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Lukewarm We are familiar with how Jesus referred to the church at Laodicea as being lukewarm (Rev. 3:15). This was a condition that was so unpalatable to the Lord that He utterly rejected it (Rev. 3:16). That much is easily understood. However, there is a part of what is written to the church at Laodicea that is not as easy to understand. We read in Revelation 3:15 how the Lord wished they were cold or hot. The usual explanation for this is that “hot” represents great zeal for the Lord and “cold” represents complete denial, even hostility to the gospel. Therefore, we then assign “lukewarm” to indifference, not really hot and not really cold. I am sure that I am like others who have had difficulty in explaining how the Lord could say that he wishes for some to be cold in this sense. This seems to go against several points to the contrary that clearly show a desire for all to be saved (for example, 1 Tim. 2:4). This has long posed a difficulty for Bible students. I have finally developed an explanation that seems to be better. I used to explain how Jesus was pointing out the problem of lukewarmness being dangerous in that it is not easily distinguishable. Someone who is hot or someone who is cold is easily identified, but the lukewarm are not so. Thus, it would be better to be at on end or the other of the spectrum rather than “riding the fence” and being difficult to identify. I have no disagreement with this statement. The problem is that this explanation did not relieve me of what I still saw as a difficulty—the Lord wishing that some would be cold—hostile to the gospel. One thing I need to make clear. We cannot assign the same features to both those who are cold and lukewarm without arriving at an absurdity. To say that those who are cold are indifferent and those who are lukewarm are indifferent presents a strange picture. It would have the Lord saying that He prefers the indifferent to the indifferent. No one has to be a genius to see that that presents a huge problem. I think it very safe to say that those who are lukewarm are decidedly different from either of the other two constituents of hot and cold. Let us focus our attention on the context for a moment. The warning about being lukewarm is because of the condition of the church at Laodicea. Laodicea was a church that was in a very prosperous situation. They had a number of things that allowed them to be ahead of others. They were able to claim that they were “rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17a). However, they were deceived. They did not know that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17b). They trusted too much in the things of the world rather than the things of God. They ought to trust in the gold, garments, and eyesalve that can be provided only by the Lord (Rev. 3:18). I think the idea of being lukewarm is related to these remarks also. They had allowed the world and its successes to cause them to be unaware that they had become like the world. Having said all of this, I want to challenge your thinking for a moment. Let us suppose that the hot and cold are both acceptable to the Lord. That would eliminate our dilemma, wouldn’t it? Most commentators mention that the water at Laodicea was unsuitable to human taste due to its temperature. Thus the metaphor about lukewarm being rejected and spit out. Now do not let the drink idea escape. Brother Homer Hailey says in his commentary on Revelation, “A hot or cold beverage might refresh; but a tepid, insipid, lukewarm liquid produces only nausea and vomiting” (p. 158). I think the idea of a beverage is appropriate. A hot or cold beverage is palatable, but when either assume room temperature they are rejected. As an example, I happen to prefer hot tea. I do not like cold tea at all. My son and son-in-law both like cold tea, they do not like hot tea. None of the three of us, on the other hand, like tea at room temperature. A mouthful of lukewarm tea will leave one with the unpleasant urge to expel it forthwith! That which was good, hot or cold tea will adapt to its surroundings almost imperceptibly. When it has assumed room temperature it is useless. Who wants a cup of coffee at room temperature? Who thinks a glass of room temperature lemonade is a great drink? You get the picture? This explanation will eliminate the difficulty of the Lord desiring the Laodiceans to be either hot or cold. He is not wishing for some to be hostile to the word. He is rather wishing for them to be useful in either way. It is when they allow themselves to adapt to the world that they become neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm and unacceptable. This explanation does not change the end result. Being lukewarm is still unpalatable to the Lord. He will reject this condition immediately. All that this explanation changes is how we arrive at that conclusion. I think it a better way of doing so without creating a scenario where the Lord is wishing for some to be in a condition that would jeopardize their salvation. ~Terry Sanders~
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