Truth Magazine

What can a church do when there are members who are indifferent? What can those who are indifferent do to overcome their problem? Let’s consider the Bible answer:

1. Preach and warn. Paul wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). This verse mentions a goal and how it is to be accomplished.

The goal: “. . . that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” The one who is perfect is mature; not in- different. How it is to be accomplished: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man . . .”

Preaching is God’s remedy. It is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). We do not need gimmicks, fancy buildings, social programs, entertainment or activities for the whole family to interest those who are indifferent. We just need to preach and warn! Jesus said to the lukewarm church at Laodicea, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Rev. 3:19). Soft soap preaching won’t do it.

2. Repent. Churches that had a problem with indifference were told to repent. Ephesus was told, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works . . .” (Rev. 2:5). Laodicea was told, “Therefore be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

Repentance involves a change of mind. It is prompted by godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10) and results in a change of life (Rom. 6). All of this is found in the letter to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:5). (a) Godly sorrow: “remember there- fore from where you have fallen,”( b) A change of mind: “repent,” (c) A change of life: “and do the first works.”

If you recognize the signs of indifference in your life, you need to repent!

3. Study. Faith is based upon the word of God (Rom. 10:17). The more we study, the stronger our faith becomes (2 Thess. 1:3). The stronger our faith is, the more indifference fades. Study involves more than a casual or quick reading of a chapter or few verses. It consists of reading the text, meditating upon it, learning what it means, and seeing how it applies.

4. Be a doer of the word. It is not enough to learn what the Bible says, we must be doers of the word and not hearers only (Jas. 1:21-25). We must activate what faith we have (Jas. 2). One who is indifferent obviously has a weak faith. However, if he will use what faith he has, it will grow. It is like exercising a weak muscle. The more we use it, the stronger it becomes. The more we exercise our faith, the easier it is to continue in the practice.

Indifference, by its very nature, is a hard problem to battle. However, it can be overcome.

Peter was a very impetuous young man, often acting first and thinking of the consequences later. In Luke 22, Jesus explained to Peter that his impetuous nature was about to get him into trouble. Satan had demanded permission to sift the disciples “as wheat” (v. 31). Despite Peter’s strong affirmation that he would be able to with- stand such an assault, Jesus noted that Peter would deny him three times that very evening. But, first he addressed the assault by Satan, and said, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus knew Peter was about to stumble, but still he said, “I have prayed for thee.” Why?

It Would Make a Difference

First of all, I would suggest Jesus prayed for Peter be- cause he knew it would make a difference (see Jas. 5:16). Some claim that all of our actions are “predestinated” by God, that we have no choice or individual response of our own. If so, why did Jesus bother to pray for Peter? If all Peter’s actions were predestinated, of what value was a prayer by Jesus for Peter? Jesus knew Peter was headed for trouble, but he prayed anyway, because he knew that prayer could help! He knew Peter had some hard choices ahead, but they were choices! Luke 7:30 and Matthew 23:37 remind us we can reject God’s purpose for us (2 Pet. 3:9). Jesus knew prayer worked. He had prayed, and God had answered his prayers on many occasions. Now he sought the throne of God in behalf of Peter. Sometimes that may be the only way we can help someone, but let us not underestimate the importance of this avenue of help. If Jesus knew prayer could help, shouldn’t we seek it more often as a way of helping others?

Because He Cared

Secondly, Jesus prayed for Peter because he cared! So often we tend to think of God as uncaring, waiting for us to make a mistake so he can “zap us into hell.” My friends, it “jest ain’t so!” God is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), but that all people be saved. Obviously, if we reject his will, we can — and will — be lost, but it will be in spite of and not because of God. The Bible gives us a picture of a God who does care: he sent his Son as proof of that love (John 3:16). The Bible tells us he had “compassion” (Matt. 9:36), and on one occasion that he “wept” (John 11:35). Peter had already made mistakes, and being impetuous, more lay ahead. He was about to deny Jesus on three distinct opportunities. Yet Jesus did not write him off or cast him away. He prayed for him because he loved him. He loves us as well, and is on our side, serving as our advocate (a lawyer called on to defend us — 1 John 2:1). Is it any wonder the writer of Hebrews says that we are to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:15-16). We must never lose sight of the fact Jesus wants us to succeed and wants what is best for us. He prayed for the strength we could find in unity (John 17:20-21) knowing how vital that unity would be in the trying times of Christianity (as well as in reaching out to teach others). When we truly care, we will want to pray for others, knowing it is one way we can help them!

