Christian author Josh McDowell, who spoke on campuses across America for decades, was once asked in a magazine interview to characterize the atmosphere on college campuses in the 20th century. The two words he used to describe it were “aggressive apathy.” This is in marked contrast to the 1960s. The college campus was then characterized by activism. College young people were ready to march, demonstrate, protest, or riot for almost any cause. Then toward the close of the century they made an about face and became aggressively apathetic: largely uninvolved and unconcerned.
Today the pendulum swings toward activism on campuses and our cities, but for what cause? Certainly not the cause of Christ. Meanwhile, aggressive apathy characterizes many Christians. We are, as Amos said, “at ease in Zion.” We are, as Zephaniah said, “settled on our lees.” We are, as John said, “neither hot nor cold.” God can’t stand a cold church. And the devil can’t stand a hot one.
Christians need to get concerned. A different world cannot be built by an indifferent church. Christians need to get involved in their community, in their government, and in their schools as well as in their churches and show that they really care.