Being lukewarm and a bystander could cost you your eternal soul!

Keith D. Hardin | April 8, 2014 | Soap Box Sermon Series

We truly live in very interesting times! The liberal element is, and has been, bending a lot of the truths that we hold dear as Christians or moral individuals. This has happened so much in our recent past that some people feel it is safer to just stand by and either do, or say, nothing. If you aren’t sure what I am talking about, let’s look at some examples.

What about an individual who goes to a store….Let’s say for argument’s sake Wal-Mart. So one bright and shiny day while you are shopping you see an individual take something from the shelf and pocket it while no one was looking. Then he walks right out of the store. To be honest you had plenty of time to alert someone, but you didn’t. Why? Well you say it was just a small object. No one will miss it. After all the management expects a certain percentage of their inventory to be ripped off. Besides I am way too busy. Now is that really true or is the real reason that you just don’t want to get involved.

Someone you know invites you to go to church with them and you agree. After sitting in the sanctuary for a bit you discover that you are in a gay church…..You are shocked, but you don’t want to make a fuss or embarrass yourself or your friend, so you just sit there. Now is that what you really wanted to do? Do you really want to sit there or get up and leave?

You are a pastor of a church that does not believe in marrying people who have been divorced. A couple asks for you to perform a wedding ceremony for them. So you agree even though you know that both of them have been married before. But you don’t ask. Hey if you don’t ask then officially you don’t know. Right?…..Anyway you need the money and no one will know (Except for God).

Let’s take one more look. This time let’s wander into a supermarket and it is horribly crowded. You are in line and ready to pay for your purchases. There are so many people behind you pushing and complaining. The gal behind the register is new and visibly frustrated and upset. She counts out your change and does not discover she gave you $5.00 too much in your change. She missed it, but you didn’t. You pocketed the money and smiled to yourself and said, “Thanks for the bonus!” Then you walk away.

What is actually wrong here? Do you know?……Yes!! It is what most of us are guilty of today and society praises us for doing it…..The liberals call it tolerance. It means that we should put up with wrongs or sin even though we know that it is wrong.  We should just look the other way. Tolerance has brought a new word into our vocabulary….Chrislam! Tolerance is causing some to blend the heathen with our Lord and Savior. I wonder if those folks who do that think about that passage from the Bible that says NOT TO GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

What we are becoming is a bunch of lukewarm line straddlers. People who are willing to put up with most everything in the name of not rocking the boat. Doing this is slowly killing our society and everything that we stand for.

Now for the zinger….What does God say about all of this? Does he have an opinion…Advice? The answer to that is YES….Let’s go to Revelation…….

Revelation 3:15-16 NIV [15] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! [16] So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. …

People who are passive, have no opinion, or are very careful to stay on the center line are what God is talking about….Gutless cowards who will be spit from the Creator’s mouth. How does that make you feel? Anything else?…….I am glad you asked.

2 John 1:10-11 NIV [10] If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. [11] Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

John was referring to traveling teachers as those who were involved in preaching heresy. …He was saying that if you welcomed these people into their homes, that YOU were just as guilty as the person doing the wrong……So if you are passive and allow someone to rip off someone YOU…yes YOU are just as guilty as if you did it yourself. If you permit someone to be married and this marriage causes those people to be involved in an adulterous relationship, YOU are just as guilty.

We need to stop being permissive cowards and gain some inner strength….PRAY and ask forgiveness. Then stop lying to yourself. You can tell the truth or address a situation without damaging a relationship or offending…….

Let’s go back to the thief who stole from Wal-Mart……Would it not be a simple thing to do to walk over to the person who stole and offer to pay for the item they put in their pocket? Maybe they are really hurting and are unemployed and are in need. Think of how that may help and also give you a chance to witness.

The gay church may be the roughest….But there are ways to handle this….First you may ask when you are invited, “What kind of church is it?” Probably from there make them the offer…Okay I will make you a deal,,,,If I go to church with you this Sunday, then you have to come with me the next Sunday. Okay?

The pastor who knows that the couple have been divorced simply has to ask and the answer will come out. That would give him a chance to state the church’s beliefs. It would also give him to evangelize a bit. Also the pastor could send the couple to another pastor who does not share the same beliefs. Either way that would clearly state the position without offending anyone.

Finally the poor frustrated lady at the checkout counter. She is having a bad day anyway. Why not brighten her day and give her the money back. Then use the moment since the ice has been broken to talk to her about Jesus and that is why you are honest…..Or invite her to church.

All of the above will accomplish about three things….Maybe four. You stood your ground and made your point, you did not offend anyone, you got a chance to do some of the Great Commission, and finally God will NOT be spitting you out of His mouth.

As much as we can reap God’s wrath for being lukewarm, we are graciously rewarded for helping and supporting those who do good.

Matthew 10:41 NIV [41] Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

It is obvious that God does not want people who are lukewarm, passive, and afraid to say what is right. If you are guilty of any of this, it is NOT too late to make changes. Why not do this:

1. Repent and ask God’s forgiveness.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you when you enter into a difficult situation.

Finally if you are reading this and have not made Jesus Christ your Lord, then why not pray along with me. The prayer is simple. God never makes things difficult. His way is always the simplest. Why not pray with me……

Dear Jesus……I know that I am a sinner and I know that I have sinned. Please forgive me of my sins. I know and believe that You gave Your life for me and died on that cross so long ago. I also believe that You were raised to life three days later. Come into my life. Be my Lord, my Savior, and my God!.

AMEN

First of all, welcome to the family. Next there are three things you can do to help your Christian walk. They are summarized in three simple words……Pray, Read, and Fellowship. Pray to God every day. Talk to him about everything. He wants to hear from you. Next read from His word daily and study it. Finally, fellowship with other believers in a Bible believing and preaching church. You will never be the same!!

That’s about it for this SBS……Until the next time, may our Lord bless each and every one of you richly.

Keith D. Hardin