From Lukewarm to Lit: Reviving Your Spiritual Fire

In today's spiritual landscape, there's a chronic disease affecting the universal church - one that has metastasized throughout the Christian community. If you were to undergo a spiritual diagnosis today, chances are you'd be identified with this condition. What is this widespread spiritual ailment? It's what we might call spiritual apathy.

What is spiritual apathy, and why is it dangerous?

Spiritual apathy is a condition of indifference or reluctance towards matters of faith, devotion, and the genuine pursuit of God. In essence, it's a lack of care, concern, or passion for God and the things of God.
This condition manifests in several ways:

• Prayer becomes mechanical or is avoided altogether
• Disinterest in Scripture (the Bible feels boring or irrelevant)
• Lukewarm worship (going through motions without heartfelt engagement)
• Lack of spiritual hunger (no desire for growth or deeper relationship with God)
• Emotional detachment (feeling nothing when hearing about God's love or salvation) 

Understanding the lukewarm condition
In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea with these sobering words: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I 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."
Think about this practically. Imagine craving a hot cup of coffee, anticipating that first wonderful sip, only to taste lukewarm coffee instead. The disappointment is immediate and visceral - you might even want to spit it out. This is precisely how Jesus feels about lukewarm faith.

Why is lukewarmness so offensive to Jesus? Because:

• It's deceptive - It appears to be something it's not
• It's insulting - It treats the cross as casual
• It's infectious - Spiritual apathy spreads throughout a community
• It's ineffective - It accomplishes nothing for the kingdom

How Jesus measures our spiritual temperature

There's a critical distinction between how we evaluate spiritual health and how Jesus does. We often focus on:

• Religious performance
• Bible knowledge
• Church attendance
• Religious activities
• Moral behaviors
• Church growth

But Jesus is measuring something entirely different:

• Your heart temperature
• Your passion
• Your devotion
• Your genuine love behind your faith

Jesus is using a spiritual thermostat, not administering a theological exam. While we ask, "What do you know about God?" Jesus asks, "How much do you love God?" We might inquire, "Can you explain the doctrines of salvation?" while Jesus wants to know, "Are you passionate about me?"
This matters because you can be theologically correct but spiritually cold. The Pharisees exemplified this - they knew Scripture inside and out but missed recognizing Jesus when He stood before them.
As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 8:1, "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." You can be religiously active but spiritually lukewarm, serving out of duty rather than devotion.

The Laodicean syndrome: Rich, increased, and wrong

The church in Laodicea suffered from a dangerous self-assessment problem. They claimed: "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). But God's assessment was dramatically different: "You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."
This reveals the dangers of prosperity without dependency on God. When we reach a place of independence, we lose our dependence on God. Wealth can become a spiritual anesthetic, numbing us to the things of God. Success can breed spiritual self-sufficiency, and comfort can kill spiritual hunger.

The American church and prosperity

There are striking parallels between the wealthy Laodicean church and the contemporary American church:

• Unprecedented wealth and resources
• Declining influence and passion
• Massive budgets with little community transformation
• High comfort levels correlating with low spiritual intensity

The prosperity gospel has taught many that blessing equals God's favor, leading to consumer Christianity, where church members shop for comfort rather than challenges. Churches often cater to comfort rather than calling people to sacrifice.

Life Application

Take a moment to imagine entering Jesus' examination room today. If He were to measure your heart temperature, what would it read? What is truly motivating your service, your giving, and your church attendance?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I pursuing God Himself or just the blessings He provides?
• Have I been serving out of duty or genuine devotion?
• What area of my spiritual life has become mechanical rather than meaningful?
• How can I move from head knowledge to heart devotion this week?

This week, commit to one specific action that will help revive your spiritual fire. Perhaps it's setting aside dedicated time for prayer that goes beyond routine, diving into Scripture with fresh eyes, or serving in a way that stretches you beyond your comfort zone.
Remember, Jesus isn't looking for perfect theology or flawless religious performance - He's looking for a heart that burns with love for Him. He would rather you be honestly cold (aware of your need) than deceptively lukewarm. The good news is that if you recognize your lukewarm condition today, you're already taking the first step toward becoming spiritually "lit" again.