Apathy In The Bible

The hottest places in Hell reserved for those who,

in times of moral crisis,

preserved their neutrality.

-Dante

The ancient Greek word in Strong’s Concordance is apalgeo (524) which means to grieve out, become apathetic, or be past feeling. Thayer’s Definition’s says it like this: to cease to feel pain or grief; to become callous, insensible to pain, and apathetic. This word is only used once in the entire bible in Ephesians 4:19. To get the context of the verse, lets look at a larger view of scripture.

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Ephesians 4:17-19 NKJV)

If we took a look at the above verse, we can see a pattern anyway and a hint of why people are apathetic. For starters, let’s get a firm grasp of the verse in context. Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus between 60 and 62 AD. Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire with a seaport that was so large it was called, “The Gateway to Asia”. The people of Ephesus worshipped all kinds of false idols…particularly to the god Artemis, better known as Diana. Its temple was so large that it was deemed one of the wonders of the ancient world. The people not only worshipped the goddess, but some of their livelihood was based on the making of idols. This is what got Paul and his fellow missionaries in trouble in Acts 18. So the church was made up of the people who came out of this lifestyle. They knew what Paul was talking about when he wrote. They lived it every day.

So, going back to the text, the bible says it’s “as the Gentiles walk”. So our next questions should be, “how do they walk?” As we examine each one, think about how it would be to live back then, and compare it to our own life in present-day America.

They are futile in their mind – Futile meaning “emptiness as to results”.
They have their understanding darkened – meaning their thinking is deprived of light; obscured.
They are alienated from the life of God – to estrange away; become a non-participant in the life God has given you to do.
They are ignorant – or wanting knowledge but never having it.
They are blind in their heart – stupidity, hardness, and callousness. The heart is where moral, rational, and emotional originate.
Given to lewdness, uncleanness, and greediness – and they surrendered themselves to lawless acts. Not struggling with remorse and having no restraints. It’s having a moral impurity with covetousness, always wanting more and never being satisfied.

We as Christians can only wonder about the church and not those who are outside the body of Christ. My concern for us (and that’s me included) is the world becoming more like us, or are we becoming more like the world. Who is influencing who? Are we walking as the Gentiles walk? I am a member of Facebook, and am amazed of how people who call themselves “Christian” have in their popular tv programs, music, and other forms of entertainment. Shows like “Family Guy” and “Southpark” that blaspheme God. Groups and lifestyles that don’t match up to God’s Word, and you can guess what people really love because it’s plastered all over their profile. I have one friend who claims to be “Christian” but on her profile considers herself “spiritual” as to be so vague that it could mean anything and fit in to any worldview that would gladly receive her. I wonder if these same people would be considered Christians in the days of Acts, when Cesar Nero ruled the Roman Empire.