Consistency

Today we look at Francis Chan’s third indication that our life is lukewarm. Chan writes, “Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.” (Crazy Love, p. 69) Attempting to be like the people you are with is a natural human response. As followers of Christ, we are not called to live in the natural but instead to be transformed in the image of Jesus.

The major flaw of the religious elite of Jesus’ day was that they cared more about what other people thought of them than encountering the living God. The same can be true for us. When we care about being like our church friends when we are around them, but being like our non-church friends when we are around them, we are showing that our heart is not first and foremost after Jesus.

Jesus was not impressed by the religious efforts of the scribes and Pharisees, so we should not think that He might be pleased with our divided attention either. In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounces judgment on the conduct of the religious elite in His culture for their outward conduct, while they remain full of “hypocrisy and lawlessness” on the inside (Matthew 23:28).

As you examine yourself, where is it that you find inconsistency in your actions and attitudes in the different areas of your life? Would people describe you as loving Jesus no matter what area of life in which you encounter them? If we desire for God to bring revival in our lives, we must be ready for the necessity of allowing Him authority over every area in our lives. There can be no areas that we hold back.

Where is your heart?

As we prepare for the Summit, it is important for us to remember that self-examination is key to the process of renewal or revival. The process of looking into the mirror and examining ourselves is often times painful at best. When we look at our devotion to Christ, often times we can be disappointed feeling as if we simply do not measure up. There are people who seem far more spiritual than we do. The question is not how spiritual we seem on the outside, but where our heart is.

Today we look at another heart-probing statement from Francis Chan’s, Crazy Love. The second description of someone who is lukewarm is; “Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church... as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?” (Crazy Love, p. 69) Now this is starting to get personal!

When it comes to checking on where our heart is, there is no better indicator than our money. Jesus taught about money and wealth frequently. That means it must be a pretty important subject. What we do with our resources is a good indicator of our spiritual condition. If we are wise, we will use money as a spiritual EKG. What is your money saying about the condition of your heart?

As we look to Christ, asking for a fresh touch of His presence in our lives, we must do so from a position of full surrender. We cannot hold back anything in our life and expect the Holy Spirit to do something extraordinary in our midst. It is a matter of devotion. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 ESV)

God shows up when His people demonstrate their heart is for Him. When they humble themselves, pray, seek, and turn. We must turn from our way of self-reliance in every area of our lives. That includes our money.

Are you lukewarm?

In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus makes it clear that the church in Laodicea’s “lukewarm” approach to following Him, does not please Him. In our culture it is very easy for this to happen. With so many options in our daily lives of things to give our attention and time to, it is easy for our relationship with Christ to slowly fade toward lukewarm.

In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan lists a series of descriptive statements that describe a person who is halfhearted or lukewarm in their relationship with Jesus. Chan writes, “Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?” (Crazy Love, p. 68) This is not a question that anyone can answer for you. The matter of being in love with Jesus is a totally personal matter.

Over the next three weeks, I am going to present some of the indications Chan gives of a lukewarm, halfhearted, or partially committed person. The goal is for you to examine yourself in a real and personal sort of way. 2 Corinthians 13:5 makes it clear that self-examination of our relationship with Christ is healthy.

The first description Chan presents of someone who is lukewarm in their faith is; “Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe ‘good Christians’ do, so they go.” (Crazy Love, p. 68)

What is your motive when it comes to going to church? Is it something you do because it is expected, or is it motivated out of a heart to worship the King of kings? Throughout the Old Testament prophets, God makes it explicitly clear that He is after our hearts. Is your heart after Him?