Volume 2 Issue 38 July 28th, 2002
A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ
Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417
(home/office)
Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
Check out our web site:
(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)
Many brethren today in the body of Christ are plagued by apathy. Apathy defined by Webster means this:
“1 : lack of feeling or emotion : IMPASSIVENESS - 2 : lack of interest or concern : INDIFFERENCE.”It is easy to be apathetic. If you show a lack of concern and interest and you do not get involved with issues hurting the church, you will never be in a position of disagreement. That is of course until you meet the Lord in the Day of Judgment. When the Lord comes there will be confrontation and you will be required to give an answer for your actions or your lack of actions (Romans 14:11-12 and II Corinthians 5:10). Apathetic brethren are sure to allow doctrinal compromise.
Apathy = Compromise
Someone who is apathetic is not concerned about spiritual matters. Some might wonder why they even bother attending the worship services and bible classes with brethren. I often wonder the same thing. Maybe it is the same reason the Pharisees continued to parade about as the religious elite even after they were continually exposed by Christ as self-righteous glory seekers. They wanted to be religious without being obedient.
The question: How does spiritual apathy lead to doctrinal compromise? It is simple. If someone is not concerned with the spiritual well being of the body of Christ, they are not going to stand against error. These brethren will be “…tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness…” (Ephesians 4:14). The apathetic brother or sister in Christ will not study enough to be able to rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15), to know when someone is wrongly dividing the word of truth. These brethren will not even carry their sword (Ephesians 6:17), much less use it for it’s intended purposes. If and when these brethren use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, they will show how little practice they have. These brethren are the type that look into the word of God, and like a mirror, after they walk away they forget (James 1:21-25). Apathy is a heart problem!
Conclusion – Solving the Problem
If you are that apathetic brother or sister in Christ you need to fall back into love with God. It is your love for Christ that will provoke obedience (John 14:15). Those who are concerned with their souls need to realize that being lukewarm is displeasing to the Lord (Revelation 3:14ff). One who is apathetic needs to realize not doing anything at all is the same as rejecting the Lord. What will occur to those who reject the Lord? (John 12:48) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” You can get your heart right by allowing the word of God to take root and bear fruit therein (Matthew 13:1ff). So if apathy is your problem, instead of working your brain at finding 1,000 excuses why you can’t get it right; work your brain at studying and following God’s word!
Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Desiree’ Crist, Anne Holt, Deanna
Papp, Joan Croyle, Goldie Buterbaugh (Carol’s mom), and Gracie Cook.
Gospel Meeting:
August 11th – 15th with David Hurst
who is an elder and the local preacher for the church in Somerset, KY.
Discipline Practiced:
Addine Hoke, Johanna Grant, John Anderson,
and Olive Anderson have all departed from the faith putting the church
in the position of having to mark them (Romans 16:17 and II Thessalonians
3:14-15). Please pray that these brethren repent and make things
right. The letters sent to them are on the bulletin board.
A Time to Rejoice:
Brother and Sister Wagner have come
back to the congregation and all things are well with them.