting something distasteful out of one’s mouth. Jesus would rather people be “hot” (on fire for God) or even “cold” (completely uninterested in spiritual things) rather than lukewarm or indifferent. This indifferent faith provokes His disgust and rejection.
Why does lukewarm faith disturb Jesus so much? He explains, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Lukewarm Christians are complacent and self-satisfied. They feel like they are “rich” spiritually when, in fact, they are bankrupt. Their indifference reveals a lack of true relationship with Jesus.
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23) contains another warning about lukewarm faith. In this story, a farmer sows seed that falls on four types of soil. Only the seed that falls on the “good soil” thrives and produces fruit. Jesus explains that the different soils represent people’s responses to the Gospel.
Some people are like the seed on the path that gets snatched away and never sprouts. Some are like the seed on rocky soil that springs up quickly but withers without depth. But it is the third soil, the thorny ground, that represents lukewarm faith. Jesus says this is like someone who hears the word of God but it gets choked out by “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” (Matthew 13:22). These people try to straddle the line between faithfulness to God and faithfulness to worldly things.
Jesus warns that their divided loyalty will cause their spiritual lives to become unfruitful. They may look like healthy plants for a time, sprouting up quickly, but without truly making God their first priority, they will fail to mature.
The Danger of Being Spit Out
Why did Jesus speak so strongly against lukewarm faith? Because He understands the dangers it poses to our spiritual health. Lukewarm Christianity can seem innocuous at first. Lukewarm believers may attend church and participate in some spiritual activities. But their hearts remain tepid toward God.
Over time, this religious complacency and compromised commitment erodes a person’s true relationship with Christ. Unless stirred from their indifference, lukewarm believers are in danger of being spit out, rejected from Christ’s presence (see Matthew 7:21-23).
Jesus’ call throughout the Gospels is for wholehearted faith: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Our devotion is meant to be passionate, not passive. In speaking bluntly about the disgusting nature of lukewarm faith, Jesus reminds us of the fervency that God desires from His people.
Examples of Lukewarm Faith in the Gospels
The Gospels contain several examples of people whose lukewarm faith merited Christ’s rebuke:
- The rich young ruler who was unwilling to sell his possessions to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-23). His divided allegiance revealed lukewarm faith.
- People who wanted to follow Jesus but only after taking care of other priorities first (Luke 9:57-62). Jesus demanded their wholehearted commitment.
- Peter, when he denied knowing Jesus three times after pledging devotion. His lukewarm courage failed under pressure (Luke 22:54-62).
- The disciples who could not stay awake to pray with Jesus in Gethsemane because they were spiritually complacent (Matthew 26:36-46).
In contrast, examples of wholehearted faith in the Gospels include the man born blind who worshipped Jesus with devotion (John 9:35-38), the woman who poured expensive ointment over Jesus’ feet out of deep gratitude (Luke 7:36-50), and the Roman centurion whose faith amazed Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13).
How to Avoid Lukewarm Faith
Based on Jesus’ warnings, what can we do to combat lukewarm faith?
- Evaluate your priorities. Is your commitment divided between God and worldly things? Or is He your undisputed first love? (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15)
- Check your spiritual temperature. Ask God to reveal any areas of indifference or complacency that may be creeping in. Don’t assume all is well. (Revelation 3:17)
- Repent of hidden sins. Even “small” sins can desensitize our hearts if left unaddressed. Nip lukewarm tendencies in the bud. (Revelation 3:19)
- Rediscover your first love. Remember your early passion for Christ. Then ask Him to rekindle your devotion. (Revelation 2:4-5)
- Spend time in God’s presence. It’s hard to remain lukewarm in the light of Christ’s glory and grace. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The Blessing of Wholehearted Faith
Though Jesus spoke strongly against lukewarm faith, His warnings were given in love. He wants to protect us from the spiritual apathy that subtly chokes out fruitfulness. Jesus longs for His followers to experience the joy, peace, and reward of wholehearted faith. With Christ as the center of our lives, everything else finds its proper place. May all who read Jesus’ solemn warnings be motivated to evaluate their walk with God and pursue Him with fresh passion. He is worthy of our deepest devotion.