FLEE APATHEISM! pt1

We can be decidedly apathetic about a broad range of things in the world today: the latest political
scandal, or fashion trends, the most recent celebrity scandal on social media. Of what real significance, though, are any of those matters? Far more disconcerting is the obvious upswing of a common phenomenon known as “apatheism.” (Pronounce by saying “apathy,” and then add “ism”). You might ask, ‘What exactly is that?’ It’s an attitude whereby one is simply indifferent, or apathetic, about matters pertaining to God. [Online source: Anthony DeStefano] Perhaps you have heard the term “practical atheists.” Half a drawer above them, we must note, are those who engage in religious activity that is NOT AT ALL connected to a LIVING RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Chris! These “have a form of godliness but DENY its power. And from such people turn away, warns 2 Timothy 3:5!” What’s my point? Such attitudes as these must be seriously avoided, for they provoke God’s anger! Check out Isaiah 1:10-18 and Matthew 23:25-28. [source: Compact Bible Commentary: Earl Radmacher, et. al.]

Back to the apatheist--- they are most likely unwilling to own up to having such an attitude —even
while claiming to care about God. It is, nonetheless, “one of the most common attitudes in modern
culture.” [A. DeStefano] It fits the person who says they are a Christian, while their lifestyle daily exhibits an obvious indifference to the things of Christ—i.e., basic disciplines of the faith such as regular Bible reading, earnest confession of their sins to God, faithful prayers made privately as well as corporately to the One they claim is their heavenly Father, extending forgiveness to others for offenses, corporate worship, and so on.

Our Savior God warns us who name Him as Lord that lukewarmness is absolutely unacceptable, that He will spew such “religious” claimants—those who profess, but do not possess His Spirit—out of His mouth! We must examine ourselves, friends, and disassociate ourselves from that which characterized those Laodiceans, called out by Jesus in Revelation 3:14-22.

PRAYER: Dear Father, may we be people who are zealous to examine ourselves and do an “about-face” in those areas wherein we’ve been slothful and/or apathetic. We shall all stand before You one day to give an account of how we exalted You as Lord. Thank You, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
By Sis. Denise Diggs