Perspective

By L. Jim Tuck

July 11, 2024

Apathy or a Zeal of Steel?

    During the volatile latter end of the decade of the 60s, the United States was on edge and experiencing riots which often ended with violence and killing. The Vietnam War was being broadcast in living color on televisions around the world. There were graphic nightly reports of devastation and the return of the flag-draped coffins of soldiers killed in action. By the end of the 1960s, most were burned out seeing it all. In 1967, Dr. Timothy Leary spoke at the “Human Be-In” in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco before 30,000 hippies. His message was, "Turn on, tune in, drop out." During this counterculture era many of the youth of the nation adopted an attitude of apathy. Many observers of the present day believe many people are now reflecting the same attitudes of the flower children of the 60s generation, and people are tuning out.

Perspective

    Like during the 60s, the country is edgy. Riots and police shootings of black men have created civil unrest across the nation. Young people have risen to protest, and in some cases have used destructive and violent means.

    Some in the United States are protesting the Israeli-Hamas War. They have even resorted to burning the American flag. On July 4th , activists against Israel burned the flags of the United States and Israel while they waved the flags of terrorist organizations at protests in Philadelphia, New York City, and Los Angeles. The U.S. is not the only country where protests are taking place. Thousands of people in Australia have staged rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, including the Victorian Greens leader. As a result of the Israel–Hamas war, nationwide protests occurred across the UK. Last year France warned of rising tensions within the nation over the war in Israel.

    Will things likely change? How far off are we from a time when apathy will fall on people and they tune out? When people see no change for so long, they begin to lose hope of anything happening and become complacent and indifferent and develop a “who-cares attitude.”

    In the last days the Apostle Paul prophesied living would be perilous and people would be unable to show natural fondness towards others. He foretold men would turn inward and have selfish love for themselves; they would be duplicitous, cocky, and even fierce and violently unfriendly (II Tim. 3:1-4). Jesus prophesied that lawlessness would superabound in the end times and the love of many would grow cold (Matthew 24:12)

   What about the true followers of Christ? Can we be affected by the rampant lawlessness of the world around us and tune out, get apathetic, and sort of go on a spiritual vacation? Apathy, also referred to as indifference, is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern about something.

    How does apathy affect us? It has an impact on how we see our sins and faults! If allowed in our life, we’ll no longer be moved or stirred by the Holy Spirit to react to the instruction, inspiration, or correction from messages God gives within the church. Apathy means we become indifferent and cold to God’s will and His commands. Indifference is a sin. But by faith, we can overcome apathy and find great inspiration to develop a zeal of steel. Zeal is the antithesis of apathy, and it can be rebuilt.

    It is possible even for God’s people to take the sins of this world for granted so much that we don’t sigh and cry for the abominations we see (Ezekiel 9:4-6). How much compassion do we have for others who suffer in this world? How are we affected when we see starving children in faraway places, or we see a man or woman dressed in filthy clothing begging on a street corner? Are we so sickened by the conditions in society that it vexes our soul? When we see the violence going on all over this world and innocent people being killed or maimed, can we sincerely pray "Thy kingdom come"?

   When we no longer can have the right kind of feelings of compassion, then we begin to fit the description of the apathetic Laodiceans of Revelation 3:14-18; they are characterized as being "lukewarm." They are not hot or cold, meaning they still hang around the church, but they have one foot in the ways of this world. They no longer hunger and thirst for righteousness; they believe they have need of nothing spiritually. They started off in their calling filled with zeal to keep learning, but that desire has faded away.

    How can one turn around and recapture zeal? God warned the church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

    In order to return to our first love and zeal for God, we must shake off complacency and remember the right attitudes and ways we once had and return to them. It means we must willingly humble ourselves before God and repent from our heart of our ways and make a 180-degree turn around to begin to obey God whole heartedly.

   God has given us the truth. Cleave to what is good persistently (Romans 12:9). Develop a real "love of the truth," and you will never be "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (II Thessalonians 2:10; Hebrews 3:13)

    When God calls us, He places us in the body as it pleases Him (I Corinthians 12:18). The body of Christ, the church, is to be fitly framed together. We work as a team. Shake off indifference, and put on the garments of involvement in the work of God. We become a real part of the congregation on a regular basis rather than sporadically. Zeal means seeking ways to serve others in the church.

    Finally, to develop a steel-like zeal, put on the whole armor of God, and after we put it on, we must take it up and use it in the battles of life (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13). There is no time to wait to strive to change (Romans 13:11).

The Apostle Paul wrote the Romans: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” He also admonishes us: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:1-4)

    God has given His people a tremendous calling and offers us great rewards now and in the future. There is no time to wait to strive to change and make our calling and election sure. An enduring zeal of steel is required!

    This is my Perspective for this week.