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Perhaps you’ve heard of the college professor who asked a rude and disinterested student what the meaning of the word “apathy” was. The student replied, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Even if unintentional, his definition was right on the mark. Apathy (from two Greek words, literally meaning, without affection or feeling) is the curse of any enterprise or undertaking. The devil has certainly lulled many of the Lord’s people into the comfortable sleep of unconcern about the work we have been commissioned to do. It is always dangerous to make sweeping generalizations (including the one I just made), but if I had to suggest a principal curse among the saints, I would suggest the curse of apathy.
Why do we have problems with ignorance of the barest essentials of the Bible among so many members of the church? Surely, it is because there is not enough affection for the Word of God and the blessings that derive from an ever-growing knowledge of the Truth. “Hungering and thirsting after righteousness” will keep us studying until we are filled (cf. Mat. 5:6).
Why do we have problems with able-bodied members who absolutely refuse to attend Bible classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Why will they not come back on Sunday night or attend more than once or twice during a Gospel meeting series? And why, after elders and preachers teach and plead and sometimes admonish absentees, is there still no improvement? Again, it must be ascribed to total apathy, both to the solemn duties and the exalted privileges of faithfully assembling with the saints. Such is hardly in keeping with the exhortation to be “zealous of good works” (Tit. 2:14). One can hardly imagine these folk to be reading their Bibles at home.
Why has false doctrine and the elevation and informed use of those who teach it grown to be such a critical problem among us, where three or four decades ago it would not have been tolerated? And why, when we try to warn brethren about strange doctrines and unscriptural practices and those who are advocating them, do many brethren either turn a deaf ear or defend the teacher or the doctrine in error? A spirit of consummate apathy has settled over many and the greatest concern of such is peace, calm, and quiet—regardless of cost. Apathy over doctrine will eventually bear the certain fruit of apostasy. Instead of ignoring doctrine, we are commanded: “Take heed unto…the doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:16, KJV).
Why are we not more concerned about the people all about us who are lost in sin? Our apathy may not only cause them to be lost, but us as well. The “I don’t know, and I don’t care” attitude toward spiritual matters makes us enemies of Christ (Rev. 3:16).
[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, June 7, 1984, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
