INDIFFERENCE

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. In this lesson we want to study regarding "indifference."
   B. Webster defines the word "indifference" in several ways.
      1. "Having a neutral or unbiased disposition."
      2. "Not interested in or concerned about something."
      3. "Apathetic; not easily interested or moved."
      4. "Characterized by lack of active quality."
   C. Some of the synonyms of the word "indifferent" are:
      unconcerned, incurious, aloof, detached, disinterested,
      unimportance, insignificance, coolness, carelessness, apathy,
      insensibility, non-chalant.

I. MANY PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD ARE INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE SALVATION OF   
   THEIR OWN SOULS.
   A. As we work at trying to convert people, we are often amazed at
      their colossal disinterest in God's holy truth.
   B. They probably will never know the truth because they are very
      indifferent toward it. 2 Thess. 2:10-12
      1. "Truth is avoided when it is painful. We can revise our maps
         only when we have the discipline to overcome that pain. To
         have such discipline, we must be totally dedicated to truth.
         That is to say, we must always hold truth to be more
         important, more vital to our self-interest, than our        
         comfort. Conversely, we must always consider our personal
         discomfort relatively unimportant and, indeed, even welcome
         it in the service of the search for truth." (From The Road
         Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck, p. 50)
      2. An indifferent person will not accept the truth that will be
         painful to him.
      3. Let us genuinely love the truth that we might be saved.     
         Prov. 23:23

