Indifference

2000 years ago a leader sat in his chair contemplating an enormous decision. Before him stood a battered man whose identity had the leader baffled. The religious establishment had tagged this man a rebel and a con artist, one whose true goal was to cause an insurrection that would overthrow the Roman government. If that was true, this leader would lose his job and quite possibly his life. Yet this bloodied figure before him hardly looked the part of a dangerous insurgent. If what they said was true...

Uncertain of exactly what to do, this leader announced that he saw no real reason that he should prosecute this so-called revolutionary. He had done nothing wrong in his eyes as a government official so he announced that it would be best to let him go. After all, as the benevolent leader of a nation that would be the best thing to do. But he was surprised with the ferocity with which the crowd demanded that this seemingly innocent man be put to death. In fact, they demanded that a true criminal - a murderer at that - be released instead. Not completely understanding their venom yet at the same time not wanting to rouse the rabble any further, this leader acquiesced to their demands and "willing to gratify the crowd" (Mark 15:15) delivered this innocent man over to be beaten and crucified.

Pilate did not so much order the death of Jesus as he did allow it to happen. He simply did not care enough to stop it. Pilate was indifferent.

What is it that causes so many atrocities in this world to happen? From a political perspective, the world does not care enough to stop the wholesale killing and raping of helpless civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan. Culturally, many turn a blind eye to the crap that is put on television, radio, and the internet. They chalk it up to freedom of expression and, although most find it offensive, they don't care enough to take a stand against it. When children can walk the streets rummaging through garbage cans for food and families who were once part of vibrant communities can live in their cars, then our world has looked in the other direction in the face of socio-economic crises.

These are the faces of indifference.

It wasn't so much hatred or jealousy that put Jesus on the cross. It was indifference. From the very beginning man has been so consumed with his own desires that he has become jaded to the things of God. This is not so much of a blanket indictment as it is an acknowledgment of our sinful condition. All of the ills and inhumanity that we see in our world today - from genocide to the human trafficking - all have their roots in the depraved hearts of man. The question then becomes not so much if we will stand up against injustice in our world but rather if we love God enough to fully submit to His reign. When God is our all consuming passion, the One to whom we place all our affections upon, then we can no longer be indifferent to those things that do not bring about His fame and glory.