When a Church Makes God Sick

SLIDE: Scripture

Revelation 3:15–16 (CSB)

15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

SLIDE: Welcome Home

SLIDE: Sermon Title

Introduction

A silly woman had few life skills; she had never owned a thermos. One day while shopping, she saw thermoses were on sale. She asked a saleslady what a thermos was used for. “Well,” the merchant said, “a thermos keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”

“Wonderful!” exclaimed the silly girl, selecting a thermos, “I’ll take this one.”

The next day at her job, she set the thermos on the desk. A co-worker asked her what she had. “It’s a thermos,” she replied. “It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”

“What do you have in it,” asked the co-worker.

“Tomato soup and pistachio ice cream,” she replied. Yuck! Instant, lukewarm pistachio tomato soup! The only thing to say about such a feast is, “Yuck!”

Christ’s final letter to the 7 churches of Asia opens with a serious charge to the Laodicean congregation in Revelation 3:16 when He says:

Revelation 3:16 (CSB)

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

I suppose this verse qualifies as one of the better-known verses of the Apocalypse, even if few among the churches are willing to make application of the verse to themselves or to their own congregation. The picture is graphic as presented in the original language. The Lord warns that Laodicean congregation that they make Him sick. Cold? He could work among them to kindle a flame to get a few coals burning again. Hot? He could employ them in His service. Lukewarm? They had become worthless.

SLIDE: Lukewarm Definition

Lukewarm means we think we are warm enough to be useful. Lukewarm means that we are not hot enough to be used. We pastors want to be “cool,” to be suave, to be someone who speaks with verve and passion ensuring that people hang onto every word. Christians, in general, especially in the western world, want to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the church. Far too many contemporary church members want just enough religion to be comfortable with church matters, but not so committed that they offend the world.

It is as if we approach the local assembly saying, “Give me three dollars worth of religion. Don’t make it too spicy; and be careful with the sweetness. I want just enough religion to get me by until the next time I come to the service.” So, the preacher serves up a dish that avoids all bitterness, affirming listeners as they are and carefully avoiding giving offence.

We don’t need to speculate about the impact of such an approach to the Faith—and make no mistake, the approach just described is rancid, sickening to the Sovereign Lord of Glory.

SLIDE: Rancid Religion

When the Lord witnesses rancid religion such as just described that religious practice makes Him want to vomit. There is no danger that the message delivered by a lackadaisical preacher to a lukewarm congregation will offend sinners, because sinners will never hear what is said. If they bothered coming to the services, they wouldn’t be offended; neither would they be convicted. It is the Spirit of God Who convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement [see JOHN 16:8-11].

Jesus, through His Apostle John, confronted the nauseating congregation, the First Church of Laodicea. Tragically, despite the putrefying stench of death pervading the assembly, the congregation was unaware of the terminal malady with which they were infected. The congregation appears to have held quite a high opinion of themselves. Like many Christians in this day, they held the opinion that if they experienced no hardships and if they weren’t upsetting anyone, they were surely engaged in doing God’s work in a pleasing manner. They considered that because they were blessed materially, they surely enjoyed the smile of Heaven. The reality was quite different, however. Studying the Master’s view of the First Church of Laodicea is revealing, especially when we apply those views to our own situation.

THE SICKENING CHURCH

The Church of Laodicea was a sick church, and because it was sick, it was a sickening church. It is difficult to work with those who are horribly disfigured, or those who in their illness have befouled themselves. Often, such individuals don’t realize the extent of their illness, though it is impossible for them not to realize the impact of their condition on those who would help them.

In this instance, the congregation is sick, and their very presence sickens God. What is terrible about this situation is that they appear to be unaware of how nauseating they are to the One they call “Lord.”

How chilling, in this instance, for the Savior to say, “I know your works!”

When we speak, the inflection of our voice can communicate meaning as effectively as the words that are spoken. “I know your works” can either sound sinister or affirming; the tone and the inflection will reveal whether we are being commended or condemned. In this instance, though we cannot hear the inflection of the voice, we know that the words of Jesus were dark, because He continued by making it evident that He was expressing severe disapproval this congregation. How chilling those words must have sounded to the Laodicean church members! “I know your works!”

SLIDE: The Church Today

Tepid faith, a lukewarm congregation, defines far too much of contemporary Christendom. Evangelical churches remain silent as dead congregations promote the most abhorrent acts in the Name of Jesus. Tragically, much of Christendom has forgotten who they are and who they represent.

Our success according to the standards of the world does not register with God. God neither requires success according to the measure of this world, nor does success on our part enhance our usefulness in advancing His work. Our focus as followers of Jesus must always be on advancing the cause of Christ. I’m not saying that we are to be unconcerned about providing for our family or ensuring that we address immediate needs. Either Jesus is Master over life, or He is a mere add-on to our main pursuit. If we attempt to relegate Him to the role of an add-on, it will quickly become apparent that He is not Lord, regardless of what we may claim.

