Reminder next week “What’s up with???”
Indifference
Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” Throughout the course of history his sentiment has proven to be true.
- Whether it is Kitty Genovese in 1964 who was attacked 3 different times over the course of 25 minutes while people in a 10 story apartment building did nothing because as one person said, “I didn’t want to get involved.”
- Or Martin Niemoller who, after being imprisoned in a Nazi death camp, wrote this. "In Germany, they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist; then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me - and by that time no one was left to speak up."
- From Adam (Gen3) in the garden who willingly stood by and watched as Eve disobeyed God to the church of Ephesus (Rev 2) who became “neither hot nor cold” in their affection for the things of God.
In my opinion The Spirit of indifference is the most dangerous of all attitudes.
Why? Because it is deceptive: It gives the illusion of allowing liberty to “to our fellow man” but places “us” in bondage. If the individual then the family, the community, the city, state, nation, world. If you want to change the world… change the individual= but really…
- Who can blame the 145 pound man for not getting involved in the fight between a husband and his wife?
- Can you really be upset at the group of mom’s who says nothing to another mom “punishing” her child in the park?
It’s the attitude found between a boyfriend and girlfriend,
Do you believe in God?
Yes
Is it a problem that I’m not religious?
Not for me
How’s that?
I’m not the one going to hell…
The spirit of indifference prevents transformation.
- It thwarts righteousness (right living) by allowing a system contrary to the Kingdom of heaven = “relativism”.
- The current popular notion that judging others is in itself a sin leads to a conspiracy of moral indifference.
- A spirit that is opposite of what Jesus said is the 2nd most important command, “to love your neighbor as yourself.”
So this morning if you’re wondering… how is it that thousands of people are rallying AGAINST a law created to stop ILLEGAL ACTIVITY in the state of Arizona… it is a Spirit of Indifference. How have we come to a place where the EPA and churches can partner with each other = if the church “greens” it receives money from the government. Or why does every child receive a trophy for “participating” in a sport?
What is INDIFFERENCE? “Lack of interest or concern / unimportance” – it is also the overarching theme found in the book of Obadiah:
INDIFFERENCE GET’S WORSE with TIME.
- V 11 - Stand aloof – (greek – min – to separate from) “I’m not part of them so it’s not my problem.”
• The issue God had with Edom is that they are part of “them”. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau – the Israelites were descendants of Jacob – they were brother nations.
• An issue we have in this day and age is the thought pattern that “we are not our brothers keeper”. Really? Where do we find that demonstrated in the life of Christ?
- V 11b - The next step is to - Blend in (you were like one of them)
• Just follow the crowd – don’t say anything.
- V12 - Gloat (celebrate) – “they are getting what they deserve.”
• Within the heart of gloating is a “mercy-less” existence. “Mercy” is not getting what you deserve, hence to be ‘mercy-less’ is to approve of persons getting what you think they deserve.
- V13 – Take advantage (enter the gate)
• In peoples weakness taking advantage of them.
• How? Like not helping others “succeed” when it is within your power to do so.
- V14 – Prevent Escape - “standing at the crossroads to cut off fugitives – handing over his survivors”
• The indifference has moved from passive observance to active participation in whatever ‘the crowd’ is engaged in.
The LORD has called us to be servants in neighborhoods and cities – There are specific ways in which we are to do that – we are to be
• salt,
• light and
• leaven.
• INDIFFERENCE prevents us from doing this because the principal is not found in the Kingdom of God.
Because of that it prevents other aspects of the kingdom to manifest themselves. Honor, service, mercy love and grace.
Earlier I said INDIFFERENCE places people in bondage – the bondage is from reverting back to an OT practice of the LAW. When Jesus brought the Kingdom of heaven to earth he removed the LAW and placed us under GRACE.
- NOTE: grace is more difficult than LAW. Because of that…
- Grace must be accompanied with a divine favor to be able to carry out the works of Christ.
