Mtr Kelli Joyce

"‘I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ...I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent."

Dear friends in Christ,

Before the angel of the Revelation to John shows him visions of plagues and beasts and scrolls and spectacular cities, the book opens with a series of letters dictated to John by Christ himself, to be sent to the Christians of seven particular cities. In today's reading, Jesus has strong words for his followers in Laodicea. It isn't clear what, exactly, their transgression is, though trusting in the sense of security they get from earthly wealth is mentioned. Whatever it is, it's causing them to live lukewarm lives. Christ's disdain for their refusal to be either hot or cold reminds me of a prayer from the Anglican tradition, which teaches us that if we are to seek after a "middle way," we must do so "not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth" - that is, we must be able to look at the big picture, and see beyond our own preferences, but truth is more valuable than compromise for its own sake.

When you see criticisms of people or groups who are accused of being unwilling to compromise, I invite you to consider the question of truth - because a compromise between truth and falsehood, a compromise between good and evil, a compromise between hot and cold... it's not an improvement. Compromise is a value when the positions between which the compromise is struck are themselves morally neutral. But, because of his love for us, Jesus is unwilling to simply let us Christians play it safe and hedge our bets and stay lukewarm. We are called to be bold in word and deed, speaking and living as if the Good News of God in Christ is true and matters, even though that can be a far more frightening prospect. It's worth it.

In peace,
Mtr. Kelli