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St. John Vianney describes a lukewarm soul as one who would like to be worldly without ceasing to be a child of God…a creature who gives one hand to God and the other to the world, so that he can call both to his aid and promise his heart to each one in turn. Then, weary of wanting to give his allegiance to both, ends by giving it to the world alone (Sermons of the Cure of Ars).

The state of being lukewarm, according to the book of Revelation, is a very dangerous one. The Holy Spirit spoke to the angel messenger saying, “I know your works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm … I will spew you out of My mouth!”

St. John Vianney describes the state of the lukewarm soul as “not yet dead in the eyes of God because its spiritual life of faith, hope and charity are not altogether extinct but it is faith without zeal, hope without resolution and charity without ardor…” (Sermons of the Cure of Ars)

For the lukewarm, religious acts are merely habit and routine done out a sense of duty so that the word of God or even long prayers are distasteful and boring. A lukewarm soul may be filled with good intentions without doing anything to correct its habits. His mind is so wrapped up in the things of earth that the thought of God has no place in it and he is rendered incapable of doing anything to gain heaven. After having received Holy Communion, the lukewarm will hardly give another thought to God in all the days to follow. His manner of life tells that he did not know the greatness of the happiness which had been his. (Sermons of the Cure of Ars)

Because God revealed his great love by saving his creation from bondage, delivering them from death, and showing the way to new life, he deserves to be loved in return and above all things. Lukewarmness, then, is a sin against charity. When prompted to act charitably, the lukewarm may refuse or neglect to respond (Catholic Catechism 2094). They like doing good but wish it did not cost them anything or at least very little. They know quite well that a certain person has a need for help but they wait until she comes to ask for it rather than anticipate her. The lukewarm may do plenty of good works and even frequent the Sacraments, but in all this one sees only a weak, languishing faith, hope which the slightest trial will upset and love of God and neighbor without warmth or pleasure. (Sermons of the Cure of Ars)

The rich seem to be particularly susceptible to this particular sin as Revelation continues: “For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Jesus spoke of the lukewarm when he said, “No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other: or he will sustain the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? Be not solicitous therefore, saying what shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knows that you have need of all these things. (Matt. 6:24-25, 31-32).

The book of Revelation continues and gives advice for the lukewarm  - “Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude] - Revelation 3:18-19 Amplified Bible.