Arizona republican., 1911-08-14
Reminded Of Stern Text in Book of Revelations
 NEITHER HOT NOR COLD"
Oxford Graduate, Supply ing Phoenix Pulpit, Touches Sore Places in Those Who Talk Christ
 But Do Not Live Him. :.

50 then, because thou art luke | warm. and neither cold or hot. will spew thee out of my mouth" Rev. 3, Is.
 Preaching yesterday morning in the First Presbyterian church from one 1 of the hOmely texts which have been
 used for centuries to convince half hearted Christians of the crime of | incomplete service, Clarence Spauld- ing. said:
 If there is one thing that is revolt
 ing to strong, healthy vigorous man
 or woman it is a gulp of lukewarm
 water. Cold water is refreshing Hot
 water is sometimes pleasant. Luke
 warm water is always more or less
 sickening. It is savoriess, it is color
 less, 1t is tasteless-tepid It fails to
 give the needed vitality one expects
 in seeking thus to quench ones
 thirst It moistens the lips but it
 dampens the spirit. It leaves the drirker unsatisfied, still wanting. still craving. The water itself may be from the purest spring imaginable, it
 may be held in the finest cut-glass
 goblet that money can buy, but it has
 lost its savor," it is lukewarm.
 That is the judgment written vs
 this church of Laodicea-Lukewarm-
 ness. Because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
 thee out of my mouth" It is a
 strong, stern statement under any circumstances, but it is a statement that gains the greater strength be- cause of the fancied security of the church itself in it's wealth. in it's increase in goods and it's boasted need of nothing" This church was to say the least, we'll pleased with itself-"Thou sayest I am rich" Rich not only in material things, but there is a fancied spiritual security implied in the words T have need of nOth- ing" Yet says the amen. the faith full and true virtues and unfaithful church-"You are unique in your emptiness-Thou knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" Laodicea is the poorest church of the seven mentioned in the Revelation. In two of the churches there is good de- scribed with no specified i'll: in four, good and i'll are mixed tOgether-in one there is i'll described with no good-that church was Laodicea, Nothing in it to be commended" says a certain commentator
 "The true God of spiritual wealth was not there; the white raiment of personal purity--not there; the an nointing of the Holy One-not there" Aye truly. poor. wretched. blind
 naked 0hnrRh Dt1+ ho not yet been told-Christ himself was outside, knocking, Behold I stand at the door and knock" Christ is outside the door of this church, "The first and wrist of all frauds says Festus. "is to cheat oneself. All other sin is easy after that" The church of Laodicea stands today as the stock example of a self-deceived church. of church that was cheat ing itself
 LaOdicea itself was situated in the Lycus Valley not far from Epesus. in Phrygia, in southwestern Asia Minor. It was on one of the great RGman roads leading to the east, to Damas- GUS and Arabia. It was the center of a great wooden industry and be- cause of the steady stream of traffic that passed through it, it prospered materially. Real estate probbaly went up in value by leaps and bounds. Bazar sites brought greater prices. trading was rife. Public enterprises were receiving enthusiastic support At the time of the writing of this Revelation, the town-men were busy building one of those huge ampi- theaters which the Greeks and the Romans of that day were wont to build in all their chief cities and where those frightfully barbarous and degrading sports were to be carried on. As a further evidence of their wealth, it is recorded how after a destructive earthquake, which almost destroyed the city, they rebuilt it
 (Continued 0u Paga 2l