Overcoming Apathy and A Defeated Mindset

The meaning of Apathy in the Greek apatheia, from apathēs without feeling, from a- + pathos emotion
1 : lack of feeling or emotion : impassiveness 2 : lack of interest or concern : indifference

One of the things that plague the body of Christ more than anything is apathy. What I mean about apathy is our lack of interest in prayer or evangelism. Go ahead, call a prayer meeting at church and see how many people show up. Ask the local church to go out on a weekly basis to win the lost and few faithful members will show up. Tell everyone you are having a potluck and people will show in masses. We live in the fish and loaves generation. As far as diligence goes the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have us beat.

So what happened between the early church and today's church? What did they have that we don't? They were being threatened, beaten and dragged to jail; yet no one could keep them from sharing their faith. They would spend hours and days praying for the Holy Spirit to pour out. They spent a lot of time in fellowship being of one mind, one heart and shared all things in common. Now or days it's difficult to get churches to agree to participate in an evangelistic event. Just recently I talked to a brother that had gone to a group of pastors to ask for support in his evangelistic event but they just simply told him "it was too soon." In other words, we aren't going to help you. This my friends are apathy at it's best. Don't bother me about the lost souls of this city. I'm having a potluck that same day. I am being cynical but you know what I mean. For those of you who think I'm being critical just think about the last time you had a problem and you told your fellow Christians in your life about it. Did they offer to pray and fast for you? Did they stop what they were doing and minister to you?

The main point I'm trying to make is that it's hard to get Christians to pray. There is an overall apathy when it comes to prayer. I really think that this has to do with the philosophy of Determinism that has infiltrated the church. This is a secular philosophy.
This is how it is described:
Determinism necessarily entails that humanity or individual humans may not change the course of the future and its events (a position known as fatalism); however, some determinists believe that the level to which human beings have influence over their future is itself merely dependent on present and past.
Fatalism generally refers to several of the following ideas:

1. A flawed perception of the consequences of exercised free will, ignorance, and forgetfulness.
2. That free will does not exist, meaning therefore that history has progressed in the only manner possible. ^[1] This belief is very similar to determinism.
3. That actions are free, but nevertheless work toward an inevitable end. ^[2] This belief is very similar to compatibilist predestination.
4. That acceptance is appropriate, rather than resistance against inevitability. This belief is very similar to defeatism.

So when we don't pray it's because deep down we have a fatalistic view of our world and believe that our resistance to the inevitable is a waste of time. If all events have been predetermined then why bother to pray. This is why I believe why there is so much apathy in the church. We don't believe that our prayers will change the outcome of our circumstances or God's dealings in this world. Determinism has only disguised itself as submission to sovereignty and covered up for our unbelief. This is why many of us don't pray for the sick or the people we feel God is judging. Yet, Abraham prayed to stop the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. He was able to spare a few people through his intercession. Jeremiah wept and pleaded with Israel to return to God. James 5:15 Elijah was a man with like passions but he ended the drought in the land through prayer. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail even though he knew Peter would betray him. The Godhead is in constant intercession for us. Why would they do this if the outcome of our life can't be changed? Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Like many of you I had that same mindset but this scripture broke that over me.
Joel 2:12-14 ¹² “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD,

“ Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
¹⁴ Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—

Brothers and sisters it's never too late to turn around the circumstances in your lives. It's not too late to shake things up before his return. Let's get rid of this apathetic, fatalistic, defeated attitude that has kept the church from being the true salt in this world. Let's rise up to the influence and blessing that God has always intended his church to be in this world.

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Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.jazizgutierrez.com
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Focus On The Prize!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

These are tough times, and many of us have never experienced this level of conflict within our world. Most of us have never had to watch our spending or fret about what tomorrow would bring. If we wanted something we would just buy it without a second thought. Economic times have changed though and most families are suffering from the fallout of the last few years. Unemployment is rampant and some of us are wondering how we are going to get through this time of uncertainty.

I was in the kitchen the other day and this word came to me, "for the joy set before Him." Jesus endured torture, mocking, and crucifixion because he had something he was focusing on. He was focused on the joy of bringing us to himself through the cross. I realized that this principle will work for everything else too. If we want to be able to get through something hard we need to focus on the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

If we want to get through college, a diet, trying times or accomplish a goal; we need to be focused on the end result. If we start focusing on how hard things are, what we are lacking, and looking at our present circumstances we won't be able to reach the prize. If we are going to weather these tough and turbulent times we are going to have to stay focused on the prize of our eternal relationship with God. Let us strive to hear these words, "Well done good and faithful servant enter the joy of your Lord." Matthew 25:23

We need to be careful though that winning the prize doesn't come before becoming more like Him and reconciling this world to Jesus. If we prioritize these correctly like focusing on becoming more like Him, we will win more souls as a result of our witness, and the byproduct of a life well-lived for Jesus is winning the prize of eternal life! We can't live our lives just to get to heaven. If we live like that we will be like the wicked servant who hid his talent in the ground. He did nothing with what God gave him. God never calls us to live in survival mode. We have a purpose for being here. We have God-given assignments to complete.

Winning may also mean we have to lose. Sounds contrary, doesn't it? I'll explain. What I mean by losing is giving up our rights to get even for example or to get our way. That's the world's way of winning. For a Christian, winning the battle is often just keeping quiet when you feel tempted to give someone a piece of your mind. You win because you kept your witness for Christ. We need to be clear on what the prize really is.

The prize is always his presence and blessing as a result of our obedience to Him. We need to endure persecution, resistance from the devil, people's bad attitudes, and temptation. If we are going to run to win the prize we cannot grow tired! "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9 I know it can be easy to lose hope when everything seems to be going contrary to your prayers. We must trust God with the outcome!

The great thing about running the race is that Jesus is going to help us get over the finish line! He is the "author and finisher of our faith" He will complete what he started in our lives. As long as we don't give up, He will help us get there. Our job is to focus on the prize. Truthfully, there is no greater prize than Jesus. He is our prize. Everything else that comes along with serving Jesus is just extra. Focus on the prize!

If you find this article helpful or would like to leave a comment or visit our website:
Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.jazizgutierrez.com
Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living

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