“I don’t care” – is a favorite saying by many, also Christians. If we feel indifferent about what color is somebody’s hair or eyes, whether he is short, or tall, it is normal. But if we say “I don’t care” about what is going on with our fellow people, if we say this about relationships with others, we, unknowingly, reveal the painful truth about ourselves – our kindness has disappeared, along with empathy, we have become lukewarm, insensitive. In short, we have become selfish, our self has become so huge that we cannot notice our fellow human beings behind it.
Maybe, reading this, you started thinking – “another moralization, thinking that she is herself so righteous”. No, quite the opposite! I am writing this because I am used to saying it myself… even worse! Sometimes I feel indifference regarding other people, particularly those I don’t like.
Yes, I feel your objections – you would like to say – I am taking care of my family, I feel for my friends’ failures and try to help in various ways… I can attest to that, also. However, I am not satisfied with my answer, because the Scripture says:
- Luke 6:32 (NIV): If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
- John 15:12 (NIV): My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jesus’ teaching of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” can be found in Gospels by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Is it easy – not to be indifferent and love every fellow being? For me personally, I still have to learn it. It is easy in theory, but hard in practice.
However, God’s command is clear and unchanging to “love thy neighbor”! If we are indifferent towards other people then we are saying to God – I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU TELL ME, GOD.
I don’t have courage and I don’t want to say that. I am not indifferent to what God is asking from me. I am learning to obey Him in all things. Besides, I think that INDIFFERENCE IS A STATE OF COMA FOR THE SOUL.
Carolyn Hendernon has said: “If we don’t care then we are like dead. But God can raise the dead.”
God can raise us from soul coma and transform our hardened hearts. We can read in
Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
And WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD’S WORD. God can understand and accept all our feelings – also anger, disappointment, fear, doubt… but indifference? I think that our indifference is not acceptable to Him.
Elie Wiesel has said that “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Strong wording… And what about expressions “indifference kills” and “indifference is a faithful servant of Satan”? Frightening and very serious. It offers a clearer understanding and encourages us to do everything to cast out indifference from our heart. To allow God to transform our hearts, reminding us about benevolence, compassion, love, and kindness – everything that is opposite to indifference…
What we can offer to other people is our time – even 5 minutes of quality attention, passionate prayers, helping hands, heartfelt words, kind glance – there is no need for money, or an academy diploma… it takes only a sensitive and loving heart.
Rita L.V.
