Moment With Betty

This simply means something that is moderately warm, that is neither cold nor hot. Relating the word to a human being, it means someone who shows little enthusiasm or conviction about something.

Be that as it may, my research revealed that Spiritual Luke warmness in spiritual theology, signifies the state of soul to which the warmth and fervor of charity is wanting, but has not yet completely deteriorated into the coldness of indifference and hatred.

A Luke warm life is a displeasure to God, God is pleased with us when we are lively stones but not when we are formal and lukewarm. Trust me, a lukewarm state is a dangerous state and one very dangerous thing about it is that the person who is lukewarm is usually unaware that he/ she is lukewarm. They are spiritually dead and they exhibit habitual dissipation of mind and they fail to identify and wage war against the passion that rules them or their primary fault. And the bad results of this Luke warmness include: corruption of conscience, moderation in the love of God (a dwindling back) and perhaps a profane use of the sacraments.

As we see in the book of Revelation, Chapter 3:15 -16, Jesus says” I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How l wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, l am going to spit you out of my mouth” As seen from the quote above, Jesus has a particular repugnance to Luke warmness. He is less offended by coldness than Luke warmness.  And according to the acclaimed spiritual writer, Father F. W. Faber, there are seven signs of Lukewarmness which  we should watch out for, these are: 1. constant putting off of our daily devotions; 2. negligence and lack of attention when performing them; 3. not feeling right with God; 4. acting without any intention or with indifference; 5. carelessness about growing in virtue; 6. contempt of little things and daily opportunities which, if performed, give glory to God; and 7. looking back at the good we have done rather than forward to the good we need to do in the future.

Furthermore, Saint Jose Maria in “The Way” point 325 advised that we should fight against that weakness which makes us lazy and careless in our spiritual life and this in effect could be the beginning of Lukewarmness and in words of the scripture, God will vomit the Lukewarm out of his mouth.

The question therefore is, how do overcome Lukewarmness? I am glad to say that the answer is there in the scriptures. First, we should not to be lazy and reluctant about the things that has to do with the Lord. 2- We should ensure that we make out time to perfume our devotions/ prayers with proper piety and recollection. 3- To practice meditation regularly as it will open us to recollection in God. 4- To preserver in our daily spiritual exercises despite all odds and 5- To carry out the lengthen observances particularly, fasting and praying during lengthen season and some bodily penance as required by the church.

More importantly, we must be aware of when Lukewarmness is creeping into our spiritual life so that we can checkmate it early enough. Let us not be like those who claim to know God but live as though God doesn’t exist.

Remember that Lukewarmness will usually bring us inner emptiness and nothing more. “Because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This verse from Revelation 3 certainly must rank as one of the most misused in the Bible

Remember that it might well be the beginning of lukewarmness and, in the words of the Scripture, God will vomit the lukewarm out of his mouth.