Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church

Ancient Churches
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Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church

The origin of the church in Laodicea is obscure, to say the least. Some theorize that it was established while Paul was teaching in Ephesus and “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10). It is possible that Epaphras may have been instrumental in the origin of the church in Laodicea, as well as in Colossae and Hierapolis (Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13). The city, itself was a center of wealth, commerce, learning and religion for the Roman province of Asia. The church in Laodicea was quite prosperous, but as the book of Revelation reveals, it was not without its own problems.

Laodicea was one of seven churches to which the Lord directed a series of brief epistles in the second and third chapters of the Revelation. It has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the seven about which the Lord had nothing good to say. Chief among its problems was that it was “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:14- 17). The members of that church were not really on fire for Christ; neither were they spiritually cold and dead. They were simply going through the motions of religious life, just getting by. Some may say, “What’s wrong with that? At least they weren’t completely dead, spiritually.” But, the problem with the church in Laodicea is that being spiritually lukewarm is not enough. Christians must be zealous and “on fire” for Christ all the time (Galatians 4:18). If our zeal fails, and we end up just “going through the motions” of religious life, then we are no more pleasing to God than if we were stone cold dead in our spirits. Jesus advised them to “be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). So should all who are spiritually lukewarm.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:14-16