{"id":2848,"date":"2024-10-04T14:24:35","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T14:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/?p=2848"},"modified":"2024-10-15T12:57:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T12:57:09","slug":"wake-up-church-the-signs-of-spiritual-apathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/?p=2848","title":{"rendered":"Wake Up, Church! The Signs of Spiritual Apathy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I was tired most of high school. Overcommitted in every area, I sometimes walked through the day in a zombie-like state, sometimes falling asleep in class. One day, after dozing off several times in my first hour history class, my teacher instructed the other students not to wake me when the bell rang. I woke up in the middle of third hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discombobulated, and very aware of the snickers around me, I awkwardly stood, wiped the drool from my cheek, and made my way to the school office where I was instructed to call my parents and explain my second hour’s \u201cunexcused absence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey, Mom. Yeah. I was here. Just in first hour\u2026sleeping\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll tell you this, the embarrassment was the literal wake-up call I needed. I never fell asleep in another class again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Apathy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve felt similar weariness recently, but it\u2019s not physical exhaustion. Yes, that accompanies many days, but this zombie-like state comes from spiritual tiredness, and I sense it from other Christians as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of us who\u00a0believe\u00a0in Jesus need a spiritual wake-up call. Apathy is one of Satan\u2019s most creative tools to distract us in the Christian life. He uses it to keep us from thinking about what we can\u2019t see, touch, and feel. He uses it to\u00a0dissuade\u00a0us from empathizing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Apathy is disinterest. It\u2019s selfishness. This tool is exactly why Paul warns\u00a0the Thessalonian church to\u00a0\u201c\u2026not sleep as others do but keep awake and be sober<\/em>” (1 Thess. 5:6). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul is not talking about mere physical rest,\u00a0but comparing\u00a0sin to a state of spiritual\u00a0tiredness and\u00a0instead calling\u00a0Christians to be awake and sober \u2013 to have a grip on reality. Spurgeon shows the tragedy of the sleeping Christian with this image: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A passenger ship reels under a storm and is about to crash on the rocks, bringing near-certain death to the hundreds of passengers \u2013 all the while, the captain\u00a0sleeps<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0In our culture, we are surrounded by dizzying and intoxicating distractions that make us sleepy and distracted from spiritual reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wake up, Christian!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more consumed we become with our own interests, opinions, schedules, political persuasions, the more our eternal perspective diminishes and our spiritual tiredness grows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apathy Indicators<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What are the indicators that\u00a0we need\u00a0a spiritual wake-up\u00a0call? Here\u00a0are\u00a0some questions to consider: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sermon application is for my neighbor<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hear the Word preached on a Sunday morning, and as the application unfolds, we think only of our neighbor who we believe \u201cneeds to hear that truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Have we become so\u00a0spiritually\u00a0weary that we neglect to reflect on our own sin? Are we awake enough to see our own desperate need for the gospel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture is absent from our weekly endeavors<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We dismiss the need for Scripture to penetrate our hearts and don\u2019t take seriously the necessity of learning what the Bible actually says. Do we misapply its words to fit our narratives? <\/em>Do we see God’s Word as an inexhaustible treasure that affects every area of our lives? Do we earnestly study it to know Jesus better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We see the world only through our own cultural context<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We rarely think about the persecution going on around the world and neglect to pray boldly and regularly for those who die for their faith. We interpret events and beliefs through a very narrow perspective, limiting our empathy and awareness of the diverse challenges and joys faced by different cultures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our differences keep us from pressing into the body of Christ <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are so consumed with our opinions on politics, schooling, parenting, and worship styles that we associate only with those who are like-minded and lose sight of the beauty in the diversity of the body of Christ.<\/em> Heaven will be filled<\/em> with diversity of color, nationality, age, and political persuasion. As one body <\/em>we will worship together lifting heavenly praises to our Creator. Are we as passionate about spiritual and eternal connectedness with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we are about our own personal opinions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our busy schedules keep us from caring for those in need<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our calendars are filled to the brim, leaving no room to care for someone in need. Are we willing to offer our physical presence, a meal, or even just words of encouragement when we have the opportunity? And are we willing to put aside what consumes our daily schedule to pray for and support those whose lives have been touched by the hurricane and other natural disasters? Whether it be abroad or in our local communities, are we giving our time to these who rely on Christ’s hands and feet?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have become so consumed with comfort that we don\u2019t exercise faith<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t remember the last time we exercised real faith. Are we praying for clarity before saying \u201cno\u201d to something that may make us uncomfortable? Are we willing to prayerfully consider starting a prayer group at a public school, allow a child to participate in a mission trip, or share the love of Jesus with a family member? Do we trust boldly that if the Lord opens the door, He will provide the right words?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know I need a spiritual wake-up call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord’s mercies are new every morning and His grace is sufficient for our every need. Even in our weariness, He invites us to awaken to the hope and joy found in Him. Seek His presence, and allow the light of His truth to pierce through our apathy and ignite a passion for His Word and His people. In Christ, we find the strength to rise, refresh our spirits, and embrace the calling He has placed on our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was tired most of high school. Overcommitted in every area, I sometimes walked through the day in a zombie-like state, sometimes falling asleep … <\/p>\n

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