What the Bible says about Spiritual Indifference
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Amos 4:4-5
Three cities of Israel had become religious centers and places of pilgrimage: Bethel, Gilgal and Beersheba. What is intriguing is that, even in their spiritual indifference, the Israelites loved to go to church! Since Amos indicates that their social lives may have revolved around the church, their purely social, not religious, motives may have been the problem.
This is intriguing in light of Laodiceanism. God says, "You may be coming to church regularly and enjoying it, but while you are there, you are sinning!" The scriptures are unclear about what the exact sins were. They may have been breaking the Sabbath somehow, or they may have been indifferent to the messages they heard. What their sins were makes no difference because God's judgment of their show of religion is that their hearts were not in it.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism
Related Topics: Beersheba | Bethel | Gilgal | Heart | Hypocrisy | Laodiceanism | Sabbath | Spiritual Indifference
Matthew 24:38-39
In these verses, Jesus describes people involved in normal activities of life: eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. None of these activities are evil—in fact, they are necessary. He implies, however, that in focusing upon the everyday activities of their lives, they miss the signs, the evidence, which prove the imminence of Christ's return. The sad result is that they do not become aware until it is too late.
Laodiceanism is not a matter of laziness, but of spiritual indifference caused by giving attention to the wrong things. A Laodicean commits a subtle form of idolatry, paying undue attention to self-centered interests rather than the interests of our Lord. Setting aside those responsibilities to which he has been called, he favors activities and interests that Jesus simply describes as eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. He has chosen carnal priorities over spiritual ones.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism
Related Topics: Cares of the World | Carnal Priorities | Drink | Food | Idolatry | Laodiceanism | Priorities | Self Centeredness | Spiritual Indifference | Spiritual Priorities
Revelation 3:19
"Zealous" means "earnest, enthusiastic, to seek or desire earnestly, to have an ardent love," in contrast to their spiritual indifference. God desires them to have a burning desire for Him and His way of life. Instead, Revelation 3:14-21 paints a clear picture of people who are successful by the world's standards, yet spiritually deficient. They are devoid of spiritual judgment while rich with material substance. Their problem is an internal attitude: The mechanism that drives them is neither godly nor ardent.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism
Related Topics: Ardent Desire | Attitude | Enthusiasm | Heart | Indifference | Laodicean | Laodicean Attitude | Laodiceanism | Spiritual Indifference | Wealth | Zeal