Things that are contrary to what Jesus demonstrated place us back under law = under law we are bound to OT practices and ideologies.
- Under LAW the favor of God is removed because the emphasis is placed on rules and regulations – not the power of God’s Spirit.
Apart from GRACE we become like our surroundings:
For instance: in the OT under law God directed people to “come out from among them” to be separate from other nations. (TO BE POSITIONALLY INDIFFERENT) WHY? Because God realized that the other nations would contaminate His people.
- In the OT if you touched a leper the unclean would contaminate the clean.
- In the NT because of grace we now touch the leper and the leper becomes clean.
There is a bent to OT = LAW and the need for judgment, punishment and penalty for sin. In the NT there is a shift because of the greater revelation through the Spirit of God that dwells within every believer.
- Jesus walked among the sinners. The message of Christ is to “go to and among” those far off and lift me up – I’ll draw all men unto myself.
INDIFFERENCE is akin to “to coming out from among them” and being separate… to not want to be involved in others lives.
Under grace we are called to invade the system with; compassion, service and love.
- The intent is not to take over the system but rather to permeate the system. YOUR life when brought into contact with the worlds system has the power to transform a neighborhood, culture and nation.
SALT, LIGHT, LEVEN
- LEVEN will eventually affect the entire batch. Though it may be a small component of the mixture = if given time the entire mixture succumbs to its affect.
- SALT mixed into water not change the appearance but alters the flavor = transforms the water
- LIGHT takes does not change the shape of something = but it visibly alters the appearance – making shades of grey color = repels darkness
That’s just the way it works = the principals of the kingdom of God are always more powerful than the principals of the kingdom of darkness. We are not to RULE and REIGN but rather to influence and align.
- You and I have been sprinkled into a system in which we are asked to bring about transformation one person at a time, one business at a time, one neighborhood at a time.
HOW?
Through the principals established in the OT and then demonstrated in the life of Christ.
- If you see something in the OT and Jesus does not demonstrate it… there is a better way.
OT provides a context and plan that can never be fully realized outside of GRACE – “good try but will never get there”.
Jeremiah 29:7 – “But seek the welfare (peace = shalom) of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
- In the peace of a city you will find peace.
- In the welfare of the city you will find welfare.
Under LAW we are “come out form among them” – yet pray for their peace and welfare. Under GRACE we are to contend for the city by occupying it as well as praying for their peace and welfare.
- What I touch is transformed; the sick, the ailing man, the drug addict, the marriage, the child is changed… not the other way around.
FROM JER 29:7 we see that there is a realm of blessing only possible as we contend for a city = when we are not INDIFFERENT but engaged.
- When we infiltrate the areas of a city that are broken a blessing is released that is only made possible by our contending.
We have seen the possibilities of an individual infiltrating a system with the principals of the Kingdom of God and because of the one – a nation benefitted.
- If anyone had a right to be indifferent to the troubles of a family or a nation Joseph and Daniel did;
• JOSEPH - Sold into slavery / slandered / placed in prison / forgotten… yet in the midst of all those reasons to be indifferent he remained committed to God and because of it the nation benefitted.
• Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today.”
• Daniel was taken captive / mistreated / forced to become a eunuch and had every reason to be INDIFFERENT to Nebuchadnezzar yet look at what his disposition was:
• DANIEL 4:19 – “my lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!”
Joseph and Daniel changed the environment around them because they were not indifferent. Instead they were light, leaven and salt.
• HONOR
• FORGIVENESS
• HUMILITY
If that is the life on 1 person… what would happen if a group of people, under grace contended for a city and nation?
“I am one, But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
Edward Everett Hale
YOUR LIFE MATTERS –
And under the clothing of HONOR, FORGIVENESS, and HUMILITY there is no culture that can resist you…
- In truth, there is no culture that wants to because it changes everything.
Nate Saint was among 5 missionaries killed in 1956 – Steve his son was just 8 years old.
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