3 Signs You May Be a Lukewarm Christian

My hair was styled, my church clothes were on, and my makeup was done. I was ready for Sunday morning service. I recently purchased a new lipstick color and was excited to have a good reason to try it out. It was called “Sangria” and was a deep purple that complemented my complexion and gave me a boost of confidence.

Key Points

Revelation 3 warns against a lukewarm faith in which outward Christianity does not match genuine devotion to Jesus.
A lukewarm heart may show itself when we consistently make important decisions without seeking God’s wisdom or submitting our plans to Him.
When our actions do not reflect the faith we profess, the people closest to us may recognize the inconsistency before we do.
Trying to determine how close we can remain to sin while still following God can reveal a heart more interested in compromise than closeness with Him.
Healthy self-examination asks whether Jesus is merely part of our lives or truly Lord over our choices, priorities, and desires.

I attended church with my head held high, shoulders back, and a polite smile on my face. Sometimes a new lip color can do that for a woman. Until I took a quick trip to Target to pick up a few items. In the clothing department, I happened to catch my reflection in one of the mirrors, and there it was, quickly robbing me of all the confidence I once had. On my front tooth was a streak of “Sangria” deep purple lipstick. The horror! I quickly thought back to every person I confidently smiled at just earlier in Church. Did they see this? Did they see it and also not say a word to enlighten me about it? I went through an entire Sunday service, assured in my polished ensemble, only to realize there was a big purple glob of lipstick on my tooth, tarnishing my entire look.

Isn't that frustrating? When you think everything is ok only to find out it never was? This is how I think about being a lukewarm Christian. You have the look, but there’s just one problem: it's not enough. Being lukewarm means you say you follow Jesus, but really in your heart you don't. It's when your actions and heart for God don't match. We first read of the term “lukewarm” in the book of Revelation as God speaks to the church of Laodicea, saying:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15-16 NIV

A lukewarm Christian is someone whose stated faith has become complacent, self-sufficient, and disconnected from wholehearted trust and obedience to Christ. Jesus’ warning is severe but also loving: He calls the Laodiceans to recognize their condition, repent, and renew their fellowship with Him. Being lukewarm means saying you are in a right relationship with God but living like you aren't. And God hates this. He would rather we be hot or cold because being lukewarm is seriously dangerous. It's dangerous because you think everything is fine when you really have a huge lipstick stain on your tooth. You think you are in the right relationship with God, but He is ready to spit you out.

The only way to open our eyes to this dangerous condition is to look at our own reflection and honestly accept the truth about what we see. So if you're ready for some self-reflection, here are 3 ways to know if you might be a lukewarm Christian.

Woman walking while reflecting on signs of a lukewarm Christian faith

1. Do You Seek God When Making Decisions?

One warning sign of spiritual complacency is repeatedly making decisions without allowing Scripture, prayer, or godly wisdom to shape them. This takes having the faith that God's way is the best way. But because the lukewarm Christian doesn't really believe this, they will always make their own decisions without consulting God. The lukewarm Christian makes a habit of leading their own life to what they think is comfortable and not following God. While in college, I realized I was guilty of this. I wanted Jesus to be my savior, but I did not want Him as my Lord. I wanted to do my own thing, but this was a clear sign of a lukewarm heart. If we truly want Jesus, we don't just want parts of Him; we want Him all.

2. Do Your Actions Support What You Say about Jesus?

A professed faith becomes difficult for others to take seriously when our ordinary choices consistently contradict what we say we believe. Others will not take your relationship with God seriously when they see you don't take it seriously either. And why should they? People will expect you to do what you’ve always done, not simply what you say. If your friends don’t believe what you are saying about your commitment to Jesus, ask yourself: is it because your words don’t match your actions?

3) You want to know how far you can push the limit with God.

A heart drifting toward lukewarmness often asks how much compromise it can tolerate instead of how faithfully it can follow Christ. Because they want to live with God and in the world, they will want to know how far they can push the limit before tipping over to one side or the other. They'll want to know how far they can get from God and still be ok with Him. But this is the wrong question. A sincere believer will not want to know how far they can get from God. They will want to know how close they can get to him.

In the end, it's all about what you believe about God. Do you simply see Him as a get-out-of-Hell-free card, or as a loving Father, trustworthy with your whole life and heart?

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lukewarm Christian Faith

What is a lukewarm Christian?
A lukewarm Christian is someone whose professed faith has become marked by spiritual complacency, self-sufficiency, and inconsistent devotion. Revelation 3 describes people who believed they needed nothing but failed to recognize their true spiritual condition.
Does feeling spiritually dry mean I am a lukewarm Christian?
Not necessarily. Christians can experience exhaustion, grief, depression, doubt, distraction, or a spiritually dry season while still sincerely desiring God. Lukewarmness is better understood as settled complacency and self-sufficiency than as a temporary absence of strong spiritual feelings.
Can a lukewarm Christian return to God?
Yes. Jesus’ words to Laodicea include a call to repent and renew fellowship with Him. Recognizing spiritual complacency is not a reason to hide from God; it is an invitation to return to Him honestly.
How can I stop being lukewarm in my faith?
Begin with honest confession and repentance. Return to Scripture and prayer, seek support from mature believers, identify areas of compromise, and take one concrete step of obedience. Spiritual renewal grows through dependence on Christ, not through the manufacture of religious enthusiasm.

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