Do you know an Apatheist?

INTRODUCTION

One of the primary things I was taught in Southwestern Christian College in Homiletics class was, to know your audience.

We would be benefitted to understand our audience where the promotion of the Gospel is in effect.

There are many sophisticated ways developed to oppose the meaning of God

Atheist and Atheism

Freethinking

Skeptic and Skeptism

Naturalist and Materialism

Agnostic and Agnostism

today I want to talk about Apatheist and Apatheism

It is a form of Existentialism

or a form of humanism

1. On 12/25/11, USA Today had an article related to apatheism...

a. Entitled "Many Say 'So What?' To God, Religion, Atheism"

b. Describing the attitude of those who are 'spiritually apathetic'

2. This is a condition true of many; according to several polls...

a. 46% never wonder whether they will go to heaven

b. 44% don't spend time seeking 'eternal wisdom'

[How about you? Are you an apatheist? Let's take a closer look at 'apatheism'...]

I. WHAT IS APATHEISM?

A. DEFINED...

1. "acting with apathy, disregard, or lack of interest towards belief or lack of belief in a deity" - Wikipedia

2. "describes the manner of acting towards a belief or lack of a belief in a deity; so applies to both theism and atheism" - ibid.

B. EXPRESSED...

1. An apatheist is also someone who is not interested in accepting or denying any claims that gods exist or do not exist - ibid.

2. An apatheist is someone who considers the question of the existence of gods as neither meaningful nor relevant to his or her life - ibid.

[In regards to whether God exists, whether there is heaven or hell, the apatheist's creed is "So what?" This makes me wonder...]

II. WHAT CAUSES APATHEISM?

A. CONSIDER THE ISRAELITES...

1. Warned by Moses about the danger of materialism - Deut 8:11-14

Deuteronomy 8:11–14 ESV

11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,

2. Who deceived themselves when they became rich - Am 6:3-6; Hos 12:8

Amos 6:3–6 ESV

3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

B. CONSIDER THE LAODICEANS...

1. Lukewarm Christians, with whom Jesus was displeased - Re 3:14-16

Revelation 3:14–16 ESV

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

2. Their spiritual apathy was the result of their materialism - Re 3:17

Revelation 3:17 ESV

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

C. Consider what the world sees in religion; the church and depictions of God

Religion as the problem must be combatted

mischaracterizations of the church must be set right

depictions of God have to be countered

[When all is well, when materially blessed, it is easy to become spiritually apathetic. Compare that with times of crisis (remember the religious fervor following 9/11?). Short of some calamity...]

III. WHAT CURES APATHEISM?

TRUTH IS THE CURE

A. TRUE REPENTANCE...

1. Brought about by godly sorrow for sin - 2Co 7:9-10

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 ESV

9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2. Manifested by diligence, fear, desire - 2Co 7:11

2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV

11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

3. The kind produced by the Word of God - e.g. Deut 31:10-13

4. Through THE WORD OF GOD, we learn of grace, and the penalty of neglecting it! - Ro 2:4-11; He 10:26-31

B. TRUE RELIGION...

1. Many are apathetic because they have not seen or experienced true religion!

2. But Jesus offers that which truly satisfies!

a. He offers the water of life that quenches thirst - Jn 4:13-14; 7:37-39

b. He offers the bread of life that eliminates hunger - Jn 6:35

c. He offers light that dispels darkness - Jn 8:12

d. He offers freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin - Jn 8:34-36

e. He offers the abundant life, filled with joy and peace - Jn 10:10; 14:27; 16:33

3. Which comes by knowing and abiding in His word - Jn 8:31-32

4. As offered to the lukewarm Laodiceans, riches now, and royalty to come! - Re 3:18-22

CONCLUSION

1. What causes apathy regarding religion...?

a. It boils down to ignorance, combined with material well-being

b. Ignorance of God's Word, preoccupation with material success

c. laziness; complacence and indifference

2. What can cure apathy regarding religion...?

a. It is simple: experiential knowledge of salvation

b. Personal knowledge of God's Word, personal experience of God's saving grace

Begin by committing yourself to reading and meditating on the Word of God. It will burn like fire within you, leading you to Christ where you will find salvation and joy through the wonderful grace of God...!

Individually what can be said to the choir?

Find creative and sometimes direct ways to counter the misleading representations of religion; the church; and God

Improve your understanding of your own personal audience and equip yourself with the antidote of truth

Prescribe and administer that antidote at every opportunity you get.

And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" - Lk 24:32

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Ac 2:38

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law. - Ga 5:22-23

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Ro 15:13