Christian Apathy
By Rev Greg Schermerhorn 12/8/10
Why is there so much apathy among Christians? Why do so many of us live our lives wandering around aimlessly in the desert of defeat instead of living victoriously in the Promised Land of GRACE through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ? I have often pondered this very thought.
What is apathy? The Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines apathy as 1: a lack of feeling or emotion: impassiveness or 2: a lack of interest or concern: indifference. Noah Webster’s Dictionary (1828) defines apathy as a want of feeling; an utter privation of passion, or insensibility to pain; applied either to the body or the mind. As applied to the mind, it is stoicism, a calmness of mind incapable of being ruffled by pleasure, pain or passion. In the first ages of the church, the Christians adopted the term to express a contempt of earthly concerns.
Now that we have an understanding of the meaning of the word apathy, we can move forward with the question of why Christians choose to not live victoriously in the resurrection power of Jesus. I believe it relates to another question. Are they fully committed followers of Jesus Christ? What does that mean you say? Well let’s start at the beginning. Has that individual come to a saving knowledge of Jesus? Did they ever come to a point in their life when they became aware of their individual sinfulness, confessed their sins to God and asked His forgiveness, and accepted Jesus as their Savior and asked Him to come into their life as Lord? If they have done this, have they surrendered their will to Him in order to do His will? A fully committed follower of Jesus Christ lives in the resurrection power, mindful of opportunities to witness to a lost and dying world.
All Christians are called to be fully committed followers of Christ! We are called to be the salt and light of the world.
Matthew 5:13–16 (NAS)
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
If we, as Christians are apathetic, who will reach those who are otherwise destined for an eternity in Hell, separated from the love of God? If we don’t care enough about our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the world to share the great love God has for them, who will? Where would you be if no one had told you about Jesus and His love for you, His sinless atoning death for you, and His resurrection for you so that you could also have eternal life? For those of us who know Jesus in a real and personal way, do you remember when you didn’t know Him? Sometimes, we need to ponder that past and hit our knees and praise God for His awesome love, mercy, and, grace!
John 3:16–17 (AMP)
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
As we enter this Christmas season, it is fitting to remember that God greatly loved and dearly prized us, humanity. That is why He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins and make it possible for us to individually restore a relationship with God. This Christmas, share God’s gift of salvation with someone important to you. Be the salt and light God has called you to be in someone’s life. Store up eternal treasure and reveal the best Christmas gift that has ever been given to your loved ones…Christ Himself!
This Christmas, become a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ!
