What is a lukewarm Christian? What does the Bible say about being a lukewarm Christian?

TL;DR:

A lukewarm Christian is indifferent and complacent, lacking true passion and commitment to God. The Bible warns that lukewarm faith is displeasing to Him and calls believers to wholehearted devotion.

The term “lukewarm” is often used to refer to someone who seems indifferent or apathetic about their faith, neither fully committed to God nor openly rejecting Him. Apathy is something that can settle in anyone’s life, including believers, and in His message to the church at Laodicea, Jesus calls the believers to repent from their lukewarmness (Revelation 3:15). The believers in Laodicea were compared to lukewarm water, which is neither refreshingly cold nor helpfully hot. Lukewarm faith blinds us to our true spiritual condition and negatively impacts the efficacy of our faith both in our own lives and in the lives of others. Being “lukewarm” can refer to those who profess Christianity but are not actually saved, but it can also refer to believers who have become complacent in their faith. This lukewarmness does not refer to periods of spiritual dryness, as highs and lows will come with various seasons in life; instead, it refers to a heart condition that is no longer wholeheartedly living for God. God calls us to wholehearted devotion. This means prioritizing God and being devoted to Him, and living wholeheartedly for God has an effect in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 12:1–2) and impacts others (Matthew 5:14–16; John 17:23; 1 John 4:11–12). God calls us to turn from lukewarm faith and wholeheartedly seek Him, allowing His Spirit to transform our lives and living a life devoted to Him (James 4:8; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 10:22–23).

from the old testament

God calls us to be wholehearted believers and followers of Him (Psalm 119:2).
Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us the greatest command: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Believers are to trust God fully and rely on Him rather than our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Devotion is more than words; it’s an active commitment. Joshua 24:14 describes what this looks like, “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.”

from the new testament

The call to love God wholeheartedly continues in the New Testament. Wholehearted devotion means loving God with every part of our being. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment of the Mosaic law, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40). Loving God and loving others are central to how God calls His people to be in the world.
Jesus told His followers, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35). Followers of Christ are to love as God loves, which comes only from knowing Him, receiving His love, and loving Him (1 John 4:7–12). This is how wholehearted devotion to God calls us to live.
Believers are also called to obey God’s commands. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15; also see John 15:9–11).
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus warns that we cannot be divided in our loyalty. We cannot attempt to serve both God and worldly desires.
Wholehearted devotion means surrendering our lives for God’s glory as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
Jesus warned that there are those who profess His name but whom He doesn’t know: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21; see Matthew 7:21–23). This is similar to the concept of Jesus spitting people out of His mouth.
In the letters to the churches, God calls out the church at Laodicea for their lukewarmness. Revelation 3:17 reveals the spiritual self-deception of the “lukewarm,” believing they are fine spiritually while being blind to their true condition. While a person cannot lose their salvation, we can negatively impact our faith by apathy or lukewarmness. Getting distracted and weighed down by the cares of this world, wrongly prioritizing things above God, and becoming complacent in our faith and the things of God are all things that can lead us to lukewarmness. Instead, we are called to wholehearted devotion to God for that is where abundant life is found. In calling the Laodicean church to repent, Jesus also calls them 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” (Revelation 3:18–20).

implications for today

Lukewarmness might look like attending church but not living out God’s Word, praying only in times of crisis, or valuing comfort over obedience. It’s when people say they love God but prioritize entertainment, career, or personal desires over Him. The “lukewarm” might avoid egregious or especially taboo sin but also avoid deep commitment—reading the Bible occasionally, serving only when convenient, and compromising when professed faith becomes costly. This type of spiritual complacency raises concerns about the genuineness of their faith. Scripture warns that lukewarmness is displeasing to God (Revelation 3:16) and that true faith is marked by obedience and devotion (John 14:15). While only God knows a person’s heart, a “lukewarm” faith may indicate a lack of true salvation (Matthew 7:21–23; 1 John 2:19).

God calls us to live wholeheartedly for Him. Salvation is not a “ticket to heaven” that has no real-world effects; it’s a welcoming into the family of God that results in continual transformation throughout a person’s lifetime (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8; Ephesians 1:3–14; Philippians 1:6; 2:12–13). The transformation process is gradual and progressive. Our portion is to seek God daily, obey even when it’s hard, and prioritize His kingdom. This might look like the business owner who refuses to cut corners for profit because integrity honors God, the student who stands for truth even when mocked, or the busy parent who still makes time for prayer and teaching their children about Christ. Hardship is guaranteed in this lifetime (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12), and believers face a spiritual enemy (Ephesians 6:10–18). But a life lived unto Christ is full of joy and peace, regardless of external circumstances (Philippians 4:4–13; Hebrews 13:6; 1 Peter 5:6–11). God calls us to live fully for Him, not halfheartedly— because He is worthy of our complete devotion, and only in Him do we find true life and purpose.

understand

The concept of being “lukewarm” comes from Revelation 3:15, where it is used of those who are in the church at Laodicea but not actually following God.
In Revelation 3, Jesus invites the lukewarm to come to Him and calls them to repent.
The Bible encourages wholehearted devotion to God, which means seeking, obeying, and prioritizing God above all else.

reflect

Where in your life do you struggle with spiritual complacency, and how can you grow in wholehearted devotion to God?
How do your daily choices reflect your views of God and pursuit of Him?
What practical steps can you take to prioritize obedience to God over comfort or convenience?

engage

Why is lukewarm faith so dangerous?
How does Revelation 3:16 challenge our understanding of commitment to God?
What are common signs of lukewarm Christianity in today’s church? How can we encourage each other toward genuine and wholehearted faith?