Lukewarmness

[Mr.Blank1.5]

I felt the need to ask this after reading this thread from a while back…forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=369556&highlight=lukewarm

According to that thread, there are some sins associated with lukewarmness that are either venial sins or imperfections. However, doesn’t Revelations describe the lukewarm being spat out by the Lord? Someone please explain this to me.

 

[EmeraldWings]

well, as i’ve been taught, when someone is good and passionate, God can do great things with them, and even those who live in sin but are still passionate, God can still use them, or even convert them and make them great…but what can God do with the lukewarm? they reject His graces, they make no effort to do good, they are simply useless, and that is worse then even being a great sinner, because atleast God can move a sinner, but the lukewarm do not move one way or the other…we all have a purpose in life, but if we are not atleast moving in some direction, how can we ever come to know that purpose? or be moved towards it?

God spits out the lukewarm because they are neither hot nor cold, they are tepid and revolting…

well, maybe this will help you understand better - catholicapologetics.info/catholicteaching/virtue/loveof.htm
it’s by one of my favorite saints and writers, Saint John Vianney :3

 

[Joe_Kelley]

At work we had the saying, “You can’t steer a parked truck.” If someone is doing things the wrong way, one can help him correct his approach. However, one can’t correct the performance of a couch potato.

 

[Mr.Blank1.5]

catholicapologetics.info/…tue/loveof.htm

If I’m understanding this correctly, one can appear to be devout (regular confession, mass attendance, etc.) and be lukewarm? So do these people just go through the motions without any real faith? How do we know for sure if we fall into lukewarmness?

On a related note; in the link on my first post, there were a number of venial sins that were listed as signs of being lukewarm. Would these really condemn someone to Hell?

 

[EmeraldWings]

catholicapologetics.info/…tue/loveof.htm

If I’m understanding this correctly, one can appear to be devout (regular confession, mass attendance, etc.) and be lukewarm? So do these people just go through the motions without any real faith? How do we know for sure if we fall into lukewarmness?

On a related note; in the link on my first post, there were a number of venial sins that were listed as signs of being lukewarm. Would these really condemn someone to Hell?

basically when you are lukewarm, you will do the things you are obligated to do, and even more sometimes, but when you do those things are you do good works, you are doing it for any other reason, except to please God, you simply do it for the praise or self image,
you may have faith actually, but it would not benefit you, because you will not put it to any use, you will simply do what you feel like doing, and not care if there was something you know you should have done, but didn’t feel like it…
there is alot more to it then that, because everyone is different, but you can talk to your priest about it, he is supposed to be educated in these matters, so he should know

as for venial sins related to lukewarmness, you cannot go to hell for a venial sin, although you may spend very very long in purgatory for them, only mortal sins send you to hell,
but then there are still sins of lukewarmness which are mortal, but those i am not incredibly well learned in, so that’s also something you can talk to your priest about(or anyone else who knows)

 

[baltobetsy]

Lukewarmness is deadly because it causes you eventually not to care about the things of God. Those lists of sins and imperfections that are signs of lukewarmness are not hard and fast rules about things that will send you to hell, simply symptoms of a slide into indifference.

You know, it is often said that the opposite of love is not hatred, but indifference. That falls in well with the passage that says God would prefer us to be hot or cold, but not lukewarm. As long as we are passionately engaged with God, either with love or hate, He can work with us. If we don’t give a hoot, we’re in trouble.

So basically, lukewarmness is falling out of love with God. If you find yourself committing a bunch of the sins on those lists, you should examine yourself to see how your love is. Stir it up again if you need to, by acts of love and sacrifice and by doing your best to overcome the little sins.

Betsy