Causes and Cures of Religious Indifference (1 Peter 5:1-11)
Eternal vigilance is a crucial component in the preservation of New Testament Christianity. Both collectively and distributively, the local church must be engaged in fighting the good fight of the faith which is inclusive of many areas in accomplishing our responsibility to preserve the truth of God. One specific area that often times goes unguarded in the lives of Christians is protecting ourselves against indifference. Such can find its way into our lives by generally creeping into all areas. Specifically, it can affect us from a religious perspective.
Satan is extremely active in the area of that which relates to religion. He openly promotes false doctrines and unauthorized practices. He blinds the eyes of many in these areas to the point that they never accept the truth and obey such in becoming New Testament Christians. After obeying the gospel of Christ some brethren allow Satan to blind them to sinful living through their uncontrolled personal desires and weaknesses. Such individuals turn away from Christ and return to the world.
Perhaps one of the most subtle forms of opposition to the truth of God has a form of worldly respectability. Such is known as indifference. By the term indifference, we refer to having no concern; no interest—demonstrating no desire. Such is demonstrated in the lives of those who reject the gospel to the point where they have become seared in their thinking. Even though they are on their way to eternal punishment in Hell, it does not bother them for one moment that they are out of fellowship with Christ and will suffer eternal consequences of rejecting Him throughout all eternity.
This same worldly respectability can also make a subtle entrance into the lives of Christians where they will lose interest in crucial aspects of faithfulness to the Lord. They end up removed from faithfulness, spirituality, and all things that are critical for one to walk in the light of New Testament truth, enabling us to be counted among those who are faithful to God and to claim Heaven as our eternal home.
Satan does not make usage of indifference as a direct frontal assault. To the contrary, he makes usage of such indirectly as flank movements, catching us off guard. By the time many individuals become cognizant of the problems related to that of indifference, they are seriously engulfed within the clutches of Satan and are involved in serious sin. Indifference, therefore, has no limitations and does not know any stopping place. Indifference will destroy one’s ability to recognize sin and the way back to God. Let us note causes of this problem and God’s answer to such.
The problem of Materialism. Materialism does not consist in owning material things or physical possessions. Materialism consists of affirming that one’s well-being consists in the possession of physical and material things as constituting the highest goal in life (Revelation 3:14-19). The spiritual cure for materialism is found within the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-10; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Colossians 3:1-5).
The problem of physical and emotional suffering. Human beings are time-oriented. We indeed have an eternal essence, having been created in the image of God and having a non-dying soul. However, some are unwilling to understand or accept that we have a limited time to live upon this earth (Hebrews 9:27). They cannot handle the thoughts of suffering, death, and dying (Job 3:23-26)—or the cure (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
Judging God’s truth by the perversions of such. The New Testament church is the result of uncorrupted seed of the Word of God being taught, received, and obeyed (John 8:31-36; Matthew 16:13-19). Such is the “called out”—the assembly of Christ that contains all of those who have been saved from past sins (Acts 2:47).
By the perversion of God’s truth humanity has founded false religious groups (Matthew 15:7-14). Do not judge the truth of God by perversions of such! The cure is clear: Preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-8). We must also respect New Testament authority (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9-11).
Inconsistent lives of some Christians. The New Testament of Christ recognizes the reality of such problems emanating from such (Philippians 1:27; Titus 2:7-15). Even from the early days of the church of Christ, as it was established in the first century, there were those who led inconsistent lives with what they claimed to believe (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:19). The cure: Realize that there are two sides to the church. The Divine side—the perfect New Testament pattern given by Christ—and the human side of the members of the church, who are imperfect. Those who are faithful strive for perfection (Philippians 3:8-14).
The prevalence of Immorality. We live in a sin-cursed society. We need to remember that this sin problem will only grow worse (2 Peter 3:1-10). Just because we are confronted with such terrible conditions does not mean that we are justified in either giving in to such lifestyles or remaining silent about them (Matthew 5:10-16). May Christians always remember that we have the God-given responsibility to put on the armor of God and fight the good fight of the faith (Ephesians 6:10-20). Unlike the apostles we are not ambassadors; however, we are soldiers and contenders (Jude 3). Our commander is Christ the King. There is no greater, near or far. We may lose a skirmish with Satan now and then. However, Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, has already won the war.