What did Jesus mean by "lukewarm"?

[BorisGoodnewsenov]

Can someone give an example (maybe a real one or hypothetical one), of what a lukewarm Christian actual looks like?

This sort of speculation is always fascinating to me.

I have a hunch, these descriptions are going to be relative to the individuals conviction.

Example: For some, a christian having a beer would be considered "lukewarm".

RV

It's a good question, and is at least partially why I posed my question. When the scripture is addressed, it either seems to be used somewhat casually to encourage believers to straighten up so to speak; or because of it's strong message, it seems to be sometimes suggested that these Laodician Christians lost their salvation (or maybe never saved depending on the person's viewpoint of eternal security). I have a problem with the latter, because Christ mentions that those He loves He chastens. And chastening from God seems to be one of the indications of one being a child of His. And, I don't believe that someone who was born again can lose their salvation.

When it's addressed I guess somewhat more casually, I think most Christians will confess, as I think Jason alluded to, a certain degree of at least momentary lukewarmness.

[BorisGoodnewsenov]

Example: For some, a christian having a beer would be considered "lukewarm".






No , i think more like someone having an opportunity to be a good samaritan but passing it up because no one saw him.
Going to church Sundays and gossiping during the week,or committing a variety of sins regularly, or being uncharitable or unloving or unmerciful.

I definitely see your point. It can be somewhat perplexing for myself, because there's so many homeless people in my area. And there's a constant concern of how much can I really (or should) do.

[BorisGoodnewsenov]

Revelation 3:15f. has been interpreted by many parties in light of historical context.

Laodicea was a prosperous city, but it had some issues with its water supply. Apparently water was transported by aqueduct from elsewhere and distributed through clay pipes; furthermore, it had a high mineral content. The verses, then, appear to jab at a civic blemish: hard water that was probably tepid during much of the year, due to its transport.

In contrast, two other cities within fifteen miles had good water resources: Colossae enjoyed water from mountain snowmelt; and Hierapolis had a hot water source (due to volcanic activity) that supplied healing baths. So water in Laodicea was not so refreshing and palatable as in nearby Colossae; and it was not so therapeutic as in neighboring Hierapolis.

The problem, then, is not that the church is a dry well; Strabo indicates that hard Laodicean water was drinkable. But it is not fit for a king: it is unwelcome to the taste; and it is not useful in some extraordinary way, so as to compensate for its flavor.

The takeway, then: if the church is not gratifying to the king in one way, then the church should be gratifying in some other way.

The geographical/environmental, and I would include political elements concerning all the 7 churches I would say play an intriguing part. They surely seem to have a fairly profound influence, albeit each individual need not have been subject to the geographically corporate inconsistencies like those in Sardis who's garments were not defiled.