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A little while back my good friend, MadParrotWoman, and I were having a Biblical discussion that involved "relationships". During one discussing she brought up the word "indifferent". We began to discuss this word and what it meant concerning our relationship to God and others.
Definitions from Websters Dictionary of the English language.
Indifference; lack of interest or feeling
Indifferent; not interested || having no preference, impartial || affording no grounds or preference || rather poor, mediocre
When we look at strong words in language we think of love and hate. But, I feel, indifference is just as strong a word if not stronger. True indifference is a "neutral" word. It is a not caring one way or another. But, are we truly indifferent when we use the word? There are very few things, I believe. In which we are truly indifferent. We usually have a "leaning" towards one side or another no matter how small that may be.
But let's look at indifference, as defined, in our relationships towards God or others. Let's also look at indifference towards God's Word and how that could affect our lives. God is not indifferent towards us or anything else so should we really be indifferent?
Let's begin with a few verses, first, where God does not call us to be indifferent towards Him or others. Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.' 'This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbors as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." NKJV.
Our discussion was based around our relationship toward God and others so I feel this is a good place to start. We each had other thoughts on the subject but I will quote those later as we progress in this discussion.
Definitions from Websters Dictionary of the English language.
Indifference; lack of interest or feeling
Indifferent; not interested || having no preference, impartial || affording no grounds or preference || rather poor, mediocre
When we look at strong words in language we think of love and hate. But, I feel, indifference is just as strong a word if not stronger. True indifference is a "neutral" word. It is a not caring one way or another. But, are we truly indifferent when we use the word? There are very few things, I believe. In which we are truly indifferent. We usually have a "leaning" towards one side or another no matter how small that may be.
But let's look at indifference, as defined, in our relationships towards God or others. Let's also look at indifference towards God's Word and how that could affect our lives. God is not indifferent towards us or anything else so should we really be indifferent?
Let's begin with a few verses, first, where God does not call us to be indifferent towards Him or others. Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.' 'This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbors as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." NKJV.
Our discussion was based around our relationship toward God and others so I feel this is a good place to start. We each had other thoughts on the subject but I will quote those later as we progress in this discussion.