The Lukewarm Christian

I feel sick to my stomach. Between an online sermon I recently listened to and a book I am reading, I am convicted. The sermon talked about lukewarm Christians and how God spits them out. The speaker Francis Chan discussed how as Christians we should do everything we can to make sure we are on fire for God. This does not mean lukewarm....this means on fire. Then I began to read a book that Nathan received for free. It was sitting around and I thought I should spend less time online and more time reading. The book is titled 'The Road to Reality' by K.P. Yohannan. I am not sure if I love or hate this book. At first when I was reading it I felt like the author was awfully harsh toward North American Christians (he didn't grow up in N.A.) then I realized that I was uncomfortable with the book not because I felt like the author was too harsh on us,  but because I was convicted. He makes some amazing points on Christians in our country and I for one am convinced he is right.

I know there are some people who are passionate about God in North America. But I'm still convinced most of us have it wrong. Am I willing to die for Christ? Am I willing to give up everything I own and everyone I love if God asked me to? Am I willing to even talk to my neighbour about God? Would I still love God if everybody in the world hated me? Would I still praise God if something tragic in my life happened?

I often think of Abraham. God asked him to sacrifice his son. If God asked me to sacrifice my husband, could I do it? I wish the answer was yes, but I'm afraid the answer is no.

So what is the deal with most of us being lukewarm? Are we okay to follow God as we want and ignore other parts as we so desire? We have NO clue about real persecution and yet Christ says we will be persecuted. So if we're not being persecuted...why not? Christ promised persecution so does this make him a liar? No. Somehow we've gotten off track. I think we all mean well and we do love God...but somewhere along the line, we began to do things how we wanted and not Christ.

Why is it that so many of us don't hear God? Why do we know so much about God but the Holy Spirit seems like the crazy drunk uncle who shows up at family gatherings? (I stole that from the book...I think it was too good to not share) When we get uncomfortable, we assume it must not be God working. Well if you read the Bible, God did all sorts of crazy things that today Christians would say is of the devil.

I for one am only a lukewarm Christian and I am ashamed. It's too easy to be one in this country and I can't handle it any longer. I don't know what this means for me....but the journey is just beginning. I will carry on and read this book and I need to seek God. REALLY seek God.

The Battle

I'm reminded today that as Christians we fight a battle EVERY day. We are constantly in a war. Do we battle people? No. We battle against the dark spiritual forces.

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

I heard a sermon once where the pastor talked about physical war. He stated that almost every parent (religious in any manner or not) would likely pray for safety for their son/daughter who was in war. People understand the dangers of physical war and the reality that in war, your life can be lost so easily. So many people pray for safety in hopes that their child will return to them safely because they love that child.

Why do many of us forget to pray for our loved ones in spiritual battle? Do we understand that the ones we love can also die? Or maybe they are already dead. But not physically, rather spiritually. DO WE GET IT? I certainly don't. I think the devil has done a nice job of distracting us. When somebody is going through something major, we pray. We definitely pray when somebody is sick or injured. We pray when a need needs to be met. But what about their spiritual health? Do we pray for that? I SHOULD be praying for my loved ones daily because their spiritual health is on the line. Christians are not immune to addictions and problems. So why aren't we on our knees daily?

There are a zillion Bible verses I can quote to prove we need to be praying.

We're supposed to pray without ceasing.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

But Bible verses mean nothing if we ignore them. 

Tonight there is a MAJOR event going on in Kitchener for teenagers from K/W, Cambridge and Guelph. The event is called Epicentre. It is put on by the Billy Graham association. The event is expected to draw in a few thousand teens from the area. Will Graham (Billy's grandson) will be speaking at the event. Many of the teens going are already Christian but many of them are bringing their non-Christian friends. You better believe that there is a major battle going on today. The Devil will do whatever his sneaky mind can think of to screw this up. But guess what....my God is bigger. I think the Devil will win a few battles, but God is going to win the war. Maybe some kids who should be coming will somehow not be able to anymore. But there WILL be kids tonight who dedicate their lives to Christ for the first time. There will be kids who re-dedicate their lives to Him. 

So I ask you to pray. We need to be praying ALL day. Maybe people don't believe in spiritual warfare because it doesn't seem so obvious in Canada. Maybe that is the devil's trick! But perhaps what appears to be the lack of spiritual warfare is in fact us losing the battle because we turn af blind eye.

Spiritual warfare is very real. I can only imagine how hard the angels are fighting...and so I too will fight,through worship to God and through prayer and petition. Will you fight with me? Not by sword but on your knees, begging God for these kids soul's.