Indifference
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
-Elie Wiesel
The silent politeness of the church, the body, to it's own wounds and divisions is not Godly. It is easier to be polite than real, but people will really perish thinking they are just fine because so many choose to not cause a stir.
When we ignore bad behavior in our midst, we will be punished:
Revelation 2:20“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
This requires a lot of love. To actually confront an issue head-on because the body is being injured is to be like Jesus. It is costly, but it is the basic nature of following Jesus. In the beattitudes we see what it looks like to follow Jesus up that hill:
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I once had someone I thought was a friend and a brother tell me they didn't want to hear about my trouble with mutual aquaintance who had really violated truth. This helped me to see they were neither a friend to me or to the person that needed to be held accountable. What they were was indifferent to Jesus' body.
1 Corinthians 12:24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
We will all answer for how well we loved. Becoming like Jesus is becoming a peacemaker. This will result in persecution, but it is the cross we signed up to bear.
If our Christian walk consists of trying to keep things calm and surface...if our idea of unity only happens at the most surface levels...then we're not following Jesus. If we seem more like politicians than those called to the ministry of reconciliation, then we are false.
Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Ephesians 4:11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
17This 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,
18having 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;
19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20But you have not so learned Christ,
21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
26“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27nor give place to the devil.
28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 7:20“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 24:45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47“Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
49“and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51“and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Phillippians 3:17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
In many areas, our violation of Jesus' leadership will be seen to have been our indifference to truth. I want to be a man that stands up for truth in love....like Jesus.
-Elie Wiesel
The silent politeness of the church, the body, to it's own wounds and divisions is not Godly. It is easier to be polite than real, but people will really perish thinking they are just fine because so many choose to not cause a stir.
When we ignore bad behavior in our midst, we will be punished:
Revelation 2:20“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
This requires a lot of love. To actually confront an issue head-on because the body is being injured is to be like Jesus. It is costly, but it is the basic nature of following Jesus. In the beattitudes we see what it looks like to follow Jesus up that hill:
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I once had someone I thought was a friend and a brother tell me they didn't want to hear about my trouble with mutual aquaintance who had really violated truth. This helped me to see they were neither a friend to me or to the person that needed to be held accountable. What they were was indifferent to Jesus' body.
1 Corinthians 12:24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
We will all answer for how well we loved. Becoming like Jesus is becoming a peacemaker. This will result in persecution, but it is the cross we signed up to bear.
If our Christian walk consists of trying to keep things calm and surface...if our idea of unity only happens at the most surface levels...then we're not following Jesus. If we seem more like politicians than those called to the ministry of reconciliation, then we are false.
Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Ephesians 4:11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
17This 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,
18having 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;
19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20But you have not so learned Christ,
21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
26“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27nor give place to the devil.
28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 7:20“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 24:45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47“Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
49“and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51“and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Phillippians 3:17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
In many areas, our violation of Jesus' leadership will be seen to have been our indifference to truth. I want to be a man that stands up for truth in love....like Jesus.
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