^3:16 `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot not cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

So because you are lukewarm and neither HOT nor COLD,

A lukewarm church is the worst kind. If it is COLD, it won't harm anyone. If it is HOT, the people are alive and spiritual rebirth is happening.

But a TEPID church

• - looks religious,
• - seems "safe to hide in" without serious personal commitment,
• - accomodates 'pagan rites' without alarm,
• - and promotes 'peace' at any cost.

A church that is "lukewarm" invites false teachings to invade. 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 2:18-19; and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Note: the lukewarm church has a judgment coming:

I will spit you OUT OF MY MOUTH!

Praise the Lord, the tense on the verb is 'will', future. There still is time to repent and to be renewed. According to 1 Peter 4:17-19, the church first is judged, then fakes ('godless men') within the church, and lastly sinners.

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References to the Revelation of Jesus Christ are in bold italics. References to the Words of Jesus are in red. All other references are in bold only.
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, ©1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.