It Would Comfort Him

He also let Peter know that he was praying for him — it would be a source of comfort and strength later on. If you knew Jesus really cared that much, wouldn’t it help you in your time of grief and temptation? My friend, he does and he has let us know (cf. Luke 15:3-7, John 10:10-15). Jesus let Peter know so that later in his deep grief (Matt. 26:75), when he was telling himself how badly he had failed Jesus, and asking himself where he should go next, he would remember Jesus loved him still and had offered these words of comfort earlier. Peter could know Jesus still loved him, still cared, and still wanted him. Perhaps a small matter unless you were standing in Peter’s shoes at that point in time! When we let others know we care and are praying for them, it is comforting. Paul sought such prayers in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2.

It Helped Challenge Peter

It also served as the challenge now set before Peter. “When thou turn again. . . .” Jesus had expressed confidence, and Peter could be reminded of that. He now had a sense of direction, a purpose: To make Jesus proud of him again! And his first task: Strengthen thy brethren! You’ve been there and back, now help them (cf. 2 Cor. 1:4) deal with the same problems you wrestled with.

From there we see Peter’s repentance and resolve grow, as he moves on to preach on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), stand up firmly for Jesus (Acts 4:19, 5:29), become a leader in the church (Gal. 2:9), and eventually serves as an elder (1 Pet. 5:1).

Obviously Peter had many of these characteristics already, which was one reason Jesus selected him as an apostle in the first place. Yet they needed to be harnessed and put to the proper use. But the trust, comfort, love, concern, and confidence expressed as Jesus told Peter he was praying for him must have also helped him rise to the challenge before him in the days that followed. Let us never underestimate the power of prayer, but use it more often as we strive to help one another. And from this example, may we always be reminded of how much our Lord does care what befalls us. 

Remember the story of Saul? He was the first king of Israel. He began very humbly, but in the end, his self- will, anger, and jealousy began to be displayed (1 Sam. 9-11).

In facing the Philistines, Saul was to wait for Samuel to come and sacrifice. Yet, as Samuel did not come immediately, Saul took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice even though it was not his place to do so. For this cause, God promised to remove the kingdom from him and to give it to a man after his own heart (1 Sam. 13:8-14). From this we see that Saul sought his own, rather than God’s, will.

As time passed, we again see Saul facing the Philistines. In this case, Israel stands intimidated and afraid of Goliath’s challenge to them to send out a champion. When the young man David came and slew Goliath, the Philistines fled before Israel. Then a song was sung, “Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Saul was very wroth and displeased by this, and “eyed David from that day forward” (1 Sam. 17-18).

Rather than humbling himself and admitting his errors, Saul allowed jealousy and bitterness to remain in his heart. He came to the point where he was enraged against his own son, Jonathan, for being a friend to David (even though neither Jonathan nor David had done any wrong). Saul even threw a spear at Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20.

What does all of this illustrate? It shows how a self- involved person, one who trusts in self rather than God, can be defensive, mistreating, and persecuting even those who have done him no wrong. Saul’s guilt and defiled conscience simply waxed worse and worse, for he did not repent, confess, and forsake his sins as he should have. Instead, he became jealous and angry, and he sought to destroy those who (in his skewed view) challenged his will and desires.

Can such happen today? It certainly can, if we allow it (Jas. 3:13-18). Do we allow sin to remain in our lives? Do we truly repent, confess and forsake sin (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9)? Or do we harbor ill will and resentment because things have not gone our way?

Brethren, let us always behave like true followers of Christ. Beloved, let us always behave ourselves like brethren. And remember, this behavior begins in the heart (Prov. 23:7). 

The ability to communicate effectively is a mark of leadership. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, spoke meaningfully to the hearts of Americans in the depression years. His “fireside chats” carried live across the nation by radio struck responsive chords. My aged Grandmother Melton admired Roosevelt as a speaker. President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, gained the reputation of being the “great communicator.” He expressed himself with clarity and persuasion.

To communicate is to impart, transmit, or convey knowledge or information; to reveal or make known so that others will understand; to notify or apprise; to disseminate facts or ideas. We transmit and receive thousands of communications daily. These communications relate to many facets of life. Stop and think of the importance of communication.

1. Communication is essential to our having the proper relationship with God. We could not know what pleases God and what violates his will if there were no communication from him. He has “revealed” by the Spirit the things of God (1 Cor. 2:10-13). That which was a “mystery” (something hidden or concealed) was made known to the apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph. 3:1-5). By reading what inspired men wrote we gain understanding. God has not left us to guess what his will is, nor has he left us to direct our own footsteps (Jer. 10:23). Through the Scriptures the information we need to obey God is conveyed.

2. Communication is critical in marriage. Some husbands and wives are so busy pursuing their individual careers that they are seldom together. Instead of developing understanding, they grow apart. Or, a husband and wife may get angry or become peeved over something. They do not talk freely. Instead of communicating with each other about their finances, likes and dislikes, in-laws, sex, work situation, or whatever problems they have, they refuse to talk. When communication breaks down, real trouble is on the way.

3. Communication is crucial in the parent-child relationship. An exasperated mother wrings her hands and exclaims, “I just can’t talk to Mary these days.” Previously Mary had shouted to her mother, “Don’t preach to me; just take me to the mall.” A barrier has come between mother and daughter. Words and acts which convey understanding are blocked. Until communication is restored there will be a strained and unpleasant relationship. Teenagers often speak a language of their own. Parents may have difficulty in understanding the emotions of their youngsters. Older people can lose touch easily with the younger generation. Good parents look for ways to communicate with their offspring. Father and mother must be willing to listen. Above all, parents must communicate to their children by example and word so as to train them in the admonition or instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4). Godly parents are never too busy to discuss with their children whatever problems they have.

4. Communication is necessary in converting the lost. Despite the strained relation between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman at the well in conversation. He talked to her about the water of life, worship, and his being the Messiah (John 4). Philip arrested the attention of the Ethiopian by asking, “ Understandest thou what thou readest? ” This question led to the opportunity of opening his mouth and preaching to the Ethiopian about Jesus. And that led to the Ethiopian’s confessing Christ and being baptized (Acts 8:30-39). There are numerous ways of communicating gospel truth to the lost. Some can talk on a one-to-one basis who could never preach a public sermon. The essential thing is to find a way of arousing interest and imparting knowledge of the word of God.

5. Communication is vital when saints assemble to worship. A brother who is asked to lead prayer should speak slowly, distinctly, and with adequate volume. Others cannot say “Amen” unless the leader communicates his thoughts. One who talks so low that he cannot be heard is not “leading” prayer. He is merely praying privately while others are straining to hear. One who stands up to make announcements must be able to communicate. Some mumble and stumble, fail to check their information beforehand, and do not express themselves clearly. Misunderstandings result.

6. Communication is highly important in public preaching. The task of every preacher is to preach the gospel. He must present the message in language which his hearers can grasp. It is very easy for one who is thoroughly familiar with the Bible to shoot over the heads of people who have never studied God’s book. In his choice of words and illustrations, the preacher should strive for simplicity and understand ability. He must remember that his aim is to impart information concerning the word of God, to stimulate interest in righteousness, to challenge to nobler living, and to lead people through sound teaching. He must, “Preach the word . . . reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). Some preachers are more effective in communicating to some audiences than to other audiences. There are preachers who are better at exhorting and motivating than impart- ing knowledge. The personality of the preacher, his style of presentation, his speaking ability, and other factors influence his power as a communicator.

7. Communication is indispensable in reconciling and restoring. “Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault . . .” (Matt. 18:15-17). That directive cannot be carried out without communication. “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. “That calls for more communication. “And if he neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church . . .” That necessitates communication to the church. “But if he neglect to hear the church . . .” That implies communication by the church to the offender. “Let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” The instructions in Galatians 6:1 to restore one overtaken in a fault demand communication between the spiritual and the one who has stumbled.

8. Communication is compelling for elders as overseers of the church. Problems arise when elders fail to keep the church informed. What information do elders need to communicate to the flock? Why do elders neglect to communicate as they should? How may the overseers best communicate with the church? These matters will be explored in an article to follow.

Remember that communication is vital. Even in ordinary conversations we sometimes fail to speak and listen carefully. All of us occupy roles that necessitate clear expression and transmission of thought. Poor communication can bring painful consequences.