Culture Wars Article - Week 2

Apathy Has No Place Here: A Call to Zeal and Faith

Hayden Crompton, Teaching Pastor Upstate Church Greenville

We’ve all experienced the unsettling moment when our check engine light flickers to life. Initially, there’s a surge of alarm. Questions race through our minds about what could be wrong with our vehicle. But then, as the miles roll on and the engine purrs smoothly, a false sense of security takes over. We begin to rationalize, “I’ll get to it eventually.” Yet, for those who have ignored that warning light too long, the reality becomes painfully clear: those indicators are not mere suggestions; they are acts of mercy designed to alert us that something beneath the surface requires urgent attention before minor neglect transforms into catastrophic failure.

This analogy resonates powerfully within the life of a Christian. The warning light we are exposing today represents the spiritual pull of apathy. 

Apathy is not an overt rebellion. It bubbles up quietly, manifesting itself as disengagement. It doesn’t outright reject God; instead, it seduces us into ignoring Him over time. We may gradually grow indifferent to our time with Him, His Word, and His rightful authority in our lives. While at the same time, our faith may still function, our belief may still endure, and our church attendance may continue. Many believers, aware of that dimly glowing spiritual warning light, choose to ignore it, clinging to the hopeful belief that nothing too serious is happening.

Romans 12:11-13 pierces through this fog of indifference: there is no room for apathy in the Christian life. Paul implores us, “Do not be slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.”

But how do we discern whether the warning light of apathy is glaring in our lives?

Four Markers of Spiritual Apathy

If apathy is the disease, Scripture provides a diagnostic tool to assess its grip on our hearts. Ignoring this warning light is unwise because the stakes are far too high.

The “Later” Christian

Apathy often masquerades as virtue, cloaked in good intentions that ultimately lead to inaction. The “later” Christian frequently utters phrases like:

– “I’ll pray later.”

– “I’ll serve in the church when life slows down a bit.”

– “I’ll dive deeper into Scripture on Monday.”

– “I’ll obey once clarity comes.”

The truth is that seasons rarely end; they tend to stack upon one another. Delaying time with the Lord is a tactic the enemy uses to erode our commitment to obedience. Apathy doesn’t demand direct disobedience; it simply encourages us to push God aside. Romans 12 doesn’t call for delayed zeal; it beckons us towards fervency in the present moment. Deferred obedience often gives way to denied obedience.

The “If It Doesn’t Affect Me” Christian  

Another revealing sign of apathy is a selective concern. When sin, injustice, or spiritual need doesn’t directly intersect with our lives, it’s all too easy to retreat into complacency. Compassion slips into self-comfort, and the mission can begin to feel optional.

Yet, Scripture consistently urges us to extend ourselves beyond our own concerns. As Paul reminds us in Romans 12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and show hospitality.” Apathy constricts our worldview until it centers solely on our own desires. It becomes a life of faith where our comfort and convenience are more important than the Great Commission Christ gave us. A faith that only acts when it is personally convenient is a faith of indifference and apathy.

The “Unengaged in the Mission” Christian

Perhaps the most striking indicator of apathy is silence regarding the gospel. If we truly believe that Jesus saves, that eternity is real, and that countless souls are in desperate need of His transformative love, how can we remain silent? If we recognize the grace and mercy that have radically altered our lives, why wouldn’t we share this incredible news with those around us?

Surveys reveal a worrying trend: while 64% of Christians endorse the belief that it is their personal responsibility to share their faith, that figure has plummeted by 20% since the 1980s. Furthermore, nearly 90% of Christians confess they rarely or never share their faith. This doesn’t stem merely from fear of rejection or a lack of training; it indicates a deeper apathy that has taken root in our hearts. Paul assumes that fervency of spirit naturally leads to action. This is the kind of action that encompasses prayer, service, generosity, and mission. The reluctance to share the gospel signals a creeping apathy that demands our attention.

In a world that yearns for authentic faith, apathy must be uprooted. Let us heed the warning signs and awaken our zeal, because faith thrives where fervency takes root. The call is unmistakable: apathy has no place here. Let us rise to the occasion. Paul implores us, “Do not be slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.”

The “Drifted” Christian

The most dangerous marker of apathy is drift. The writer of Hebrews warns against the deadly drift in chapter 2 when he says, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” This drift is rarely intentional. No one plans to drift from God. It happens gradually. Prayer shortens. Scripture remains familiar but unopened. The church is attended, but the Christian remains unengaged. Then slowly but surely, obedience becomes an option, and the passion you once had for Christ becomes lethargic.

Nothing dramatic happens, which is the danger.

Apathy never arrives like a storm; it creeps in like a fog. By the time many believers notice, we’re farther than we ever intended to be. That’s why Paul’s command is so direct: “Do not be slothful in zeal.” Drift is never neutral. 

Scripture Commands Zeal

Again, Romans 12:11-13 presents a vision of the Christian life that stands in direct opposition to apathy. Believers are called to be:

• Fervent in spirit
• Constant in prayer
• Patient in tribulation
• Active in generosity
• Intentional in hospitality

This is not personality-driven zeal, either. This is gospel-fueled devotion. Paul teaches that encountering the mercy of God produces movement, passion, and obedience. Zeal is also something that Christians cultivate by actively spending time in God’s Word, obeying what He teaches, and yielding to the Holy Spirit. 

In short, Christians were never meant to live passively; we are called to participate with the Lord. 

The Cure for Apathy

So, what do we do when the warning light of apathy is on? 

Reignite Your Prayer Life

Apathy cannot survive sustained and Spirit-filled prayer. Prayer is a tool that orients our hearts toward God and restores our dependence on Him. A prayerless Christian will drift toward indifference because intimacy cannot survive neglect. If you’re dealing with an apathetic prayer life, start small. Be consistent and begin praying Scripture. Prayer will awaken what apathy numbs. 

Live Intentionally for Others

Serving disrupts apathy. The most fervent and zealous man who ever lived washed the disciples’ feet before His crucifixion. King Jesus modeled how serving aligns our hearts with God’s mission. The One who could have demanded to be served instead chose selflessness. 

Do the Last Thing God Told You To Do

Often, apathy isn’t caused by confusion but by delayed obedience. We all know that delayed obedience is just disobedience. In fact, the enemy will tempt us with excuses and use them as an open door to disobedience. Many believers are waiting for a new direction or a spark in their faith, when God is just waiting for them to obey the last thing He called us to. God’s Word gives us clear instructions, so apathy may have crept in because you haven’t forgiven the person who wronged you. Or it may have crept in because you haven’t begun serving in the church. Obedience may not always be comfortable for you, but it will restore spiritual momentum. 

The check engine light is a sign of mercy. It gives you time to respond before greater damage occurs. In the same way, acknowledging that apathy has crept in is not a time to descend into despair; it is a chance to wake up. God is moving, the gospel is advancing, and the Church is being called into mission. Believers must refuse indifference and confront apathy. 

If the warning light of apathy is on, the most dangerous thing you can do is continue on this road as if nothing is wrong.