APATHY & THE BODY OF CHRIST

“If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD,
and lie unto his neighbour…”
LEVITITICUS 6:2

To deal deceitfully with a brother, neighbour or acquaintance is a trespass against the Lord. How we need to bring the fear of the Lord into all of our dealings and interactions with one another. He is ever present, to watch over the idle words, hasty words, and angry words of our conversations. How we treat one another is in TRUTH how we treat our God. In our relationships with one another we have tremendous power to bless or to curse, to encourage or condemn, to exhort or to remain aloof and not get involved. Our relationships may involve sins of OMISSION and sins of COMISSION.

Sins of OMISSION are the sins of neglect and apathy. The man travelling on the road was beaten by thieves and left lying in helplessness and pain. The sins of omissions were of those who passed by with no concern, “not wanting to get involved”. Apathy and neglect is the mother of the sins of omission. Where men no longer contend for truth, they see their brothers and sisters walk in error and carnality and say nothing. They are prayerless, disconnected and live independently from those around them. This is the great sin of OMISSION!

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death,
he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.”
I JOHN 5:16

People that love one another, care for one another. It sounds very basic yet as we look around and see the condition of the Body of Christ today we are overwhelmed with the carnality, envy, strife, anger, suspicion, jealously and apathy around us. People who break fellowship with others over their estimation of a man, a ministry, a teaching or a particular “brand” of fellowship HAVE NOT SEEN NOR KNOWN THE HEART OF GOD. Jesus in HIS teachings brought forth a very clear and precise illustration of the sins of OMISSION and how these things relate to HIM directly.

“Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not minister to You?’
Then He will answer them, saying,
‘Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to Me”
MATTHEW 25:44 – 45

We live in the DAY of which it was spoken that because iniquity shall abound the love of MANY shall grow cold. The sin of omission is the clearest expression of a heart that has grown cold and has slowly drifted away from RELATIONSIP with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The teachings and doctrines remain but the faith and love has long since died and the subtlety of this “death” is most terrifying. It is a state that will most assuredly reap great judgment in this day of recompense and visitation.

This is the DAY of involvement and love. It is a day to contend for THE FAITH, (not a faith, or a “brand” of teaching) but to contend for THE TRUTH that alone can make us true. May God deliver us from our apathy, neglect and cold hearts that lead to independent living, disconnected relationships and false securities. The most frightening thing about apathy is the corresponding blindness that it brings. We see the Levite passing by the man beaten on the road on his way to his “fellowship” or “service” with no understanding of the implications of a life so lived. Stir us afresh Lord; let us rise up in the power of your love to be unto your people your heart and your light in this perilous DAY!

Brian Troxel