‘Apathy’ has been defined as a lack of interest or a failure to respond to something you ought to. Insensitivity and emptiness have been used as synonyms.
For Christians, apathy is a sin and involves an unsound state of one’s spirit. This state can result in an unhealthy spirit and even separation from God. The Bible often teaches about this type of spiritual malady. We are told to constantly be aware of what God wants and to do our best to see that it is done.
BE VIGILANT
We are taught by the Bible to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Scripture tells Christians to always be on guard for Satan and his temptations. This requires constant watchfulness over the things of God. The apostle John, in one of his letters, tells Christians that if they believe in the name of the Son of God, they have the assurance of their salvation (1 John 5:13). This indicates a love of God. And the Holy Spirit is with us (Rom. 8:16).
The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians, taught that prayer to God was necessary so that we would always do the right things (Phil. 4:6-9). John teaches us to love everyone (1 John 3:11). The writer of Hebrews tells Christians to pay attention to what we’re taught (Heb. 2:1a).
So, we should be ever vigilant in our thoughts and actions before God, we should love everyone, and we will know God’s will through prayer.
Christians were given their marching orders by Jesus, their Messiah, just before His Ascension into heaven when He stated, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19, 20). To do this properly, the Christian should know the word of God well. And Christians must be vigilant before God and not fall into spiritual apathy.
AVOID APATHY
Apathy is a sin (Jas. 4: 17). As Jesus said when He spoke to the church at Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and in neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:15-17).
When a Christian becomes uninterested in spiritual matters, they withdraw from fellowship with God (1 John 1:7). This weakens their faith and distances them from God. In this state, the Christian becomes much less useful to God and is not a light to the world (Matt. 5:14, 16; Eph. 5:8; Acts 13:47). So, this disinterested state keeps Christians from knowing when others need their help (Is. 58:10).
The Old Testament tells us that a lack of knowledge will not excuse the Christian (Prov. 24:12). Christians should not let others be carried away by Satan into sin (Prov. 24:11). We are taught that if we cannot, our faith is not strong enough (Prov. 24:10). The Bible teaches that there is an eternal punishment awaiting Christians for not protecting “the least of these” (Matt. 25:41–48).
The New Testament teaches that if we do not do as we are taught, we will become apathetic. The term “drift away” refers to a lack of interest or an apathy toward the things of God (Heb 2:1b).
Sin in the Christian’s life can cause apathy and indifference toward God and everything He has revealed to them (Ps. 51:11). Maintaining a love for Jesus Christ causes God to love us (John 14:21). A Christian who abandons God is in an apathetic state as Jesus told the church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:4). And, the pursuits of life can cause spiritual apathy. In other words, we may become more interested in worldly pursuits and less interested in spiritual affairs. Apathy to the ordinary activities of Christians is also common when church worship, bible reading, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians are neglected.
CONCLUSION
So, what should Christians do if they find themselves or other believers apathetic toward the things of God? We are told what to do by Jesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” (Rev. 2:5). All Christians must remember what John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We go to God in prayer to know God’s will, but let me remind you that after praying to God, we must listen to God for an answer.
