Apathy (def) - "a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion."
Not caring is not normal. God created man, and in doing so he gave him a moral conscience (Acts 17:26-27). The apostle Paul even discussed the moral code sometimes obeyed by people who are ignorant of the law of God (Rom. 2:14-15). So it is expected that certain things matter to us: How we conduct ourselves, how we see others treated, right and wrong, causes worth making sacrifices for, et cetera.
This is why apathy is unhealthy, and in many cases, just plain sinful. In doing a study on apathy, one will find that it exists more often in people with mental illnesses. It is commonly associated with depression, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, schizophrenia, Schizoid Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and other diseases. This should tell us, that when a person does not care about the things that everyone should care about, something is wrong upstairs. Now it is one thing to have a disease that you cannot control which causes you to be apathetic, and it is another thing to choose not to care. Perhaps we could describe the latter condition without the letter "a", "pathetic."
With regard to the Christian life, there are some things for which every child of God should care. One should care about faithfulness to God, the unity and direction of the church, humanity's ideas and treatment of the Godhead, the Bible, their personal relationship with God and man, sin and its consequences, those who are less fortunate for any reason, and one should care when they see another person being mistreated.
The list could be longer, but the point is that it is important to remember what matters and what things should affect us.
Plato once said that, "The penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves." If this has some truth in it, what about the spiritual state of Christians who stop caring...who is governing them?
Are you bothered with being bothered, or do you still have the type of conscience with which God would be pleased? God wants a people who have a heart for Him, who care about what He cares about. Be very careful and guard you heart! Satan isn't just looking for people who are set on evil, he is looking for people who are too lazy to care!
“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man." ~ Acts 24:16
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
WET PAINT!
You saw the sign. It said, "WET PAINT!" So, naturally, you had to take a closer look. "Yeah," you thought, "It does look like it is still wet." But, you wondered if it had dried completely. Perhaps it would not rub off at all. You could not contain yourself. You just had to touch it and find out! Just you had suspected...you have paint on you now! As my five year old likes to say, "Well, duh!"
Human beings are hard to figure out sometimes. If we see someone staring up into the sky, we look up, too. When we stand waiting for an elevator, it is never enough that someone has already pushed the "up" button. We have to push it, too. We just can't leave well enough alone.
Why are we this way? No matter how independent we may be, there are times when we are going to be followers. If this were not true, we could never hope for heaven. Our salvation rests on the very principle of discipleship. Since we are followers, worshipers, and disciples...signs matter! Friendships matter! Commandments matter! Choices matter!
In one of Christ's discussions with the apostles, referring to the religious error of the Pharisees, he said, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matt. 15:14). Jesus was relating the simple principle that reminds us don't have to learn the hard way.
It is our stubborn pride that often leaves us walking away painted. We were unwilling to listen. We were unwilling to yield. We were unwilling to consider the inevitable direction of the path we were walking down. When our lives seem to be filled with more questions than answers, rather than do our own thing, the better solution would be to trust in God. Our way is the wrong way. God's will has been given to us so that we will not fall so far and hurt so much.
So consider the purpose of the sign, and make the application. "WET PAINT!" means "WET PAINT!"
"And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." ~ 2 Peter 1:19
Human beings are hard to figure out sometimes. If we see someone staring up into the sky, we look up, too. When we stand waiting for an elevator, it is never enough that someone has already pushed the "up" button. We have to push it, too. We just can't leave well enough alone.
Why are we this way? No matter how independent we may be, there are times when we are going to be followers. If this were not true, we could never hope for heaven. Our salvation rests on the very principle of discipleship. Since we are followers, worshipers, and disciples...signs matter! Friendships matter! Commandments matter! Choices matter!
In one of Christ's discussions with the apostles, referring to the religious error of the Pharisees, he said, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matt. 15:14). Jesus was relating the simple principle that reminds us don't have to learn the hard way.
It is our stubborn pride that often leaves us walking away painted. We were unwilling to listen. We were unwilling to yield. We were unwilling to consider the inevitable direction of the path we were walking down. When our lives seem to be filled with more questions than answers, rather than do our own thing, the better solution would be to trust in God. Our way is the wrong way. God's will has been given to us so that we will not fall so far and hurt so much.
So consider the purpose of the sign, and make the application. "WET PAINT!" means "WET PAINT!"
"And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." ~ 2 Peter 1:19
Monday, February 8, 2010
What is Written
There are some things in life that are often taken for granted. A sunset. A meal. Our health. It is not that we don't appreciate them, it is just that we are so used to them being there for us. Yet, at any time, if any of these underated blessings were instantly removed from us, there is a good possibility that would be devastated.
Among these great blessings, often forgotten, is God's written word. Again, it is not that we do not love the Bible. It is not that we never read the Bible. It is not that we don't know that it is what saves us and what will judge us in the end. It is simply that we do not contemplate often enough the power and the influence of the Holy Spirit's written word.
