by Joe Christian

Created on: February 17, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Finding Your Place!

I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry! But I did finally have to pack and to move!

In Revelation to St. John Jesus is preaching to the Seven Churches of Asia, and He has teachings, words of exhortations, and warnings for each one; But one of the churches He strongly rebukes for only being "lukewarm" and He said that he wanted them either cold or hot, but since they were only "lukewarm" He was going to vomit them out of His mouth! It seems like "lukewarm" Christianity makes Jesus sick to His stomach aye?

Doing my itinerate ministry days, I made a friend, among others there, and one time this friend (whose name was Kenny) and I were discussing what Jesus meant by that and what churches could be the hot ones, the cold ones and the lukewarm ones, and we decided that the traditional churches were on the straight and narrow but pretty cold, and that those like the inner-city Black Gospel churches that were all so filled with sanctity and "the Holy Ghost", and expressive, and involved in reaching and ministering to their cities where they are located, must surely be the "hot" churches? So then we decided that those churches that were a little bit Evangelical and maybe a little Pentecostal-like or a little bit Charismatic-like but not too much more of anything than really your average, non-stirring, non-offensive community'-like church, that those might be the "lukewarm" churches that Jesus was preaching about? And that was our conversation that one day.

So then the next thing I know, within only a day or so, people from the area churches are confronting me all about the place and on the phone, practically swearing at me, and so terribly angry with me for "Going around calling all the churches lukewarm!" Pastors of evangelical-like community churches in the area those that sometimes appear to be somewhat charismatic' or spiritually gifted, but really aren't, were angry, and their parishioners were angry with me as well! And all because my new friend' Kenny went about telling people that I was saying that all their churches were all "lukewarm"!

It is already hard to find or define your place' in a community when you are in itinerate ministry, where your job description is something like "Missionary" or "Evangelist" or a combination of the two? And when you are going door to spiritually educate, trying to meet both their practical and spiritual needs, or otherwise minister to them, which is very Evangelical already, but you do not officially belong to an Evangelical church but to the traditional and liturgical tradition, and then the community all becomes offended with you for calling all their quiet, non-stirring, non-offensive, community'-like churches "lukewarm"! And they begin confronting you face-to-face, each one wanting to give you a piece of their minds! It is possible that you have already just lost the battle there before you ever got really started? The door for that ministry opens, and then it closes forever!

But I am of the opinion that the Christian way is always the best way, and that ALL Christians should combine their talents, funds and abilities to spread the Message of Jesus as well as to change society for the better, and rescue the poor and the homeless and feed the hungry; and that minor opinions, like trying to figure out who's church is hot, cold or lukewarm is probably not worth getting into a quarrel over or getting offended about?

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