When the Lukewarm Get Uncomfortable

The Cost of Growing a Church
There’s a strange phenomenon that happens when a church starts fulfilling its mission—when it actually starts reaching the lost, discipling new believers, and growing in ways that reflect the power of the Gospel. You’d think that everyone would be rejoicing, right? But instead, some people—the ones who have been there the longest, growing the lease, sitting comfortably in their unchallenged routines—begin to squirm.

Why? Because spiritual growth, true evangelism, and genuine discipleship disrupt comfort. And lukewarm Christians don’t like being uncomfortable.

Jesus had some harsh words for lukewarm believers in Revelation 3:15-16:
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."(LSB)

The lukewarm believer wants just enough of Jesus to feel good about their salvation, but not so much that they have to change. They enjoy attending church—as long as it stays predictable, safe, and focused on them. But when a church starts shaking things up—when sinners start showing up, when lives are radically transformed, when seats are being filled with people who don’t “fit the mold”—suddenly, the lukewarm crowd gets uneasy.

When Comfort Becomes an Idol
Many Christians say they want their church to grow, but what they really mean is, we want more people like us. They want the right kind of growth—people who already think like them, dress like them, and act like them. But when the lost actually start coming in—people with addictions, broken marriages, messy pasts, and real struggles—suddenly, the church doesn’t feel like their cozy little social club anymore.

But here’s the thing: the church was never meant to be comfortable.

Jesus didn’t come to maintain the status quo. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He spent time with sinners, outcasts, and the broken. The early church in Acts was a movement, not a monument. It was constantly growing, changing, and reaching new people. And every time that happened, the religious crowd got uncomfortable.

Signs That a Lukewarm Christian Is Uncomfortable
When a church starts doing the real work of the Kingdom, the lukewarm start to reveal themselves. Here’s how:

• They complain about the new people.

    “I don’t like all these new faces. Our church doesn’t feel the same anymore.”

• They resist change.

    “Why do we have to do things differently? The old way was just fine.”

• They critique the leadership.

    “The pastor is focusing too much on outreach. What about us?”

• They prioritize their comfort over the mission.

    “This church used to feel like home, but now it’s too chaotic.”

What they fail to realize is that the church was never about their comfort—it was always about the Great Commission.

What Should We Do?
If you’ve been in church for years, you have a choice to make:

• Will you celebrate when the lost come in, even when it challenges your preferences?
• Will you welcome the broken, even if they make your church feel messy?
• Will you embrace change for the sake of the Gospel?
• If not, you might be the very thing holding your church back from what God wants to do.

The church is supposed to grow. Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). So why would we grumble when we see that happening in our own churches?

The Call to Be Hot, Not Lukewarm
A growing church is a church on mission. It’s reaching people. It’s making an impact. And if that makes some people uncomfortable, maybe that’s exactly what needs to happen.

It’s time to shake off lukewarm faith. It’s time to stop idolizing comfort. It’s time to embrace the mission of Christ—no matter what it costs.

Because the Gospel isn’t about our preferences, it’s about saving souls.

And that’s worth getting uncomfortable for. Can I get an AMEN?

In Love,
Pastor Jody