It never ceases to amaze me how different church attendance is between Easter Sunday and the Sunday after Easter. I heard on the radio the other day of a church in Texas expecting 24,000 for Easter yet only 8,000 the Sunday after. Easter is the one Sunday a year where “Christians” who do not attend Church on a regular basis make an effort to show up. Every year I go through a roller coaster of emotions concerning this.

I first get really excited to see so many people! We had a packed house and it was incredible! It is fun and electrifying! There’s a vibe and energy unlike most Sundays. Which then leads me to getting upset thinking, how great every Sunday could be with this kind of momentum and energy. However, it is also very frustrating. Do those who only come once or twice a year not understand there’s so much more?! And then I start to cry. Most make a special attempt to come on Easter do so and falsely assume they’re good with God.

Now before I continue, I acknowledge church attendance in and of itself is not what gets us to heaven. At the same time, church attendance can be a gauge of one’s personal relationship with God. If you are serving others and spending time daily in His Word, there is no doubt you know how important the Church is to God. The only reasonable conclusion then, is either you are disobeying God, or you aren’t in His Word enough to know Him personally. Neither is good.

In Revelation 3 John has a vision where Jesus addresses the seven Churches in the region. To the Church in Laodicea Jesus says, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Many understand Jesus here to be saying not to ride the fence. It’s better to not believe in God than to be wishy washy. Not true! Peter tells us, “The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, Emphasis added) I refuse to believe there is ever a time Jesus says it is better not to believe.

Laodicea was a city where lukewarm water was very common. Hierapolis was a nearby city known for hot springs, the surrounding mountains had cold water, but by the time either reached Laodicea, it was neither hot or cold. Hot water is good for cooking and cleaning, cold water is good for drinking, but lukewarm water is good for nothing. Speaking to Christians in the Church, this describes different degrees of Christians.

Hot Christian – one who is on fire for God. Passionately in love with God; reading His Word and serving others.
Lukewarm Christian – one who goes through the motions but lacks any kind of true relationship with God.
Cold Christian – one who claims to be a Christian but does not act like a follower of Christ at all.

If a cold Christian were to sit and think, they have a chance of realizing their lack of faith. Lukewarm Christians sit back and says, “I go to Church”, “I say my prayers before I eat”, and other things which give the appearance of faith. In reality, the lukewarm Christian has no relationship with Jesus. I believe many who make a special effort come to Church on Easter fall in this category. And it breaks my heart!

When we all stand before Jesus, only one of those three groups will be embraced. The other two will hear Jesus say, “I never knew you.” They will realize going through the motions does not constitute a relationship with Jesus. We all need self-examination from time to time. Examine your motives for being at Church. If we really care about others, we will find a loving way to encourage those who go through the motions to more earnestly seek a relationship with Jesus and take their faith to the next level.