Are you hot enough for Christ?

‘‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16 ESV) This is a verse that many Christians know and concern themselves with. It has long been preached to the Church in order to inspire Christians to a greater degree of service. “If you don’t tithe/pray/attend/read enough you must be lukewarm and because of that Christ is going to spit you out!”

The tragedy, however, is this is not at all what the Scriptures is saying. While we may read being hot or cold as related to zeal, there are a few issues with this understanding. The first being the zeal is subjective. At what point does one become zealous enough to move from lukewarm to hot? How is it better to be cold that warm? Would that mean that it is preferable to be the other Pharisees who openly hated Christ rather than Nicodemus, who was interested enough to come, albeit at night? That objection aside, however, we can find an even greater piece of evidence to show this is not the actual point of the verse. When reading Scripture, it is important to remember that “Context is King”, and with that in mind we have to note who Christ is addressing here.

This verse was written to the Church in Laodicea, a town that was so proud of its ability and wealth that they needed no help from anyone. After an earthquake in the early years AD they even turned down help from Rome in their rebuilding effort. This proud, self-reliant city was the greatest in the region, but it was not the only city to be found. Specifically, there were two others, Colossae and Hierapolis that matter. Hierapolis was known for its hot springs and their rejuvenating properties. Colossae, on the other hand, had beautiful, refreshing, cold water. Each of these water sources from the two cities were vastly different, but each was incredibly useful. The issue would come if either lost their extreme. To cool the hot springs would make them less restorative, and to let the cold water heat up would leave it lacking its refreshing quality. The Laodiceans understood this so we must look back at the message in light of this context.

If cold was good for one purpose, and hot was good for a different purpose, then Christ’s statement that one or the other is good, but anything in the middle is bad, begins to make sense. But what is the hot and the cold if not for our passion towards the things of God? Simple, the cold demands of the Law, and the burning love of God shown in His grace. Each serves its purpose and does it well. The purpose of the Law is to show man his sin (Rom. 3:20), while the purpose of grace is to justify man (Eph.2:8-9). Christ isn’t saying that you better be a “better Christian” but that the thing that makes Him sick is blending His grace with legalism. He is saying to pick one or the other. If you want to live under the Law then do it, but if you are under grace then act like it and stop trying to earn your salvation and begin to walk in the red hot love of God.