The indifferent church

“Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  Its not!”
       —Dr. Seuss in The Lorax

A.W. Tozer is quoted to have said that if the Holy Spirit were removed from the church today, 70% of churches would not notice.  It is startling how quickly the people of God can go from deeply devoted followers to agents of indifference.

Biblical indifference is apathy towards the things that matter to God.  We see it throughout Scripture when the people of God value their own priorities above that of God’s.  Elaborate systems and ideologies are developed around the man-made priorities, but in the end, Biblical indifference is disrespectful to God.  We easily understand that the things of God include things like worship, and study of God’s Word, but struggle to recognize that his passion is for his creation including humanity.

In the book of Revelations, Jesus speaks to Severn churches (real churches in the first century).  One of the churches in Laodicea, was chided for being lukewarm,  The church  saw itself as doing well and having affluence, yet Jesus describes them as blind, poor, and naked.  He challenges them to  “be diligent and turn from your indifference”.

In other words, re-focus on the important things.  They were invited to re-prioritize their affections.  Jesus charged his followers to love God with everything they have and to love others as He loves us.  Sometimes, we forget what the main thing is because we are distracted.  In the parable of the Sower in Mark 4:7,  we see that life, its complexities, and its worries will naturally vie for attention.  These distractions “choke” our passions and render us indifferent to the most important things.

What are you passionate about?  Are you as excited about God as you are in the prospects of a new raise, a larger home, or more committed relationship?  None of those things are evil of course, but they can be distractions and as long as we are vigilant regarding what has our hearts and minds, we keep the appropriate balance.

Scripture tells us to guard our hearts above all, for it determines the course of life (Prov 4:23).  The Apostle Paul eloquently argued that you can have all the best plans and actions but without love, they are nothing (I Cor 13).

The church that is indifferent is the church that will soon die.  The church that is indifferent to the suffering around it, will die.  The church that fails to love its neighbors in tangible ways, has become indifferent and will die.  Pastor Mark DeYmaz writes “Where passion and purpose are lost, preservation becomes the goal”. In other words, churches that are no longer concerned with doing the will of God in their community but are concerned about merely surviving, have lost their passion.

Jesus acted with compassion which is a combination of understanding, deep concern and the willingness to act on that concern for the benefit of another, often with sacrifice.  We can recognize what we are passionate about by looking to see what we use our resources towards.  That include God.  IF we spend little time actually thinking about God, talking with God, or obeying God, then we have become indifferent.

I pray today that you would never experience being indifferent, but that if you have, that you understand God has brought that to your attention so you can re-prioritize.  He left the church in Laodecia with the following encouragement:

Look! I stand at the door and know I.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together” (Rev 3:20)

Its time to fall in love with your creator again,  and it begins by simply letting God in!

May God bless you