Laodicean Coffee Christianity
Bible Passage:
Revelation 3: 14-22
Pastor:
Pastor Glen
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Sermon Date:
2010-09-04
Have you heard people in the bank or other places talk about the newest in cold drinks? It is ice cold coffee. I prefer my coffee hot. So how do you like your beer? Do you like it cold? Or do you like it warm as they serve it in England. I like my cold drinks cold and my hot drinks hot. So what about lukewarm coffee or a lukewarm cold drink. Would you be so bold as to spit it out because it was neither hot nor cold. Dr. Jesus speaks to the pastor and to the church at Laodicea and mentions that the type of Christianity they were living was not hot nor was it cold. They were not excited to serve the Lord. On the other hand they were not cold and lifeless. Dr. Jesus in his diagnosis of the Laodiceans declares to them that they are living
Laodicean Coffee Christianity.
What is Laodicean Coffee Christianity? First of all Jesus does not speak about coffee at all. That is my term for the Laodicean Christianity. Laodicean Coffee Christianity is the type of Christianity that does not really care much about Jesus. If there is time to get to church, okay. If not that is okay too. What about reading the Bible? Well if I happen to have time and I am not to busy doing other things I will think about it. What about sharing Jesus or helping out at soccer Bible camp or some other activity? All depends what other things I have to do.
Jesus the faithful and true witness and the ruler of Creation speaks to the pastor called the angel and the Christians at Laodicea very specifically and sharply. 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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Jesus the ruler of God’s creation and their Savior knew the people living at Laodicea. He knew them well. He cared for them. He had died for them. He had taken away their sins. But how did the Laodiceans in their Laodicean Coffee Christianity react to Jesus. Jesus is nice. It is nice to know Jesus. What might you do with lukewarm coffee? Spit it out. What was Jesus ready to do with these Laodicean Coffee Christians? Spit them out. They were neither on fire for the Lord and seeking his will. On the other hand they were not cold and lifeless that the law might take effect and change their hearts. They were lukewarm Christians.
The Apostle Paul spoke of the congregation of Laodicea in his letter to the Colossians. The Christians at Colossae were to read the letter from Laodicea and the Laodiceans the letter from Colossae.”After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea (Col 4:16) ”.
Jesus knew a lot about these Christians in Laodicea. He knew where they lived. Laodicea was a very rich city with a lot of wealth. They had a major banking system. They had beautiful clothes made out of wool. They had an important medical facility and they were a producer of a famous eye salve. They were hot springs flowing to Laodicea and Cold Spring flowing to Laodicea and when they got to Laodicea they were lukewarm.
Doctor Jesus draws upon all these vivid pictures from the world of the Laodiceans to remind them of their true needs in a rich town with good clothes and eye medicine. What does he say to them in love? “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. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.”
Are you guilty of Ladicean Coffee Christianity? Have you become lukewarm in your faith and in your faith life? Then, Jesus calls you to repentance as he did the Laodiceans? Luke warm Christianity is so damaging because does not take serious God’s threatening commands or God’s law so that it is not desirable to seek the Lord our Savior who took away our sins. Lukewarm Christianity in its practice has lost the desire to seek and enjoy and share the sweet taste of forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Repent of this damaging Laodicean Coffee Christianity. Look seriously at your Lord that anyone who practices it will be spit out of his mouth. Repent means to turn away from our sin and turn to Jesus for forgiveness.
It is so important throughout these 7 letters to the 7 churches to remember who is speaking. The speaker is Jesus who loved them and who loves us. . He loved them so much he was rebuking them. He says in all love to the Ladiceans and to every who practices Laodicean Coffee Christianity: 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. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
The diagnosis for lukewarm Christianity is stern and harsh for one reason. Apathy in our Christian faith leads to unbelief. I just don’t care. It is a crippling disease for Christians. God calls each of us in being part of a group of people who encourages, strengthens, cares about and goes the extra mile to see all of us grow in faith and telling of his love.
Notice how Jesus ends this letter to the Laodiceans and all lukewarm Christians: 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Do you hear the love and concern in the Savior’s voice? He wants to use all of us in bringing about a desire to know more about Jesus and to live our life boldly for him with great zeal.
The sermon series we finish today is diagnosis. I hope it has been helpful to walk into the doctor’s office of doctor Jesus. I hope you have not only heard his admonishment and rebukes and calls to repentance but the voice of your loving Lord calling you to follow him boldly and zealously. At the same time I want you to look forward to our new sermon series next week that will speak about Community. In the next few weeks we will look at the importance of encouraging, admonishing and forgiving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I encourage you to especially invite those who might have given up on organized religion and going to church on a regular basis. Encourage them to come with you next week. Why? The Lord Jesus is the one who gives life and he calls us to be committed to him. Our commitment to hearing his word can sometimes lose its hotness and become lukewarm. As fellow believers we encourage and strengthen one another to live as his dear children.
How do we avoid Ladicean Coffee Christianity? I remember well a member years ago who was shut in. I visited Edith Zantow and her husband. She had a picture of Jesus knocking at the door. We often talked about that picture which is really the focus of this sermon text today. Jesus our Lord and Savior stands at the door of our heart and wants to dwell there. He our Lord and Savior is everywhere but he wants us to know, believe and trust in him. Edith use to express her faith in Jesus boldly and confidently. In love he calls us to be committed to him all the time. Rely on his promises all the time. Find joy in our worship all the time. Be on fire knowing the Lord and serving the Lord. Be committed to the Lord who gave his life for you.
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