How can I overcome spiritual apathy?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

At times, believers may experience spiritual apathy, feeling indifferent or even cold toward the things of God. The Bible presents examples of this and addresses ways of dealing with it. Scripture teaches that one cause of spiritual apathy is falling into a consistent pattern of sin, which distances believers from God. Samson, Saul, and other well-known Bible figures were spiritually separated from God because of sin (Genesis 3:1–24; Judges 16:1–21; 1 Samuel 13, 15, 28:6–18). Consistent sin means one is submitting to Satan’s power, rather than God’s (1 John 3:8–10). The solution is to cry out to God for renewal and forgiveness, as David did more than once (Psalm 32:5; Psalm 51:1–2; 2 Samuel 24:10; James 4:8–10). God's grace and the power of His Spirit enable us to resist habitual sinning (Titus 2:11–12). Another cause of spiritual apathy is formulaic worship. The Ephesian church was praised for its love (Ephesians 1:15–16), but later, they were chastised for having lost it (Revelation 2:4). The Bible teaches believers to pray for renewal of heart and mind (Psalm 51:10; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Titus 3:5), recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through us (Galatians 5:22–23). Fellowship with believers, rather than involvement in worldly pursuits, inspires us toward greater spiritual zeal (Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:25). The Bible shows that spiritual apathy need not be a permanent condition.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Samson, a judge of Israel, broke his Nazirite vow and sinned by seeking sexual and marital relationships with Philistine women who were among Israel's enemies. Judges 16:20 describes the result of Samson’s sin: “And she [Delilah] said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ And he awoke from his sleep and said, ‘I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had left him.” Sin spiritually separates us from the Lord.
• Confessing sin renews our relationship with God, as David did in Psalm 51:10–12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” David equated forgiveness from sin with restored joy in his salvation. When we eliminate sin in our lives, God restores our hearts, and we again find joy in Him.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• First John 1:6 discusses how sin damages our relationship with God: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
• James 4:8 advises believers to “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” God has given us the means to “draw near” to Him—repentance, prayer, study of His Word, and the church.
• In Revelation 3:15–16, Jesus’s message to the church at Laodicea addresses their spiritual apathy: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” He goes on to say that their wealth and prosperity weakened their reliance on God, leading to spiritual apathy (Revelation 3:17).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Being numb in your dentist’s chair is a blessing, but being numb in your spiritual life is a problem. Christians may go through times when indifference replaces the passion and zeal that were once directed toward God. A spiritually apathetic person may get ready for church on Sunday morning without any excitement for going. The service becomes a series of rituals: stand, sing hymns, paste on a smile, rinse and repeat next week. Prayers at home become hurried and rote. The lure of the smartphone starts replacing daily Bible reading. If this sounds like you, examine yourself. Is recurrent sin corrupting your relationship with God? As the lyrics of an old hymn say, “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Our omniscient Lord knows your sin and your spiritual attitude, and He wants you to place it all before Him in prayer. Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. Even if sin isn’t the cause of the apathy, ask God to restore the zeal for Him you once had. God is pleased when we earnestly seek His will (Hebrews 11:6). Just as the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5), we can ask the Lord to increase our spiritual zeal. The Bible shows that spiritual apathy need not be a permanent condition.

UNDERSTAND

• Spiritual apathy often stems from sin; repentance restores our relationship with God.
• Spiritual indifference leading to apathy also calls us to repent and return to God.
• Fellowship with believers, prioritizing spiritual growth, and seeking God combat apathy.

REFLECT

• In your experience, when and how has spiritual apathy set in to your life, and how did you respond to that?
• When was the last time you felt truly passionate and excited about your relationship with God? What can you do to reignite that zeal?
• How does your involvement in fellowship with other believers influence your spiritual enthusiasm?

ENGAGE

• What are some practical ways we can support others in overcoming spiritual apathy?
• How does sin create distance between believers and God, and why is repentance vital for spiritual renewal?
• How does spiritual apathy in the church impact our collective worship and witness in the world?