To the Church in Laodicea
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Here in the last church called out we will discover language that has been argued over for decades without gaining any superior position in theology. That is the issue of why cold churches are not spit out of His mouth but lukewarm churches are spit out.
Rather than debating that issue let us discuss the characteristics of that “cold church”.
“I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” Well that is a lie and we all know how God feels about liars. They are “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
God counsels them on how to overcome their deficits. The one attribute not listed is deaf, so there is some hope that they can come to grips with their condition.
What is a cold church?
Perhaps it is a small group of believers that only take care of themselves and wish not to be infected by lies and vain hope. They take care of their own and do not support evangelical ministries. The life they live is their witness and they will answer for their faith if asked but do not proselytize as God calls His, not man.
Have I ever witnessed such a church? Yes but they have no membership, they are all family in the truest sense, by spirit not by blood. They are a rare breed and I could see why God would not spit them out.