Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?

I would like to introduce an awesome writer, my sister.  Below is an article she wrote on her website www.graceandstrength.com about the Church of Laodicea and the American Church today.  This was such a revealing article I asked her if I could post it on my blog.  Enjoy! 


Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?
I love reading the book of Revelation. In fact, throughout the entire bible, I enjoy reading any scripture that is in reference to God’s plan for His children in the last days before His Son returns.


14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."While I truly believe that the American church actually falls under more than one of the churches described in Revelation 2 and 3, unfortunately in many ways, the American church most closely resembles the church in Laodicea.

Our Lord accused the Laodiceans of being “lukewarm,” that is, neither hot nor cold. Out of the seven churches described, did you know that the church in Laodicea was the only church which had nothing positive said about them by our Lord? In fact, this church was such a bitter taste in our Lord’s mouth that He threatened to spit them out if they did not change!  I shutter to think of just how unpleasing this behavior is to our Lord.

Like the Laodiceans, most of us desire to accumulate more possessions and wealth for ourselves. We find it easier to trust in our money than we do to put our trust in God.  The Lord has blessed this country with abundance, but instead of us being thankful and turning closer to the Lord, we have turned away from Him. Instead of using our
wealth to bless others, we have used it to "bless" ourselves. Having this great abundance has also for many created a spirit of complacency in their Christian walk. 

While the book of Revelation presents many images of God’s judgment upon the ungodly who have rejected Him, it also reminds us of His great patience, provides great comfort to the believer as we read promises to those that overcome, and a glimpse of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (I say a glimpse because although it is described for us, I don’t think our minds can truly comprehend just how beautiful it will be).


My focus in this article however is on 1 of the 7 Churches mentioned in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3; more specifically, the church at Laodicea and how it mirrors many of the churches in the United States.


Complacency is defined as:Answers.com: a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled
with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy.Webster’s: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.

What is the danger? Remaining in a lukewarm state and not recognizing that we need to repent of our ways as our Lord instructed us to do.


17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'Unfortunately, this has been the attitude of our country….and we are being disciplined because of it (19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent).

If God has blessed you with abundance, is this what your heart cries out? Even if God has blessed you to live what is considered by most to be a moderate lifestyle, or at what some would consider being at or below the line of poverty, where do you stand on the matter? Do you have an insatiable desire to gain more for yourself? To have more? A desire that ultimately will never be quenched? In many cases, the more things we have, the more things there are that take us away from God.

Wouldn't the heart of God have us to acquire wealth so that we can help others and help to build the kingdom?

My dear brothers and sisters, we must repent of our ways and return to the Lord our
God. 19 Those whom I love…

This part of verse 19 is so beautiful to me. In fact, as I am writing this article, my heart weeps with love and sincere gratitude for my Lord Jesus. The message of the gospel presents itself here yet again. Regardless of what it is we have done, we can always repent and come back to our Lord.  While God’s grace is not a license to do as you please and repent later, it is for the true believer who has lost their way, a wonderful display of mercy at the hands of our loving, Heavenly Father.

So now what?

We must sincerely desire to repent and overcome. The Lord has promised us that if we
do this, we will regain our fellowship with Him.