So, this idea of luke-warm Christianity has been brought to my attention recently and I'm just now beginning to give it a lot of thought. To me, the first thing that comes to mind is the parable of the minas that Jesus tells in Luke 19. Essentially there is a king that gives 10 of his servants a mina (essentially just money) and commands them "put this money to work until I come back". The parable focuses on 3 of the servants. One gained 10 more minas, one gained 5, and the other returned the single mina that was given to him originally. The king was pleased with the two servants that multiplied their money. However, to the man who did nothing with the gift that he had given him, he was furious.
That is kind of how I view this idea of luke-warm Christianity. I am given a gift in the salvation that comes through grace alone in Jesus Christ. I am called by that grace to make disciples in His name. However, what happens if I don't do anything with that gift? If I just put it away, keep it safe, but don't let anyone know that I have it? Am I truly grateful for that gift? Do I really believe that I even have what that gift has to offer? You see, when we have money, we have the opportunity to make more money. No matter how little money we have. How is that any different than the gift that was given to us by Jesus Christ? We were given salvation through no works of our own, but only by faith. Why should we hide that? Why should we keep that to ourselves and act like we don't have it?
The problem with luke-warm Christianity is that at the base of it lies a problem with insecurity and identity. I am so worried about my perceived identity and therefore I don't have faith, I don't step out and trust, I don't live according to the Word, I don't speak up, I don't have self control, I wade through sin as if there aren't going to be any repercussions. But that's not it. That's not what Christianity is. I forget that the Gospel is offensive. I forget that Jesus came to bring division. I forget that the road is narrow and few will find it. I pick out the things in the Gospel that I like and I ignore the others as if I have the authority to do that. Real Christianity does not pick and choose at the Gospel. It doesn't shout the things that Jesus whispers and whisper the things that Jesus shouted. Real Christianity is based off of how and why Christ lived. That's what produces fruit. That's what I want.
It's so easy to preach, discuss, live, and "advertise" the parts of the Gospel that offer endless grace to those who live by it. But when it comes down to it, the Gospel doesn't offer free grace to those who ignore God's commands. The grace of Jesus INSPIRES me to live a Christ-like life. Will I be perfect? NO. That's not possible. But through continual repentance and clinging onto the cross, I am presented faultless before God.
One incredible thing about the cross is that He didn't wait for me to clean up. He didn't wait for me to hear about grace to die. No, He died for me before I knew Him. Before I knew what his grace was. Before I knew what it would mean for my life. He's had holes in his hands THE WHOLE TIME. He didn't wait. So why should I? Why should I wait to become more "mature"? Why should I live a life of luke-warm Christianity? I shouldn't. And ya know what? I won't. This is real. This is life. It's not at all easy. It's not my life, either. I was bought for a price with the blood of Jesus Christ, creator of the universe, born in a stable, tortured, killed, and raised to life. Can I sit here and tell you that my life is mine? I'd be a fool.
Pray for me.
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