Chapter 4 – Profile of the Lukewarm

Here’s an example of my confusion. I was surfing in chapter 4 for my Bible verse for today and found the following:

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
James 4:17

I recognize this – this wording. In a cursory glance, I cannot find which version of the Bible it is taken from. It doesn’t say. Towards the back, I see the ESV being used. I think I prefer NIV and I wonder if that would be the one I think it is.

I chose this verse today because I am struggling with something. I know something good that I could do, but I haven’t come forward to do it. And here’s why … I’m scared that I will be rejected. And isn’t that one of the primary ingredients of a Lukewarm Christian? We are frightened to come forward and share our Love of Christ?

But I opened MY Lutheran Study Bible, which happens to be ESV and I don’t know why and it bothers me because some of the verses I love are no longer in the form that I love. They are all cockamamied. And I find the following:

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:17 (ESV)

Which doesn’t so much seem to mean sins of omission anymore – the good you could do but don’t. No, it’s very obviously the sins against the Law. If you know your Ten Commandments and fail to do them, you are sinning. Duh!

So what does it mean that I am choosing the first version, the version Chan used, to contemplate today rather than the version in my Bible? I won’t argue. They are both right. I cannot deny the truth in either of them.

So if anybody has any doubt as to whether they are a Lukewarm Christian or not, this chapter is excellent proof that you probably are. Chan makes a very convincing argument with Biblical support that American Christians are Lukewarm. If you are one of the few who are NOT, you are most likely not reading this book anyway. You are already on fire for Christ and are doing better things in this life.

I am taking a break from legalism. I didn’t run all week and I am not feeling guilty in the least. Now if I could only do that in my spiritual life. Not feel guilty for not doing something. i.e. not having quiet time and doing something else instead. That’s purely an example. I still haven’t found a quiet time. Oh, I read and I write, but that’s not what I need to be doing. Epic procrastinator. Position opening – mentor.