LiAnn

Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? We are often tempted to take a back seat in our spiritual life, better to let other Christians do the work while we settle and sit down to criticise, to praise or to turn a blind eye. The reason for this would be the unwillingness to give up things in life in order to be a "hot" Christian. Unwilling to spend time to read the Word of God. Unwilling to give up TV to pray. Unwilling to stand up for Christ afraid to lose one's job. Unwilling to give up a drinking session for a witnessing session for fear of losing friends. The list is endless. How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves? The complete giving of our life to God. He wants our all, not just a part. We need to hold to the commitment that no matter what happens, no matter in what situation, God is first in our lives.

Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? Heathen religious practices may be equated with feng shui, charms, numerology, superstitions, which are now practised by more and more businesses. They open doors for darkness to penetrate into our lives when we choose not to depend on God but on human created things. We sometimes don't realise it but the moment we think we can only succeed if we doing certain things in a certain superstitious way, we have given way to be controlled by darkness. Even the language we speak (e.g. It worked like a charm!) give hints on how we let such things seep little by little into our lives until it crowds out our Lord and Saviour. What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? "As long as it does not hurt anyone, it can be done," an honest and innocent looking statement but a powerful weapon of the enemy who tempts us into sin with the precept that, "It is OK, it is nothing, go on, it won't hurt you." What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity? The real compromise is when we decide that we need something else other than God to be joyful and to be fulfilled.

How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? When we allow ourselves, other people and other things to go above God in our lives. When we compromise to live our lives the way we want it. When love turns inward and there is no love towards each other. When serving my own purposes is more important than anything else. When we allow sin in our lives, first taking a foothold and then taking root. What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? The fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22). How does the lack of love show up? When one is far from God and choose not to spend time with Him in worship, in prayer and in seeking Him to know Him more. How can a congregation regain this love? Put God first in all things - in our own lives and in church.