October 15, 2025

The heat is on!

Atmospheric temperature doesn’t seem to play a large role in the Bible. I am sure, though, there were instances of Jesus and his disciples sitting underneath the shade of a pine or fig or oak tree to stay cool. I am sure they sat around fires on cold evenings to get warm. Peter infamously denies knowing Jesus three times while “warming himself” at a fire.

I turned on the heat this past week. The cool evenings have won the battle over the warm days, drawing the temperature of the Brotheridge household down to sweater levels. (I give thanks to God for the technology that allows me to go to a thermostat and dial-in the desired temperature.)

Hot and cold temperatures don’t play a significant role in scripture. Another temperature does, though. Lukewarm. In John’s Revelation, the church in Laodicea (and we, as the readers, should count ourselves as members of that church) receives the following message: “I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth.” [Revelation 3:15-16 CEB] Being spat out of the mouth of the Son of the Human One doesn’t sound very pleasant.

I try to follow Jesus’ admonition to let my “Yes” be yes and my “No” be no, avoiding “I dunno” as often as possible, so as to avoid the lukewarm middle. Given the morning temperature outside… sweater required.

Rev. Eric