The Church in Laodicea: Lukewarm for Jesus
Today’s passage: Revelation 3:14–22
Focus verse: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
We don’t know that Paul ever traveled to Laodicea during his missionary journeys, but he mentions their church in his letter to the church in Colossae. He also wrote a letter to the church in Laodicea.
We know this because he told the Colossian church to pass on their letter to Laodicea and for them to read Laodicea’s. But that epistle is lost to history, and we don’t have it to read today.
This leaves Jesus’s message to the church in Laodicea as our primary biblical source of information about them.
In this letter he accuses them of being lukewarm Christians and therefore worthless.
To understand being lukewarm, consider temperature extremes. If they’re hot, they’re on fire for Jesus. They’ll advance his kingdom and be of great benefit.
Conversely, if they’re cold, they’re worthless for any kingdom purpose, but they are at least in a place where they can repent, making a U-turn back to Jesus and becoming hot for him.
The lukewarm church—lacking either of these extremes—accomplishes nothing of value but isn’t ready to repent either.
Though this is one understanding of this verse, consider another one.
Consider taking a drink. If the beverage is cool, it refreshes us. If the beverage is hot, it soothes us. But a lukewarm drink meets neither of these goals, and we don’t want it.
If we’re expecting something hot or cold, a lukewarm beverage disappoints us, and we may spit it out.
Consider Jesus taking a metaphorical drink from the church in Laodicea. He expects either soothing hot or refreshing cold. Instead, he gulps a lukewarm drink of blah.
He spits it out in disgust. What a terrifying image, for Jesus to find no value in us or our church and to figuratively spit us out in abhorrence.
This lukewarm church thinks they’re well-off and doesn’t need a thing. But Jesus’s assessment of them is far different. He sees them as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Yet he has a solution. He tells them to seek him for refined gold to make them rich; pure white clothes to cover themselves; and medicine to put on their eyes so they can see again.
Though his criticism is harsh, and his correction is stern, he reminds them that his rebuke and discipline come from his deep love for them.
What are they to do? Repent.
“Repent” is a recurring word in the book of Revelation, seen here more than in any other book in the Bible. Often, it’s the recommended prescription for these seven churches.
What was true then may be true now.
Questions:
- Are we lukewarm for Jesus (neither hot nor cold)?
- What about the church we attend?
- Do we think we’re doing well and don’t need a thing?
- What do we need to repent from?
- What does our church need to repent from?
[Discover more about repent in Matthew 4:17, Mark 6:12, Luke 13:3, and Acts 2:38.]
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Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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