In the realm of religion the Bible is used, but by the majority this use is abuse. The Bible is used for speculation. The Bible is used to justify human activity. The Bible is used to support causes. The Bible is used as a spare tire, only when people are in trouble. The Bible is used like an epiphany, a genie, and a myth.
What I am finding, day by day, is that the simple and unchanging word of God has become my strength. The commands have built my fortress. The accounts of its history have become my heritage. The love of God, communicated within its pages has become my heartbeat. The story of Jesus has become my theme.
There is nothing more important in life, than to take some time to read what God has written. There will be many things I will regret doing in my lifetime. But one thing I know for certain, I will never regret even one second I have spent in God's Holy Word.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." ~ Romans 1:16-17
Among these great blessings, often forgotten, is God's written word. Again, it is not that we do not love the Bible. It is not that we never read the Bible. It is not that we don't know that it is what saves us and what will judge us in the end. It is simply that we do not contemplate often enough the power and the influence of the Holy Spirit's written word.
In the realm of religion the Bible is used, but by the majority this use is abuse. The Bible is used for speculation. The Bible is used to justify human activity. The Bible is used to support causes. The Bible is used as a spare tire, only when people are in trouble. The Bible is used like an epiphany, a genie, and a myth.
What I am finding, day by day, is that the simple and unchanging word of God has become my strength. The commands have built my fortress. The accounts of its history have become my heritage. The love of God, communicated within its pages has become my heartbeat. The story of Jesus has become my theme.
There is nothing more important in life, than to take some time to read what God has written. There will be many things I will regret doing in my lifetime. But one thing I know for certain, I will never regret even one second I have spent in God's Holy Word.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." ~ Romans 1:16-17
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Just Where Do You Think You’re Going?
When Paul wrote to Galatia he immediately addressed a problem many still have today: walking away. He said in Galatians 1:6, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to another gospel.” During this time, Judaizers had come into the church at Galatia to persuade the members to trade in their new-found Christian liberty for the old bondage of the law. It seems as though they were having success, appealing to those who were still babes in Christ to turn back to the familiar comforts of the law.
In essence, Paul asked the Galatians, “Just where do you think you’re going? Why are you going back to an imperfect way?” Paul reminded them that salvation was founded through the grace of God in Christ Jesus. God had constructed a plan through his love and grace to redeem mankind, because the law was insufficient, temporary, and only a tool to bring Israel and the rest of the world to the time of the saving Messiah (3:24,25). Justification came through faith and obedience to the plan God worked through Christ. The new and living way was to be the only way!
Sometimes don’t we act just like the Galatians? Isn’t it true that although called by the gospel we often end up obeying laws of imperfection that once left us condemned? How often do we commit sins that we’ve committed once before? How often are we persuaded to live according to worldly concepts that we should have once and for all abandoned for Him?
How sad God must be when one who has obeyed the truth falls back into sin and fails to reestablish a relationship with Him. Such are like the thorny soil (Matt. 13:22), who let cares and deceitfulness choke out the message of salvation. Also as the rocky soil (Matt. 13:20,21), some may receive the word with joy, but endure only for a while. When tribulation and persecution arise they leave the faith, because the word had not taken root in their hearts.
Why do we seek for help in the wrong places (Matt. 6:33)? What do we think we’ll solve if we leave the Lord? During Christ’s ministry some of His disciples went away and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). Jesus then asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well. Peter said correctly, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68).
If we are going to live eternally with our God we have to grow ever nearer to Him. The only way is in Jesus (John 14:6). God has left us the means to stay in that way (John 14:4). If you choose another path, just where do you think you’re going?
In essence, Paul asked the Galatians, “Just where do you think you’re going? Why are you going back to an imperfect way?” Paul reminded them that salvation was founded through the grace of God in Christ Jesus. God had constructed a plan through his love and grace to redeem mankind, because the law was insufficient, temporary, and only a tool to bring Israel and the rest of the world to the time of the saving Messiah (3:24,25). Justification came through faith and obedience to the plan God worked through Christ. The new and living way was to be the only way!
Sometimes don’t we act just like the Galatians? Isn’t it true that although called by the gospel we often end up obeying laws of imperfection that once left us condemned? How often do we commit sins that we’ve committed once before? How often are we persuaded to live according to worldly concepts that we should have once and for all abandoned for Him?
How sad God must be when one who has obeyed the truth falls back into sin and fails to reestablish a relationship with Him. Such are like the thorny soil (Matt. 13:22), who let cares and deceitfulness choke out the message of salvation. Also as the rocky soil (Matt. 13:20,21), some may receive the word with joy, but endure only for a while. When tribulation and persecution arise they leave the faith, because the word had not taken root in their hearts.
Why do we seek for help in the wrong places (Matt. 6:33)? What do we think we’ll solve if we leave the Lord? During Christ’s ministry some of His disciples went away and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). Jesus then asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well. Peter said correctly, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68).
If we are going to live eternally with our God we have to grow ever nearer to Him. The only way is in Jesus (John 14:6). God has left us the means to stay in that way (John 14:4). If you choose another path, just where do you think you’re going?
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