Webster defines apathy as: “1) want of feeling; lack of passion, emotion or excitement. 2) Indifference to what appeals to feelings or interest.” Another word which is clearly related to apathy is complacence. Webster defines this word to mean “contentment; satisfaction; esp., self-satisfaction.” Another word that is akin to both of the above is lethargy. This word is defined to mean, “a state of inaction or indifference.” A synonym of this word given by Webster is languor, which means dullness; sluggishness; a lack of vigor. Another word which has been used already in the foregone definitions is indifference. This word is defined as, “lack of feeling for or against anything, apathy.”

There has been a gradual decline in the lives of men in “going away from God” ever since the garden of Eden. In Noah’s day, this resulted in the flood which cleansed the old world and made it new. Noah found favor (grace) in God’s sight because “he was righteous in his generations, and walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). However, this state did not last very long. After the flood, the numbers of people grew and multiplied, and indifference became evident again. People lost sight of what was important and sought to popularize themselves, and said, “Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name ...” (Gen. 11:4). Their objective was to remain together and “not be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (ibid). However, the very thing they were trying to avoid by making themselves a name, was brought about by the Lord. He confounded their language which scattered them abroad. Isn’t it interesting how God can “turn things around” and make them the opposite of what man intends! Look at what He did with Balaam in turning the curse into a blessing (Num. 22-24).

We see the gradual decline and departure from God also in the material found in the Old Testament book of Judges. The people through their indifference to God and His way became complacent (self-satisfied) in attitude, and when men forsake the Lord (which the people of that day did), they begin to worship and serve themselves. But God raised up judges to deliver them. I like to refer to the experiences during the days of the judges as the A-B-C-D system, or process: Apostasy, Bondage, Correction, and Deliverance. The whole process could have been avoided had the people remained content and satisfied with God and His way; who actually was the only judge they needed.

Well, we could go on and on with these examples of departure from God through apathy, but in the space left, let us make some applications closer to home.

The church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) is a good example of church complacency. They were neither hot nor cold but lukewarm (v. 15-16), feeling secure in their own gratification or self-satisfaction. They were rich in this world’s affluence and felt they had need of nothing. They worshipped and served a materialistic god which they created. My beloved, how true is this today! How many members of the Lord’s church are guilty of the same today!