II. MANY BRETHREN ARE INDIFFERENT TOWARD SPIRITUAL THINGS.
   A. Some brethren are indifferent toward worship in general.
      1. Brethren often miss Sunday morning Bible study, Sunday
         night worship, and Wednesday evening Bible study through
         indifference.
      2. It is indifference that causes people to sleep, play with
         babies, pass notes, file their nails, and watch the clock   
         during worship.
      3. Some are "bored to tears" with the whole worship service.
      4. There was a ship discovered many years ago among the
         icebergs of the Arctic ocean, with the captain frozen as he
         was making his last entry in the logbook. The crew was
         found, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all
         frozen to death. The last date in the logbook showed that   
         for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the
         icebergs, "a drifting sepulcher, manned by a frozen crew."
      5. Jesus said of Laodicea, "I could wish you were cold or hot."
         Rev. 3:15
         a. Thus, the Lord wants us to be one way or the other. In
            other words, He wants us to be either zealous or dead,
            but not somewhere in between.
         b. Often when Christians know they are lost, they will
            repent.
         c. However, it is the lukewarm, the indifferent, who can't
            be reached. They think they are fine the way they are.
         d. The Lord told the Laodiceans to repent. Rev. 3:19
   B. Some are indifferent in their concern for one another.
      1. Jesus requires a new and higher standard of love. John
         13:34-35; 1 John 3:16
      2. If we have genuine love for one another, other things will
         take care of themselves. Rom. 13:8; 1 Cor. 12:20-22, 25-27
      3. The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi was asked
         what it took to make a winning team. He said, "There are a
         lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know the
         fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still don't  
         win the game. Then you come to the third ingredient: if     
         you're going to play together as a team, you've got to care 
         for one another. You've got to love each other. Each player 
         has to be thinking about the next guy and saying to himself:
         'If I don't block that man, Paul is going to get his legs   
         broken. I have to do my job well in order that he can do    
         his.'  The difference between mediocrity and greatness is   
         the feeling these guys have for each other." (Quoted in     
         Leadership, Vol. 15, No. 3)
      4. As members of the Lord's church let us truly love and care
         for one another. Let us take seriously the Lord's "new
         commandment" so that we can be a winning team.
   C. Some are indifferent regarding the rearing of their children.
      1. Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:15; 23:13-14
      2. "Every baby starts life a little savage - completely        
         egotistic and self-centered. Babies want what they want,    
         when they want it, be it a bottle, mother's attention, or a 
         dry diaper. Deny a baby these "wants" and he or she is      
         seized with rage. Babies have no morals, no knowledge, no   
         skills for survival. All children, not just certain         
         children, are potential delinquents! If permitted to        
         continue in the self-centered world of their infancy, where 
         they had free rein to every impulse and had every want      
         instantly gratified, all children would grow up in that mold
         of depravity. That is the stuff of which are made criminals,
         killers, and rapists." (From 1500 Illustrations for Biblical
         Preaching, p. 343)
      3. Of course, there are a few exceptions to the above rule.
         Some small children have a wonderful, delightful            
         disposition, and are very easy to discipline.
      4. However, most children require much diligence on the part
         of parents in using the "rod of correction" so that their   
         souls can be saved.
   D. Some are indifferent toward upright, moral living.
      1. When people become "bored to tears" regarding worship,
         their conduct toward moral, righteous living often becomes
         lacking. Some examples:
         a. They wear dresses too short, too tight, or too low cut in
            front, or slit too high on the sides.
         b. They don't mind putting on a bathing suit and going
            mixed bathing, or going to the beach, lying around in the
            sun with hardly anything on, while people walk around
            them and view their bodies.
         c. They will attend high school proms and dances.
         d. Girls cut their hair to look like boys, and boys allow
            their hair to grow long to look like girls.
         e. It is indifference that causes them to smoke, drink,
            dance, curse, tell dirty jokes, and visit places of ill
            repute.
      2. Consider Rom. 2:4-5.
         a. What would you think of a doctor who, on discovering
            you had a tumor buried deep in your body, responded,
            "Take two aspirin and you'll be just fine." How about a
            fireman who responded to a three-alarm fire by saying,
            "It'll probably burn itself out soon enough," or a
            policeman who, on arriving at the scene of a robbery,
            merely shook his head and said, "Boys will be boys!"
         b. In each case the response is inappropriate to the
            situation.
         c. Often, brethren's response to the things we have
            mentioned is far to inappropriate.
         d. Instead of avoiding and reproving the sin, they become
            indifferent toward it.
         e. And, to become "indifferent toward sin" means they
            have become hardened and impenitent toward it.
   E. Some are indifferent toward lost souls.
      1. If one is indifferent toward the saving of his own soul,
         certainly, he will be toward saving the souls of others.
      2. Let us think in the direction of lost souls in the church.  
         Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; Prov. 9:8b-9; Psalm 141:5
      3. This is from Charles Stanley who is probably a member of a
         denominational church, but his words are well taken.
         a. He said, "A woman in our church was married for only a
            short time when she found out her husband was a
            homosexual. Soon after, he left her. As I talked with
            her, she said something I shall never forget. She said,
            "After I was divorced, several of my friends came to me
            and said they knew he was gay. When I asked them why
            they didn't say anything to me, they said, 'We didn't
            think it was any of our business.'"
         b. Stanley said, "Her friends were dead wrong. After
            hearing her story, I made up my mind never to stand by
            quietly and watch a friend make what I was sure in my
            heart was a mistake. This resolution has made me very
            unpopular at times. People have left my church over
            things I have confronted them about. But when I start
            thinking that maybe I should keep my mouth shut, I
            always remember what Solomon said, 'He who rebukes
            a man will afterward find more favor than he who
            flatters with the tongue (Proverbs 28:23).'"
         c. We add, we must remember our duty to warn, reprove,
            and exhort. 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Tim. 4:2; Eph. 5:11

Concl.
   A. If we are indifferent in these things, we lose our purpose for
      existence as God's people.
   B. Several years ago, the London Transit Authority had a problem.
      Buses were going right past passengers who were waiting at
      designated places to be picked up. They were at the bus stops,
      and the buses were sailing right past them. The London Transit
      Authority released a statement to explain their actions. The
      statement said it was impossible for them to maintain schedules
      if they always had to stop and pick up passengers!
      1. The London Transit Authority could have easily maintained
         schedules if they picked up no passengers at all.
      2. However, they would have destroyed their very purpose for
         existence.
   C. When we become "indifferent" in the very things God designed
      for His people, we lose our identity as His people.
      1. We close with Jesus' words to Laodicea. Rev. 3:15-20

Chart:
The Indifference Of Some Brethren
Toward Worship In General                
In Their Concern for One Another
Regarding Rearing Their Children
Toward Upright, Moral Living
Concerning Lost Souls (Fellow Saints)