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Picture

10/6/2020

4 Comments

Lukewarm Coffee 2020

 
Picture
Lukewarm Coffee (LWC) exists in a land between hot and cold where room temperature is king.  It is the 'Twilight Zone' of brews. Most LWCs were once a well intended piping hot cup of coffee until forgotten or ignored.  They (LWCs) are the 'stale donuts' of the beverage world. 

And last I checked, n
either Starbucks or Dunn Brothers feature lukewarm coffee. GO FIGURE! Not not even for a niche target market of very plain boring people dressed in old sweats, bed hair, and a 2 day beard eating plain white bread from the bag while demanding their LWC.


Picture
NO ONE wants lukewarm coffee, and I believe the only acceptable use for it is .. when I have a splitting headache with two Excedrin in my hand and I spot a half a cup of LWC sitting around from this morning to wash down the meds before my head explodes.

Of course our Bibles speak often on the topic of coffee (ie Hebrews  hahaha.. old joke), and even tackles the specific  topic of LWC in Revelations 3:15-16 where the angel of the church of Laodicea speaks out.. 
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth ​(like a cup of lukewarm generic instant decaf coffee with non-dairy creamer and a sweetener substitute). 

note: If you did not guess, the part in parenthesis was not from 'The Message'.. I added it myself to emphasize my LWC point.

But there is a very sobering interpretation of this scripture.  Being a LWC believer (even with sweetener added) is not a safe place to be. Will lukewarm get me to Heaven?  Well, the whole God spitting me out of His mouth is a pretty clear NO... IMO.

God is not amused by half-hearted devotion.  In fact God sounds frustrated, dare I say disgusted in Revelations 3:15-16 when we are only playing church. 
​

Picture
So I read this passage and look at my life.  I am a good guy, no major ( or minor ) crimes, I go to church most every week. I love God, my family, and have good friends making this life good.. for ME, BUT.. am I actually living a lukewarm cup of decaf and a stale donut communion lifestyle?  I like to think not, but this is an honest GUT CHECK.
  • Do my thoughts, and passions revolve around ME?..
  • Do my resources, and my prayers feature ME?..
  • Does the movie of my life stars ME? 

If I attend church not with worship in my heart and mind but instead it has become my weekly good deed ritual for pretty good guys . Then maybe I am a LWC believer.

Picture
So in my 'Hot Coffee Analogy' how would an angel of God describe you? Hot, cold, or a 3 day old LWC brew with cream curdling at the top?  

I am NOT saying being anything less than the next Billy Graham or Mother Theresa is lukewarm.. but please LET'S NOT be indifferent about the creator of this world or others in need.   Frankly being OK is LWC.


My bigger concern.. I observe the Church as a whole is so seeker friendly to the point where attendance numbers and a great Sunday Worship 'Show' are their primary measure of spirituality.  Our motto is 'Give the people what they want? ' instead of 'give them what they need.'

Read John 6:60-63, 66-69


When many of his disciples heard it (Jesus teaching), they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (The Truth? You can't handle the Truth!) 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. .. 
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him (so NOT seeker friendly of Jesus). 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him (with Hot Coffee Faith), “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”  John 6:60-69
​

Using today's Seeker Friendly church model (with the motto no one get's burned with LWC).. was Jesus a failure? 

My prayer today is God will bless and speak to each of you. May we listen to His voice and serve Him like never before in a way that is anything but lukewarm.

Jeff (aspiring to be a Grande Latte) Larson


4 Comments
Elaine McElhaney (in South Caarolina)
10/6/2020 12:44:56 pm

We have read a couple books on Wednesday night about why churches are failing. The consensus is that churches are focusing on the three 'B's. Building, budget, bodies. Like you said, trying to give visitors what they want. What we should be doing is making Disciples. ONE BIGGY we noted was that nobody ever goes greets and sits with new people. Fixed that.
And we're working on leaning how to talk JESUS to people.
I have always had trouble with shyness so I guess I'm one of the luke-warm but I'm trying more.

Reply
Wayne
10/6/2020 05:41:49 pm

Elaine, I’m with you on that shyness. I’ve had to pray about that one a lot myself. And I agree with what you said totally.
I think we dropped the ball somewhere along the line. People shouldn’t have to be lured into church with bait-and-switch. I believe the Newsboys said it best, “Shine. Make them wonder what you got. Make them wish they were not on the outside looking for it.” We are supposed to live in a way that people see how we handle things and want what we have that is so different from the world.
And, Jeff, you make me laugh and cry with the same blog. Please keep allowing God to speak to us through you.

Reply
Jeffrey Dean Larson
10/6/2020 07:52:16 pm

I appreciate both your comments. It is work for me to just relax and talk to people. I am prayerfully working through this, but not always sure when to speak and when to be quiet. I want my faith to be conversational and contagious but I think I often sound tired and awkward.

Reply
Wayne
10/7/2020 08:13:03 am

You are doing great. Just let the Holy Spirit guide you. Pray, read the scriptures and write. God is using you to touch lives, even when you don't know it.

Reply



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