The common cold. It afflicts millions of people every year. Young and old suffer alike. The coughing, wheezing, sniffing, snorting cold is the cause of much discomfort. It's not just in the winter that folks are stricken. There's the summer cold too. It's just as bad, if not worse.
We've managed to find a cure for all sorts of exotic and life-threatening diseases. The common cold they say has none. We treat its symptoms with everything from chicken soup and the old hot toddy to every kind of over the counter decongestant and cough syrup available. Mostly we just tolerate it until it goes away.
There's another strand of the cold virus more common even than that which affects the respiratory system. It's the kind of cold that's unkind. The variety that kills kindness, in fact. It's the strand that stops up compassion and that stifles charity. If ever there was a disease that was communicable, it is this one. Indifference is what I'm talking about. Infectious cold- hearted indifference.
You see evidence of the disorder everywhere. You see folks that are indifferent about their job. There is no diligence. There is no sense of responsibility of urgency. They just want to get the day over. They don't care.
Husbands and wives are indifferent about their marriages. They have quit trying. They're through talking about it. They have given up. They just don't care anymore.
Indifference has spread to the younger generation with a fresh vengeance. They don't care about anything. They don't care to learn. If you do, you're a nerd. They don't care about their appearance. Unkempt is in. The baggier, the more holey, the more dishevelled, the better. They don't care about purity. "Virgin" is a dirty word. They just don't care.
Acts of kindness are viewed with suspicion. When you speak kindly to someone they assume that you're a salesman. If you open a door for a lady at the mall, she's apt to think that you think her too weak to open it herself. If you compliment someone, they assume that you want something. The coldness of indifference is so common that it is assumed to be the norm. Those that shows any signs of warmth, of caring are quarantined. Something's not right with them, it is thought.
Good news! There's a cure for the common cold.
Open up the closed passages. We must see the need for concern not just about the Bible passages that deal with doctrine and worship. There must be care for those matters, but there must be concern for those passages that have to do with attitudes also.
There are aspects of holiness that have lain neglected for too long. Christians have lost a sense of their mission as light and salt. There needs to be something distinctive about our demeanor and about our attitude. Things need to make a difference to us. "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men" (Titus 3:2).
Subjection and obedience -- that's caring about law and order. Good deeds -- that's caring about service. Non-malignity, uncontention, gentleness, consideration -- that's caring about people and about reconciling breaches and differences.
Get outside, for a change. I don't mean get outside your house, though that will surely be involved. I mean get outside yourself. I don't mean for a change of pace. Though that also may be involved. I mean for a change of heart and direction.
Indifference like all sin is caused by selfishness. It is the result of preoccupation with our own concerns, our own aspirations, our own problems and situations. We consequently become withdrawn and cold.
"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). That's the cure. It's vigorously exercising your heart and lungs in service. There are folks who can benefit from your encouragement. There are people who could use your interest in their well-being. There are folks desperately in need of a role model or a good friend. There are souls waiting for the gospel. You won't see them however, until you get outside. It will change you when you do. For the better. There'll be a difference.
"Feed a cold." There is a risk in caring. Ask the good Samaritan. Don't you think be contemplated the return of the bandits? The risks in caring are multitudinous. Your concern is not apt to be reciprocated. Folks may be suspicious of you. They may think something's wrong. Some may even be angry. If you care about your job, folks may get mad at you for making them look bad.
"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:20-21). The only way to get rid of indifference is to feed it with kindness. Smother it with charity. If you return the same, it only grows and spreads. Be persistent. Don't grow weary. Righteousness, goodness, kindness, will prevail eventually.
Whatever you do, don't just wait for it to go away. You can't just tolerate the common cold. You have to fight it.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 6/8/97.