DIAGNOSIS OF THE LAODICEA CHURCH - 1

The Diagnosis of the Laodicea Church

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"

There is only complaint in reference to the church. In Philadelphia there was only commendation. This does not mean that there was no hope, any more than there was no room for improvement in Philadelphia.

The diagnosis of a physician concerning the condition of a patient is threefold:
(1)    There is a recognition of condition as indicated by the symptoms exhibited by the patient.
(2)    There is a declaration of condition as a result of probing the consciousness of the patient.
(3)    There is the interpretation of condition as the outcome of careful analysis of all information by the physician.

The Recognition of Condition as Indicated by the Symptoms

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

The Knowledge of the Symptoms "I know thy works"

This is knowledge which comes by experience. The word (oida) meaning to know by experience, is used.

The surest way to know the spirit of an individual is his works. These are the symptoms of what is wrong. Christ knows them.

The Analysis of the Symptoms

"Thou art neither cold," that is, frozen, so that no activity appears.

This church was not characterized by utter indifference. The doctrine of the church is not denied. The Christ is not deliberately blasphemed. The cross is not set aside.

"Thou art . . . nor hot," that is, boiling so that great activity is present.

This church was not characterized by fervent heat. There was all the ritual of the church. There was all the recitation of creed. There was the usual formalities of church ministry. But no emotion, no enthusiasm, no urgency, no passion, no compassion.

"So then because thou art lukewarm," that is, a condition to be described as tepid.

This condition is a sort of halfway, in-between coldness and hotness. It cannot be described accurately as being one or the other, yet it is close enough to the one to feel the presence of low temperature, and close enough to the other to feel some of its qualities, yet in com­bination it produces something that is neither. Tepid is that condition in which conviction does not affect conscience, heart, or will.

The Repugnancy of the Symptoms
"I would thou wert cold or hot."

This indicates the attitude of the Lord toward this condition. This is utterly abhorent to him. Israel was once like this (Matt. 23:37). He wishes, there­fore, they were one or the other. This may sound strange that he should wish that they be frozen above being lukewarm. To be frozen is to be in a condition that at least can be classified and the need prescribed. Those in a condition like this do not know their peril and are not approachable with a remedy. To them the cross is an ornament in which there is no death and neither is there any life.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

The Intention of Christ Toward the Symptoms

"So then . . . I will spue thee out of my mouth." (emesai)

Lukewarm water is an emetic, and employing this metaphor the Lord declares he will spue the whole nauseating mess out of his mouth.

Actually the Greek reads, "I am about to spue thee out of my mouth." This is not directed toward the individual Christian and his spiritual relation to Christ, but to the church as a body in an official relation as a witness for Christ. It is the Christ, who stands in the midst of the lampstands, who is now speaking. As each lampstand receives the light from the sun and reflects it, a church serves in the capacity of a lightbearer.

There are two ways this can come about.
1. The church can turn its back upon the Lord. This will ultimately happen in the very nature of the case, and the Lord will have spued out the congregation in its relation as a witness for him. This has happened over and over again through the centuries, beginning with this church.

2. But the Lord may withdraw himself from the  church. This will happen at His coming, when He catches away all true believers and leaves all defunct congregations behind. And if this church represents the type of period that will exist immediately prior to His coming for the true church, then it is deeply significant that He says, "I am about to spue thee out of my mouth." This suggests imminence.

But Christ has not declared he will do it immediately. This holds forth at least a faint glimmer of hope for the church.