As noted in Part 1
of this series, The Book of Psalms, especially Psalm 119, frequently references
this whole heart concept, testifying
of God’s desire for us to engage with Him, and with our world on His behalf,
with an enthusiastic heart full of love, praise, worship,
adoration and service. Other references note the harsh/undesirable consequences
of half-heartedness or lukewarmness toward The Lord God Almighty.
Jesus Christ was
God’s effective bloody seed, planted (died) in Earth to produce an
eternal fruit called ‘church’ -- a
holy [separated/set-aside] remnant of
humanity with a distinct purpose. Some Bible scholars believe this church,
worldwide, would transit 7 rather distinct phases or ages, culminating in the
final Church of the Laodiceans, or the Laodicean Church Age that would precede
the predicted return of Jesus to rapture His church.1 While this point is debatable, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul reveals a key precursor of the end of this age, namely a great falling away of previously faithful Christ followers. In His letter to the Church at Laodicea, dictated to Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos circa 95 AD, Jesus promises to ‘vomit out of His mouth’ fake, inauthentic, lukewarm believers. While this may have occurred all throughout the church age, it seems reasonable that satan ‘knows his time is short’, and thus he would increasingly ramp-up efforts to deceive and tempt believers who remain weak and easy prey.
Of particular note
is Christ’s message to the final, Laodicean church age. It is a cutting, stern
warning about its intolerable
lukewarmness, fed by its material wealth and riches, and the resulting sense of self-sufficiency. Together, these reflect no real need
for God, or ability to display His power to an on-looking society and world.2
The astute reader
will recognize, as many Bible scholars do, that the Laodicean Church Age is
now.
This is the Church (worldwide) generally at peace, comfortable with its great/increasing
wealth that making it relatively self-sufficient, displaying to society and the
world what Paul referred to as ‘a form of godliness, but denying [or not demonstrating] the power
thereof’. (2 Timothy 3:5) 3
Particularly
noteworthy is that America(ns) often boast(s) of being a Christian nation, and having the largest
number of professing Christians worldwide.4
This is an oft debated, highly politicized issue, pitting our so-called political
right against the so-called political
left. While any straight-thinking
citizen will recognize both sides of America’s political divide are rife with
beliefs and practices that seriously conflict with God’s spiritual laws/principles
for humanity, let’s imagine for a moment that this oft touted boasting may have some
merit.
What would that infer about
Christ’s stern rebuke
to this current Laodicean
Church age?
As you ponder this
question, consider the following:
1. Have American Christians today generally become
rich and wealthy, living as if we have need of nothing, lacking
revelations of the power of God flowing through us as healing oil flowing on
intractable problems across our land? Have we effectively lost our [spiritual] salt that, though
biting/stinging, represents essential nutrients that society itself needs, but simply
cannot produce (just like sodium/chloride are to our physical bodies)? We
often consider the preservative qualities of salt, but omit its crucial role in
regulating many bodily functions that transport oxygen and other nutrients, and
digestion and maintaining the body’s overall fluid balance.
Ponder the spiritual
equivalent of salt in a society.
2. Have American Christians today generally grown
thick and fat, living off the fat
of our land [prosperous economy]? Without
doubt, we have become increasingly obese, physically.
Ponder the spiritual
equivalent of rampant physical obesity in a society.
3. Like the taste and feel of tepid water in
the mouth, Christ promises to vomit the Laodicean church out of His mouth/His
Church body!
Ponder whether our
American society may have already
done the same with today’s ineffective, seemingly powerless church.
4. Though the typical American local church may
be relatively rich compared to local churches elsewhere, much of this wealth is
in buildings, equipment and money. In 1971, the U.S. dollar was taken off the
gold standard and now only represents a promise
from the USG, the same entity that controls and heavily uses the currency
printing press, and that might weaken the dollar’s value with each (non-replacement) printing.
Moreover, since buildings and equipment rapidly deteriorate, they cannot
represent real wealth. Spiritually, Christ counsels the Laodicean church to
‘buy gold’, a representation of enduring, spiritual wealth.(See: Isaiah 55)
Ponder how Church America
can adhere to Christ’s counsel to ‘buy enduring, spiritual gold’.
5. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul noted there
would be a great ‘falling away’ from real, Christ-rooted faith in the last days.
This paints the picture of Christians, in
name only, leaving Christ outside, knocking at the door of their
hearts. (Revelation 3:20)
Ponder, if you will, the
relationship between lukewarmness and falling away.
6. Though the above generally refers to an age,
the astute reader will correctly perceive it also refers to individuals
who populate the age.
Ponder, if you will, what does
this mean for you, dear Reader, as
you carefully examine any ‘Laodicean likeness’ in your personal lifestyle.
7. Jesus
sternly chided religious scholars of His day for their inability to ‘discern signs of the time’, and thereby
modify their thoughts, words and actions. (Matthew
16 and Luke 12) Their response signaled their strong dislike for being
judged.
Ponder, if you will, relationships between discerning and judging. Are you aware that
Christ-followers are called upon …to do both??
(See: Judging, Misjudged (Poem))
(Stay tuned for Part 3)
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1 The 7 Church Ages are:
The
Loveless Church (@Ephesus)
The
Persecuted Church (@Smyrna)
The
Compromising Church (@Pergamos)
The
Corrupt Church (@Thyatira)
The
Dead Church (@Sardis)
The
Faithful Church (@Philadelphia,
ancient city)
The
Lukewarm Church (@Laodicea)
Rapture: The global event that will signal the start
of the predicted 7-year tribulation period of God’s wrath poured out on the
Christ-rejecting world.
2 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of
the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor
hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because
you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ --
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of
your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that
you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous
and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with
Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I
also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”” (Revelation 3:14-22)
4 ‘The United States has the largest
Christian population in the world, followed by Brazil and Mexico.’ Christianity by Country
