Lukewarm defined: a Christian who has conformed to surrounding culture — worldliness that replaced former zeal

Mike rejects the reading that 'cold' means anti-Christ or hostile — both hot and cold are positive. Lukewarm is bad because it used to be at a distinct temperature but gradually equalized to the ambient environment. Applied spiritually: a lukewarm Christian was once zealous but has slowly conformed to worldly values — seduced by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things. He critiques use of 'fundamentalist' as a flexible slur against zealous Christians.