What Does Jesus Say About Being A Lukewarm Christian?

woman sitting at a table thinking about being a lukewarm Christian — Prixel Creative / Lightstock

Are you a lukewarm Christian?

Essentially, a lukewarm Christian is someone who calls themselves a Christian, but who doesn’t prioritize their faith the way they should.

We all fall into that camp from time to time!

Unfortunately, while being a lukewarm Christian may seem like no big deal to us (or at least, not that bad), Jesus has some pretty harsh words for anyone who calls themselves a Christian but doesn’t live out their calling the way they should.

The Lukewarm Christian Bible Verse: Revelation 3:15-16

The phrase “lukewarm Christian” comes from Revelation 3:15-16, which 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.”

Here’s the context:

Throughout the book of Revelation, God gives the apostle John a message for seven churches in the province of Asia.

Revelations 3:15-16 (above) are part of the message originally given for the Church in Laodicea.

Apparently, this church had become very rich and thought it no longer needed God to provide.

In this passage, God is warning the church in Laodicea that they aren’t as blessed as they think they are. Rather, they are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked,” and they don’t even realize it.

God is encouraging the lukewarm Christians in Laodicea to recognize, repent and turn away from their sinful condition so they can be restored to a right relationship with Him again.

What Does Jesus Say About Being A Lukewarm Christian?

Revelation 3:15-16 is the only Bible verse that specifically mentions the word “lukewarm.”

Yet, all throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly encourages and expects his disciples to follow him wholeheartedly.

Here are a few Scriptures where Jesus alludes to being (or not being) a lukewarm Christian:

Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:38: “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Jesus isn’t calling us to simply place a “Christian” label over an otherwise unchanged life.

Rather, Jesus is calling us to go ALL IN in our faith.

“Kind of” following him isn’t enough.

10 Signs You’re a Lukewarm Christian

So how do you know if you’re a lukewarm Christian?

Here are a few signs to watch out for.

1. You’re “Too Busy” to Spend Time with God

Between work, family and home, we’re all busy. However, if you have hours each day for TV, social media, Youtube, podcasts or other forms of entertainment — but you can’t find 5 minutes to spend with God — that’s often a sign of misplaced priorities.

2. You’re More Concerned with What Your Friends and Family Think than What God Thinks

It’s completely normal to want to be accepted by your friends and family. However, if you’re so concerned with others’ opinions that it’s negatively impacting your ability to obey God or wholeheartedly follow His will for your life, that may be a problem.

3. Your Life Doesn’t Look Any Different as a Result of Walking with God

None of us are perfect. We’re all works in progress. That’s to be expected. However, if you aren’t seeing any measurable spiritual progress as a result of becoming a Christian, going to church, reading your Bible, or spending time in prayer, that’s not a good sign.

4. You Haven’t Obeyed What God has Told You to Do

Is there anything you KNOW God has told you to do… that you haven’t obeyed Him in? Obeying God isn’t always easy, and it’s normal to need a minute to muster up the courage. However, if you are continuing to repeat sins you KNOW are against God’s will for your life, that’s a problem.

5. Your Life Doesn’t Demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit

According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruits of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

As you seek to walk with the Lord, you should naturally start to exhibit more and more of these traits as the Holy Spirit works in and through you. If these words don’t characterize your life at all, that’s a sign you aren’t allowing the Holy Spirit to complete his work in you.

6. You Try to Shape God in Your Image (Not the Other Way Around)

When you read the Bible, do you attempt to understand it in a way that makes sense within our current culture (letting our culture define the Bible) OR do you allow the Bible to define how you live within our culture?

Many of the Bible’s words simply don’t make sense within our current culture.

7. You Act Differently Depending on Who You’re Around

Do you act one way around your Christian friends and a different way around your non-Christian friends? While it’s normal for your personality to change slightly depending on the personalities of those around you, you shouldn’t have to hide your true self to fit in.

8. You Don’t Want Others to Know You’re a Christian

Similarly, does everyone around you know that you’re a Christian? If so, how can they tell? (Do you talk about your faith? Do you demonstrate your faith through your actions?) If not, why not? Is it because you’re scared, ashamed, or embarrassed?

9. You Want the Benefits of Christianity without the Sacrifice

Being a Christian comes with some pretty big benefits — eternal life, wisdom, a relationship with the God of the Universe… But unfortunately, it does require sacrifice as well.

If you’re wishing for all the benefits but unwilling to follow through on the sacrifice, you may be a lukewarm Christian.

10. You’re Content to Keep a Shallow Relationship with God

Are you actively seeking to grow in your faith — perhaps by reading your Bible, attending church, or spending time in prayer?

It’s often been said that if you’re not growing, you’re going backward.

How to Stop Being a Lukewarm Christian

As flawed humans living in a fallen world, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever follow Jesus perfectly.

But that doesn’t mean that we should just sit back and say, “Oh well. God will understand!” as we continue to disobey.

Rather, it’s our responsibility to do what WE can, while trusting God to do what only HE can — through the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

Practically speaking, here are seven great first steps you can take to stop being a lukewarm Christian:

Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you love Him more.
Read and study God’s Word regularly to learn more about who God is, what He wants and how you can follow Him.
Find a great church, attend regularly and join a small group.
Look for opportunities to better love and serve those around you.
Identify the sins and distractions that most hold you back and create a plan to overcome them.
Intentionally seek to find and follow God’s will for your life — even if it’s just with baby steps at first.
Ask a good friend to hold you accountable to spiritual growth.

For help with any of these, be sure to check out the Equipping Godly Women website as well as my latest two books, Fall in Love with God’s Word and Follow God’s Will, for practical step-by-step advice and encouragement to help you go ALL IN in faith and family.