Are you a lukewarm Christian? Take Pope Francis' test to find out

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
11/10/2014 (2 years ago)
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Pope Francis warned about "lukewarm" Christians during Mass on Sunday, saying there are many who are "Christians are in name only."

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - During his Sunday homily, Pope Francis warned about Christians who were Christians "in name only" and who possessed only some of the features that all Christians ought to have.

Pope Francis explained that these Christians often "were in church together, went to Mass on Sunday, praised the Lord and were called Christians." The difference he said is that some were "pagan Christians." He added, "even today there are many!"

Stay on the right path by following the guide given to us by Christ and his apostles.

Pope Francis warned that Christians run the risk of becoming "lukewarm" where we become "Christians in appearance" but we fail to conduct ourselves as Christians. Such people are "pagans painted over with two brush strokes of Christianity, so they look like Christians, but are really pagans."

He warned that such people are "Enemies of the Cross."

Listeners were reminded of the statement made by Jesus about such people, "Because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth."

How are Christians to know what sort of people they are? Are you at risk of being a "pagan Christian?"

The solution, Pope Frances suggested, is to ask questions of oneself. "How much worldliness is in me? How much paganism?" He continued, "Do I like to brag? Do I like money? Do I like my pride, my arrogance? Where are my roots, and where is my citizenship? In heaven or on earth?"

"If you love money," Pope Francis answered, "and are attached to it, if you love vanity and pride, you are headed down a bad road." If, "you try to love God and serve others, if you are gentle, if you are humble, if you are the servant of others, you are on the right path. Your citizenship is in heaven."

It is important that we all ask these questions of ourselves and be honest in our answers. The price for failure is too great to ignore the question.

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