SLIDE: Revelation 3:17

Residents of the world in which the Laodicean congregation existed would have argued that the congregation was rich. In fact, the congregation boasted of their wealth, and no one, other than the Savior, disagreed. Jesus commented, in Revelation 3:17 :

Revelation 3:17 (CSB)

17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

The Lord is describing a self-satisfied congregation that has everything they need—except power. They aren’t disturbing the world and the world isn’t bothering them. They have struck an accommodation with the world, and they aren’t rocking the boat.

SLIDE: Marks of a Lukewarm Church

The church that sickens God is described as a tepid church, to be certain. The marks of this lukewarm church are a sense of self-satisfaction arising from wealth. Comfort has displaced compassion. Position within contemporary society was of greater importance to the congregation than was the power of God.

Jesus exposes the dreadful condition of what can only be described as a self-satisfied congregation when Jesus says to the church in Revelation 3:17-18 :

Revelation 3:17–18 (CSB)

17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.

His words, though gracious in encouraging the wayward church to turn from their own faithlessness, are yet fearful with a terrifying warning that can only be described as breathtaking.

GOD’S RESPONSE TO A TEPID CHURCH

I suspect that most Americans would be proud to have been counted as members of the First Church of the Laodiceans. Services there were designed to affirm those in attendance. Nothing was said from the pulpit that could offend worshippers—the Laodicean church was a “safe space” for the most cautious individual. The music was energetic, exciting, conveying just the right message to stir the emotion without saying anything that could be upsetting. Though there was often talk about God—no one would be made to feel uncomfortable. Jesus was mentioned frequently and always as One affirming those who spoke His Name. In fact, the preachers ensured attendees that Jesus would fulfil their fondest wishes. There was little expected of worshippers whether they were regular in attendance or not.

However, Jesus condemned the First Church of Laodicea as a mere shell, an illusion. Jesus the Lord was pointed in His assessment. Had they hot, the congregation would assuredly been of service to the Jesus’ cause. Were they cold, perhaps the church could be warmed by supplying fuel to get a fire going. However, the assembly was “lukewarm,” neither submitting to the Savior nor utterly opposed to Him. They would politely listen to the messengers He sent, and then dismiss them as unaware of their peculiar situation in the community. It is essential that we remember there is no neutrality in the spiritual conflict in which we are engaged. The souls of lost people do not respond to that message that affirms them in their wickedness. Christ will not abide a congregation that is tepid.

I am compelled by truth to address Laodicean Christians, those professed believers who imagine that the world is their friend because these professed followers of Christ never say anything to upset the lost. There is a dreadful end to the Laodicean Church. As we read in the following pages of the Apocalypse, the Laodicean congregation morphs into the Great Prostitute, religion that is fully transformed into the worship of anti-Christ.

God permitted John to witness a terrifying sight. This is what John wrote in Revelation 17

Revelation 17:1–6 (CSB)

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters. 2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.” 3 Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution. 5 On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth. 6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

John could not imagine who this Great Prostitute could be. The angel makes it clear that the Great Prostitute represents Christianity that abandoned belief in Jesus—she has prostituted herself, allowing herself to be infested with demonic powers, even embracing those vile powers as valid and righteous, committing immorality with all the rulers of the earth [see REVELATION 18:2, 3a]. Superficially, this prostituted religion is Christian, but there is no Spirit of God energizing her, there is no Son of God glorified, there is no God the Father reigning over this perverted mess.

SLIDE: See Yourself Through God’s Eyes

Professing Christians need to see themselves through God’s eyes, and the churches that they are following need to see themselves as Christ sees them. This is especially true if the one professing Christ has slipped into the Laodicean lukewarm condition. When a church, or one professing to be a child of God, has slid into tepid faith, they need to realize that they cannot be pleasing to Jesus. In fact, whenever we slide into a lukewarm condition, we make God sick!

Imagine! Witnessing God’s power and His goodness, being recipients of His magnificent grace and yet demanding still more of Him—demanding that He do more than He has done. Imagine! Consuming God’s goodness to fulfil one’s own desire rather than blessing others with what the Lord had given. This is a church that is always taking all that God gives, all the while focusing on fulfilling their own desires while refusing to bless others. No wonder that the Lord was angry!

Mark’s Gospel records a warning Jesus delivered; that warning gives pause to any who attempt to influence His people to turn away from ardent pursuit of Him and His righteousness. Jesus warned:

Mark 9:42–50 (NLT)

42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ 49 “For everyone will be tested with fire. 50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

The Word of God invites all:

Romans 10:9–13 (NLT)

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

SLIDE: How to Avoid a Lukewarm Church

If you have called on Him, identify with a Bible-believing congregation that loves Jesus and boldly proclaims the message of life. And then, commit yourself to learn of Him through reading the Word, through spending time in His presence and through participating in the life of the assembly where the Spirit of God directs you. I assure you that He will not direct you to a lukewarm congregation that is under sentence of condemnation. We invite you to believe the promise of God to be saved an join us here at Curry’s Chapel Church.

Amen, indeed.