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The Sin of Indifference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 28.

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The Sin of Indifference

By DANIEL NETTLETON

DANIEL NETTLETON
“If God abhors one sin above another of which his people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis are regarded of God as a grievous crime, and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.” Remember the word of the Lord concerning Meroz; “They came not to the help of the Lord.” Judges 5:23. They neglected to improve an opportunity to be coworkers with God. How shall we escape a similar condemnation if we neglect to become fellow workers with God in laboring for the salvation of lost souls?
This solemn responsibility was impressed on my mind by the following incident: An Adventist brother came West, took up a homestead, and began making a home for himself and family. Another man took up a claim next to his, and so our brother had a neighbor. Do you know Christ’s answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” If not, read Luke 10:30-37, and you will see that our neighbor is one who is in need of something we can do for him. Well, this neighbor was friendly, a good neighbor, but not a Christian; he was without hope and without God in the world. He had not found the pearl of great price; he was lost, unsaved.
Our brother felt impressed to visit this neighbor, to give him some tracts on the coming of Christ, to get him to read the Signs of the Times, to hold Bible readings with him, and in some way to interest him in present truth, and in securing a home in the soon-coming kingdom. But he was “so busy,” he had “so much to do,” that he could not find time for missionary work. Like Felix, he turned away from the call of the still, small voice, with, “Go thy way for this time.” He waited for a more convenient season, but it never came. Days, weeks, and months passed by; the harvest was over, the summer was ended, and his neighbor was not saved. He gave no heed to God’s admonition: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
Early one morning he was startled by a knock at his door. One of his neighbor’s children came in, and said, “Father died last night, and mother wishes you would come over and help us.” He went as requested; and as he helped perform the last sad rites, he longed with bitter tears and sad regrets for the time and opportunity that had passed, in which he might at least have made an effort to bring his neighbor to Christ. But alas! time and opportunity wait for no man. “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Prov. 15:23. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
O, that all God’s people had a mind to work for lost souls! It is said of the people who rebuilt Jerusalem, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” Neh. 4:6. And we in this day are exhorted to have in us the mind which was in Christ Jesus, “who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,”—held on to, retained,—while we are in need of a Saviour,—“but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, yea, the death of the cross,” that he might save men. Shall not his example inspire us to follow in his steps? And if we do follow the footprints from the manger to the cross, we shall share with him in the joy that was set before him, the joy of a ransomed world.
“He was not willing that any should perish. Am I his follower, and can I live Longer at ease with a soul going downward, Lost for the lack of the help I might give? Perishing, perishing! harvest is passing; Reapers are few, and the night draweth nigh. Jesus is calling thee! Haste to the reaping! Thou shalt have souls for thy crowning on high.”
Port Townsend, Wash.