Reforming Worship #6 - Evangelical Lukewarm Worship

One of the saddest realities of the church in Canada is that it has become lukewarm. The church is, in many ways, complacent, without zeal, unrepentant, ineffective, and good for nothing. And what makes it even more miserable is that lukewarmness is not only practiced but institutionalized. The church has, in effect, declared independence from God. It does what it wants, the way it wants, when it wants, and for the purposes it has set.

In our case, lukewarmness is not a detour along the road; it has become the very road we want to walk on. We have even redefined what it means to be lukewarm. Many think lukewarmness is simply not being “cool” — not having the cool band, the TED-like sermon, the low-light, fog-machine atmosphere. Modern evangelicals think that not being lukewarm is having a constant youthful passion, always eager for the next spiritual dopamine rush. But in reality, this whole spectacle becomes a cover for deep spiritual complacency. People enjoy this type of church because the emotional energy of the show makes them feel, for a few moments, alive and well.

And we now have a whole movement of churches and pastors dedicated to offering this experience and nourishing people’s lukewarmness. The model is simple: take lukewarm Christians and create an environment that appeases their guilty consciences. It’s similar to the ancient Roman strategy of bread and circuses: while people abandoned their responsibilities, those in power distracted them with entertainment. That is exactly what we have today, “bread and circuses” churches, keeping Christians busy, entertained, and addicted to Christian recreation, while true spiritual awakening is avoided.

The worship of the church is at the heart of the life of the church. And when worship is substituted, when worship becomes a cover for lukewarmness instead of exposing it, when worship becomes entertainment rather than the exaltation and honouring of our holy God, when worship becomes about my needs instead of God’s glory — then everything begins to collapse.

The worship of the church must once again become the place where we meet with Jesus; where we sit under His Word; where we marvel at His glory; where we partake of His body and His blood; where we lift our voices in prayer and praise. And by faith, through the Holy Spirit, we commune with the living Christ in the heavenly places. Not seeking emotional experiences, but leaving every Sunday with our faith refined like gold in fire, clothed in the white garments of holiness, with our eyes healed and opened to see the beauty and glory of God.

Our prayer and desire should be that we may leave church every week with our hearts broken in true repentance and filled with zeal to live for the glory of our Saviour.

Nino Marques