A New Name for An Old Problem

There are a variety of “isms” that should concern people who attempt to point people to God and His Word. Each of these “isms” poses a real threat to the souls of individuals.

Just a partial list of such “isms” would include such things as:

• Materialism
• Post-modernism
• Secularism
• Denominationalism
• Humanism
• Hedonism

The list could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Each of those “isms” has the potential of keeping people separated from God for eternity.

Recently, I came across a new “ism.” As I understand it, the term was coined by a religious leader somewhere in California. In the material I read, the term was not fully examined or explained, but I certainly got the drift of what the man was talking about.

The term is “apatheism.”

As the title above suggests, the condition is not new. If we accept this man’s term, we now just have a new way to label something that most of us have been aware of for quite some time. It may even be the case that we have been more than just aware of this “ism.” We may have actually been guilty of apatheism. We could even be affected by it at the present time.

I suspect that the preferred body language of one who is practicing apatheism would be shrugged shoulders. Nothing would excite or interest them. They would merely shrug their shoulders and go on with their lives; even if matters of eternal importance were being discussed.

I suspect, too, that the favorite word of the apatheist would be whatever. I can easily imagine conversations with an apatheist. In fact, I’ve had conversations similar to the following:

• “Do you believe that God created the universe and that we are accountable to him?” “Whatever.” 
• “Did you know that God loves you enough that He sent His Son to be your Savior?” “Whatever.”
• “It is important to prepare now for eternity.” “Whatever.”
• “You really need to be more faithful in your attendance at worship services and Bible classes.”  “Whatever.”
• “Somebody with the kind of talents you have needs to be more involved in the work of the local congregation.” “Whatever.”
• “Are you concerned about how your language, lifestyle, and/or conduct affects others?”  “Whatever.”

As was the case earlier, this is only a partial list of all of the types of conversations that could be (and have been) carried on with an apatheist. I think these are enough to get the idea across that an apatheist just doesn’t care. 

Sadly, the things they really don’t care about are the things that matter the most. They may care a great deal about things that will not matter at all in eternity, but they care very little, or not at all, about their souls and the souls of others who are close to them.

I used to have the privilege of working with a godly man who served as a full-time elder where I preached. He often said something I thought was interesting. The word picture he painted was very interesting–and challenging. He would talk about people who, in his words, “would not walk across the road to watch an ant eat a bale of hay.”

From our conversations, I know he was talking about the problem of apathy in general. I also know that he was talking about apathy concerning spiritual matters. Those were the things that really concerned him.

Do those things concern you? 

There is coming a Day when there will be nobody who is practicing apatheism. All of us will care–and will care very deeply–about the words we will hear from the One who sits on the throne of eternal judgment. 

Are you ready for that Day? Do you care?

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