Playing Before an Apathetic Crowd

Scripture: So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:20-21

Observation: Elijah is about to take on 450 "prophets" from the false gods through a contest of fire. However, he will make this productive - he won't just demonstrate the Lord's authority to Ahab, but to all the people of Israel. He ensures a large audience is on hand ... all of the Israelites. However, he also prepares the conditions around that audience by asking with whom their loyalty lies. They are disturbingly silent.

Elijah now has an audience that is totally uncommitted to any belief system. They don't stand with Elijah who is before them and speaking, and they don't stand with Baal who has 450 prophets on hand. They won't take a position despite being a very, very large group that collectively should not fear either side of the argument. They are apathetic.

Application: The Israelites are just like today's society. They might care about a lot of "issues" and have "beliefs" that align to that level of care, but they don't really have faith in anything. So many people, if asked "take a definitive stand on a belief system" would firmly remain silent, not seeking to commit to any single truth.

Today's crowd is apathetic, too. They are open to any concept, and thus firmly cling to none. They respect anyone's belief system, except for any belief system that declares itself to be the truth. It is the irony that, when people are open to all beliefs, they are by definition closed to reality.

What would have to happen to reach the hearts of everyone regarding the truth of Jesus? Surely we shouldn't need public miracles. Then again, in this age ... would that even work?

Prayer: Lord, we need a new Elijah, a new Moses, a new Elisha, a new Isaiah, in this age. But mostly, we need Jesus in the hearts of many, and renewed strength within this apathetic world. Most of the leaders war against truth, and have twisted even that idea into public scorn. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.