Home › 3 DAILY DEVOTIONS › Bible Study Outlines – Indifference

Bible Study Outlines – Indifference

prmPosted on Posted in 3 DAILY DEVOTIONS

Bible Study Outlines

INDIFFERENCE

 

I. Indifference appears in various forms

A. Indifference over against all religions. A person wants to know nothing about any religion.

B. Holding that one religion is as good as another. (Lodges, Boy Scouts, etc..)

C. The “I don’t care” attitude over against the pure teachings of God’s Word.

 

II. Many want to lay aside the Scriptural confessions of the Church and allow differences in teachings. “it does not matter whether you are a Lutheran, Methodist, or a Baptist; they all have the same God and the same Bible.” This indifferent attitude is prevalent in

A. Europe, e.g., the State Churches.

B. America. It is found, for example, in—

  1. the sects in general. (The Reformed Churches, etc.)
  2. all interdenominational organizations such as, “Young Men’s Christian Association,” etc.
  3. the various synods which call themselves “Lutheran”.
  4. Do we even find it creeping into our own midst?

 

III.  Indifference reveals itself in—

A. the toleration of false doctrine. Revelation 2:20

B. opposing those who testify against false doctrine. 1 Kings 18,19 (Elijah)

C. church union where there is no Scriptural unity. 1 Corinthians 1:10

D. the neglect of Scriptural practice.

  1. Irregular attendance at the Divine Service and the Lord’s Table. Luke 11:28
  2. Lack of concern on the parent’s part for the proper religious training of their children. Ephesians 2:15-17
  3. The utter disregard of many professing Christians for proper amusements. 1 John 2:15-17
  4. The neglect of Scriptural church discipline in the congregations. Matt. 18:15-17
  5. Marriage to one who is of a different religious belief? 1 Kings 11:1 ff. Gen. 6:2 f.

 

IV. Indifference is condemned

A. in Scripture.

  1. We are to keep all of God’s Word. Matthew 28:20; John 8:31; 2 Thessalonians 2:15
  2. The Bible is not our word, but God’s. John 7:16; 1 Corinthians 2:4-7
  3. We are to avoid all false teachers. Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 3:10
  4. Compare also: 1 Kings 18:21; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 6:14 ff.; Revelation 3:16

B. in our confessional writings.

 

V. Results of indifference.

A. Makes the entire Scriptures uncertain. If we were to hold that one teaching in God’s Word were unimportant, that would place the rest of the teachings in doubt and make our salvation uncertain. 2 Timothy 3:15-16

B. Is the mother of all false teaching. Where the people become indifferent and careless, there the devil reaps a large harvest. Matthew 13:25

 

VI. We must fight against indifference. This is done by—

A. publicly testifying that indifference in matters of doctrine is sin. While we are to exercise patience with the weak brother we are under no circumstances to tolerate the error. 2 Timothy 4:2-3

B. holding steadfastly to the Word of God, preaching and teaching it in all of its truth and purity. Jeremiah 23:28; 2 Timothy 1:13

C. digging ever deeper into the Scriptures and thereby increasing our knowledge of doctrine. John 5:39; Colossians 3:16

Tagged with: