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How '98.6 Too Cold' Originated

 

 

        Ever have one of those 'Eureka!' or better yet 'light bulb' moments you see in cartoons? 

 

Well, I experienced one of those surreal 'That's it!' moments a few weeks ago as I was sitting in church. You would think I had the experience because of something I heard through the worship or sermon now wouldn't you? Surprisingly enough, I did not. It was a concept that shot through my mind literally out of the blue.

 

Where did the blog title originate from?

 

The theme I felt this blog should be recognized by is 'Challenging Lukewarm Christianity".  98.6 degrees is the estimated temperature of water recognized as 'lukewarm'. It is also man's average body temperature. But lukewarm is NOT what we are called to be, is it? We're not called to be average men and women or follow along with who every other person in the world is or what they are doing. Why do I say "too cold"? Because we need to set our hearts and lives ON FIRE for God! Hebrews 12:29 says, "for our God is a consuming fire". I strongly believe He has a plan for the writers and readers of this blog to be consumed by that same fire.

This 'eureka' experience, so to speak, was in regards to creating an online blog utilizing weekly messages to challenge the lukewarm Christianity we as Christ followers are being surrounded by daily at our workplaces, fitness centers, colleges and even churches. The way I see it, Christianity in our society and culture here in North America has been on a steady decline for quite some time from what Christianity used to stand for and represent. There is no doubt in my mind that a correlation exists with the overall spiritual landslide of our ever-growing corrupt culture that we cannot escape and the progression of 'the lukewarm Christianity' I speak of. Romans 12:2 ("Do not be conformed to this world..") reminds us that we were placed in this world for a purpose. God's plan is for us to be in the world but not of it.

 

 So where did we as Christ followers go wrong?



 

I don't claim by any means to have the complete, 100% guaranteed correct answer to the question above. I am very limited anyhow to my response as I've only existed on God's creation for twenty-two years; surely not long enough to witness the landslide I mentioned earlier in it's full progression. The generations before me I am sure can supply a more detailed report of what's "been going down" (and I mean literally downhill) the past number of decades.

 

 

However, we are all entitled to our personal opinions right? Here is mine. Too many Christians or Christ followers (whichever you prefer; I use the latter only because 'Christians' can too easily be associated with lukewarm people who are not authentically representing Christ) have fed into the lie from Satan that it is okay to love what this world has to offer and to crave and seek it's possessions but still naively believe they're on track with God. To lay it out simply for you, read the following verse and discern for yourself whether you believe or not that Christians today have kept in tune with what it says.

 

 

1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will love forever". 

 

I don't know if you know it but the devil is a master at working in subtle ways. Scriptures say he "prowls like a lion" looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Last I checked when watching Animal Planet, lions don't walk up beside an antelope to say, "Hi. Would you like to be my dinner?" (Forgive my corny jokes; I am not one to be creative). Realistically, the scene is displayed as a lion or lioness slowly creeping upon their prey while hidden in some tall brush so they cannot be noticed. Safe to say Satan is probably aware that some of us are strong enough in our walks with the Lord that we won't give in easily to his deceitful tricks. His next method is to be as sly and subtle as possible while he attempts to squeeze himself in our lives and push God out.

 

And so the devil has taken advantage of 'worldly cravings' since we are surrounded by them day in and day out. Little by little we take hold of these cravings thinking all the while "this can't hurt". Eventually, we are so familiar with what the world has to offer that we are overcome by it as we lose sight of God more and more. Becoming too content with flesh-filled, worldly desires is one of the most dangerous paths we can choose while following the Lord.

 

How can we keep from becoming attached to culture's spiritual landslide?

 

Why yes, there is a significant reason why several scriptures advise us to "be on our tippy-toes" as I like to say. The Bible acknowledges the crucial need for believers to be prepared, cautious, awake and aware for the devil could strike at any time. Don't just take my word for it. Luke 21:36 says, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Need more convincing? Check out: Revelation 16:15; Luke 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:6 or 1 Peter 1:13.

 

I'd like to encourage you, reader, to stand your ground. Guard your heart against the enticements of the devil that may tempt you every day at any given time. We live in an age where lukewarm Christianity exists so dominantly because God has been removed from society and culture more than ever before! It is okay to admit to being weak and giving in to temptations. But we must have a repentant heart and strive harder the next time we face such temptations from Satan or tests from our Lord (There is a significant difference. James 1:12-14 tells us temptations come from the devil and tests derive from God).

 

One reason God placed it on my heart to begin this blog is so that as Christ followers living in what could be the most 'Godless' time in history yet, we can come together as a community to encourage and uplift one another "in worldly troubles to...

 

TAKE HEART FOR CHRIST HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!" (John 16:33).

Ryan Walters. '98.6 Too Cold' Founder, Blogger