Indifference (Part II of II)
By Chris Voss
Revelation 3:14-17, (Jesus speaking to John), “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of the creation of God. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm (indifferent) and neither cold not hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.’ But you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
Laodicea was banking center with a great deal of wealth, founded approximately 200-250 years before the birth of Christ. It was built on the great Roman road to Syrian Antioch. Laodicea’s water supply was fed by hot springs and cold springs, which when mixed, resulted in a lukewarm, nauseous mixture, totally unsuitable for drinking purposes.
Our Lord in this third chapter of Revelation compared the Laodicean church’s spiritual commitment to their lukewarm water. Jesus devastatingly declares that the Laodicean church had lost its enthusiasm, its zeal, and its excitement concerning their holy religion.
Through the ages, the Laodicean church has come to stand for one of the most disgusting things on earth: a lazy, self-righteous, complacent and indifferent church, glorying in their own presumed worldly achievements, but totally unacceptable to the Lord. This church was providing neither spiritual refreshment for the spiritually weary, nor spiritual healing for the spiritually sick. How strange that God’s people were so hollow, so destitute of spiritual graces in such a grand city as Laodicea.
There was an abundant of riches in Laodicea, but Jesus said these Christians were spiritually poor. There was some of the finest clothing on earth in Laodicea, but Jesus said these Christians were spiritually naked. There was healing for many in the fine medical school in Laodicea, but Jesus said these Christians could not spiritually see. This is a sad commentary upon Christians who live in the affluent society, with plenty of everything, except passion for God in their hearts.
The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm in the faith, thus distasteful and repugnant to Jesus. Money, personal security, material possessions, had made the Laodicean Christians indifferent to God, indifferent to brothers and sisters in Christ, and indifferent to those living around them. Indifference and its first cousin, complacency, are always deadly foes of serious spiritual growth.
The pastor was rather disappointed that things were not “happening” in his church so he asked one of the leading deacons, “What is wrong with our church? Is it ignorance or apathy?” The deacon responded, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”
Could your church ever become like the church at Laodicea? Could you, could I, ever become like those cold, indifferent Christians at Laodicea?
Indifference is unacceptable to Jesus. Indifference will separate us from God.
Open our eyes Lord, We want to see Jesus, Open our ears Lord, And help us to listen.
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Chris Voss is a pastor at First Christian Church, 317 S. Main, Donna.