In December 2011, USA Today ran an article that analyzed a group of Americans called the “spiritually apathetic.” Their attitude could be summed up as: “So what?” The article presented the following sad statistics:
• 44 percent spent no time seeking “eternal wisdom.”
• 19 percent said, “It’s useless to search for meaning.”
• 28 percent said, “It’s not a major priority in my life to find my deeper purpose.”
• 18 percent denied that God has a purpose or plan for everyone.
Paul once uncovered spiritual apathy among the people in Rome. Here’s a glimpse of their downward spiral: They knew God; He powerfully revealed Himself in their conscience and in creation so that no one would be without excuse. Yet they refused this wonderful knowledge and turned their back on Him (Romans 1:18-20). They knew of God, but they refused to worship Him. Their indifference led to ingratitude and their ingratitude led to ignorance (Romans 1:21-23). Then they exchanged the truth of God for lies (Romans 1:25). These lies manifested themselves in worshiping the creature rather than the Creator; man rather than God.
The last step in this downward spiral was the total refusal of the knowledge of God. The only power that could break this spiritual apathy was the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they could only appropriate this power through faith in Him.
Many in our world are apathetic to the things of God, and the only way we can stir them to zeal and fervency is through winsomely and graciously preaching the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.
This is the good news: Jesus came and died for all our sins so that we might be restored to a relationship with our heavenly Father.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 2:1-13
More:
Read Revelation 3:14-20 to see why the Laodiceans were apathetic and how Jesus called them back to Himself.
Next:
Where do you detect spiritual apathy in your life? How can the reality of the cross and the power of the gospel of Christ awaken your spiritual desire?
Tom Felten on October 7, 2014 at 8:49 am
Marvin, one thing that can cut through the mist of spiritual apathy is passionate friendship. As we reach out to those who are apathetic may we truly love them with the love of Jesus. And may, in time, we see their eyes opened as the Holy Spirit reveals the Good News to them.
gary1schelvan on October 8, 2014 at 5:37 am
Hello Marvin,
I am in Tianjin, China, living here but I am having some trouble getting a comment through, so I will try a bit later, great subject, God bless,,
Mike Wittmer on October 8, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Great point. We need to learn how to hope again, to realize there is something larger than ourselves.