Laodicea and Philadelphia

Christians use some odd terms.

You know what I’m talking about-churchy words like “the aisle” or “the body” and

faithy phrases like “on fire for God” or “backslidden Christian.” These range from

comical to nebulous, and they all share something in common: We take far too little time

to define what these terms mean.

If you grew up in Christian circles, you’re probably familiar with the term “lukewarm

Christian.” A common characterization of a lukewarm Christian goes something like this:

The Bible says it’s better to be cold or hot than lukewarm, so in some way it’s better to be

an unbeliever than a “lukewarm,” nominal Christian.

The idea is kind of the spiritual equivalent to Yoda’s “do or do not; there is no try.”

But that doesn’t line up with what Jesus actually says-which is both far better and more

alarming to contemporary readers.

Jesus and the ‘Lukewarm’ Church

The book of Revelation opens with seven letters. Each of the seven letters addresses a

different church in Asia Minor, one of which is to the Christians who live in a city called

Laodicea. We get the idea of “lukewarm” Christians from John’s recounting of Jesus’

letter to these Christians.

Here’s what Jesus says to the church in the city of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22):

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the

faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 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.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not

realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from

me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can

cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Think about this: Here is the same Jesus who calls little children to sit with Him, who

teaches us to care for the poor and who offers rest to the spiritually and emotionally

weary. And He says to this body of Christians, “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Jesus’ words are shocking.

‘Lukewarm’ and Laodicea

Historians tell us that the city of Laodicea, near what’s now the Turkish city ofDenizli,

received hot water from about five miles away. The water came through pipes, using a

system pioneered by the Romans. But unlike our water-heating systems, the heat wasn’t

localized-it started hot, but after five miles in a wooden pipe, very little heat remained.

Still, their water wasn’t cold or fresh.

So this concept of lukewarm water isn’t a random. Not to Laodiceans. Rather Jesus

makes his point to these Christians by drawing from their daily reality.

Laodicean water was lukewarm, and this presented a problem: Their water was useless.

New Testament scholar Thomas R. Schreiner explains it like this: