Laodiceans, Has the church become Laodiceans?

[simplyme]

Originally Posted by robert

When people call themselves liberals, moderates, or conservatives THEY are grouping themselves and dividing themselves from one another. That is why God wants us to be of one mind and one accord. It seems impossible for this to happen what with so many fighting to prove their own groups to be correct and other groups to be wrong. I know this thread is controversial, but isn't it worth discussing a sollution to this seperation problem. Laodicea in Revelation was mentioned to show a real problem that was in the church and the solution was given as well...repent...Repentance should make us want to be the hot God is describing in These verses not want to avoid the issue.

AMEN!

[robert]

Originally Posted by simplyme

AMEN!

I like the way you talk!

[Blaylock]

I am so glad that you cleared this up for me. Here all along I thought I was Apostolic Pentecostal!!!

[Dan'D]

Originally Posted by Blaylock

I am so glad that you cleared this up for me. Here all along I thought I was Apostolic Pentecostal!!!

See what happens when you go to sleep.
Dan'D

[ChTatum]

Originally Posted by robert

I'm not sure what your point is here, but are you saying the pharasee to be the one described as cold, lukewarm, or hot?...I wound consider the pharasee to be lukewarm (hypocrit) I think I would even have Jesus in agreement here because he called the Pharasees hypocrites. The publican would be considered in my opinion to be cold for he said he a was a sinner. When he rose to his feet from his prayer of repentance I would say he was hot. Ready to obey God with all his ability and to never go the way of the Pharasee or even to return to his sinful lifestyle. Was I correct that this is what you are trying to say?

Hey, treat it like you do the rest of scripture.

Apply as you will.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by robert

You are right about labels, I used the label analogy because people seperate themselves from one another by using these labels themselves. People seem proud to call themselves liberals, moderates or consevatives. Jesus says about the Laodicean church that they are cold, hot, or lukewarm...these are words that he uses to describe saints in this church. The hot word seems to be the word that describes the saints that are pleasing and obeying God. Everyone should want to be hot and not the other two. Just because someone does good works does not mean they are saved...the scriptures declare this. I should not have fallen into the same trap that people put themselves into by calling myself right, conservative...but I do desire to be hot as described in Revelation.

Im neither liberal, moderate, or conservative. I am not UPC, ALJC or WPF. I am just a brother in the Lord. I don't label myself any other way, and I sure don't "separate" myself from my brother in the Lord.

[robert]

Originally Posted by ChTatum

Hey, treat it like you do the rest of scripture.

Apply as you will.

Sir, does the words cold, lukewarm, hot... mean something... as an analogy. Jesus gave this scripture for a reason. Is it wrong to examine the scriptures and find the meaning of a scripture as it applys to us? Oneaccord says he does not label himself liberal, moderate, conservative,...left, middle, or right and that is a wise thing to say. When we ourselves consider ourselves to be one of these labels then we open ourselves up to the scrutiny of others. God is the one that uses the words cold, lukewarm, hot, his words, not my words. My question was where do we see ourselves. God asks the question and he gives the solution.

[robert]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Im neither liberal, moderate, or conservative. I am not UPC, ALJC or WPF. I am just a brother in the Lord. I don't label myself any other way, and I sure don't "separate" myself from my brother in the Lord.

I don't seperate myself from my brother in the Lord either. As far as a label, I hope God sees me as pleasing to him, that should be everyones goal as a Christian.

[robert]

Originally Posted by Blaylock

I am so glad that you cleared this up for me. Here all along I thought I was Apostolic Pentecostal!!!

It doesn't really matter what we see ourselves as, what matters is what God see's us as. In the Laodicea church he saw cold, lukewarm, hot. These words are His words not mine. It reminds me of the story of the mail man. Every one hates the mail man when he brings unwelcome news to them not realizing he did not write the letter...He just delivers it.

The thought that God would rather us be cold or hot in the sense that he'd rather us be dead or alive is indicative of a messed up view of God.

God would rather we be dead spiritually? Really? Ya think? I'm glad I don't serve that 'god'?



In reality... cold water and hot water are useful for specific purposes. Lukewarm water is stagnant and full of damaging organisms. God would rather we be useful to him in reaching the world, and ministering to one another in His body, than be lukewarm and stagnant.

COLD - Cold water is useful for refreshment. God would like for us to bring refreshment to those who are weary and overburdened. When one is thirsty and hot, and one drinks cold water, one is refreshed from within. When one who is overheated is soaked with cold water, one is refreshed from the outside. Cold water is useful.


HOT - Hot water is useful for cleansing. God would like to use us to cleanse the world of the sin that separates this world from Him. Not in the "You're going to hell, sinner!" way, but in the way that is one on one, compassionately... helping to cleanse people from the things that stain them individually. Lovingly helping them to get past their hangups and hurts... helping them to get free from the stains that are all they can see... the stains that label them and prevent them from being whole in Him.