Last week, I began a four part series focusing on this theme: "Serving Leftovers to a Holy and Loving God." In this series, I will be sharing some thoughts and reflections from a work by Francis Chan called, Crazy Love.

As I mentioned last week, this week and next I want to examine the profile of the Lukewarm Person. Even though we are all subject to fallen thinking, attitudes and choices, there is a difference between a life that is characterized by the lukewarm mentality and habits and a life that is in the process of being radically, supernaturally transformed. So over the next two weeks we will examine 18 characteristics of Lukewarm People.
Examine each characteristic and the passages listed with each, and assess your own heart, as I will mine.

Characteristics of Lukewarm People

• Lukewarm People attend church failrly regularly. It is what is expected of them. It is what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go (Examine Isaiah 29:13).
• Lukewarm People give money to charity and to the church as long as it does not impinge upon their own standard of living. If they have a little extra, and it is easy and safe to give, then they do so. After all, GOD loves a cheerful giver, right (Examine 1 Chronicles 21:24 and Luke 21:1-4)?
• 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 (Examine Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1 and Matthew 23:5-7).
• Lukewarm People do not really want to be saved from their sin. They want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They do not genuinely hate sin and its effects. They are not truly sorry for their sin. They are merely sorry because GOD is going to punish them. Lukewarm People do not really believe that this new life that Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one (Examine John 1-:10 and Romans 6:1-2).
• Lukewarm People are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Jesus Christ, yet they do not act on them. They assume such actions are for "extreme" Christians, not the average ones. Lukewarm People call "radical" what Jesus expected of all His followers (Examine James 1:22; 4:17 and Matthew 21:28-31).
• Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like faith (Examine Matthew 10:32-33).
• Lukewarm People gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to others, rather than to the standard for growth - Jesus Christ. They feel satisfied that while they are not as hard-core for Jesus as some, they are nowhere near as horrible as the guy or gal down the street (Examine Luke 18:11-12).
• Lukewarm People say that they love Jesus, and that He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part! They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He is not allowed to take total control of their lives (Examine Luke 9:57-62).
• Lukewarm People love GOD, but they do not love Him with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love GOD that much, but that sort of total devotion is not really possible for the average person. It is only for ministers, elders, missionaries and radicals (Examine Matthew 22:37-38).

Lukewarm People tend to Serve Leftovers to a Holy and Living GOD on a regular basis. Often we may find ourselves reflecting one or more of these charateristics in our lives ... serving up our leftovers, rather than our first fruits to GOD. The key to the difference between a Lukewarm Person and Faithful Follower of Jesus is the consistent attitude of surrender to the Holy Spirit's leading, transforming the disciple into the image of Jesus Christ from glory to glory.

Next week, we will examine nine more chatacteristics of Lukewarm People. As with last week's blog post, please pray about these characteristics and the associated passages to assess your own faith walk. May GOD bless our journey toward a deeper relationship with Him!