The High Price of Apathy
I hoped the problem would resolve itself. My mom was a teacher. I knew teachers have a tough job, and my boys weren’t always easy to have in class, but my son’s self-confidence in his writing was withering and dying. I met with his teacher one-on-one, and she spent the entire meeting telling me that my son had ADHD and needed medicine. I was a little confused since this son happened to be my calmest and the most focused out of my three. I also bit my tongue and didn’t mention my master’s degree in psychology.
I asked other parents whose children had had this teacher and was told: My child struggled with her also. She’s terrible. She hates boys. She’s tenured, so there’s nothing you can do. I asked if they complained to the principal, and the response I received was. I’m sure other people have.
Had no one spoken up? How long had this been going on?
I tried to set up another meeting with the teacher, but she ignored my requests. As a test, I did the final assignment with my son, writing a fable together that I thought was adorable. It was spell-checked, grammar-checked, and hit all the criteria for a fable with a stated moral at the end. We got a C. Soon after, I met with the school office. I insisted that my other sons would not have this teacher, and if they did, I would come to the school during English class, dismiss them, teach them English myself, and return them after.
I was called into a meeting with the principal, and I told him the same thing. Other parents heard that they could request not to have this teacher, and calls started coming in. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not, but by the time my youngest was in middle school, she was no longer a teacher there.
I wasn’t gunning for this teacher. I just wanted to protect my children’s hearts, and even though I’m more of a lover than a fighter, it meant stepping into the battle. Looking back, I wish I’d gotten involved earlier so that my oldest didn’t suffer an entire school year. I also wish the other parents had spoken up sooner.
Are we getting into the battle or standing by? It’s easy to step aside, especially when the world tells Christians we’re wrong, out of touch, ignorant, or outright bad. It’s tempting to stand back and say, “Ok. If you can do it better, then have at it.” Why jump into the fight when you’re not appreciated? Why risk becoming collateral damage?
When we stay on the sidelines, often the world fills in the void. Some people will think, I’m more involved than most. I don’t need to get my hands dirty. It’s easier to watch things self-destruct, but apathy has a steep price. There is no winner with apathy, only loss.
Look at David, who remained apathetic after his daughter Tamar was raped. He didn’t disciple his son Amnon, so his other son, Absalom, took justice into his own hands and killed Amnon. (2 Samuel 13)
Take Eli the priest, who remained apathetic when his sons started doing evil acts and had no disregard for the Lord. Eli neglected to discipline them, and they died because of it. (1 Samuel 2:12-25)
And then there was Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands of Jesus’s crucifixion. (Matthew 27:24)
God doesn’t want an apathetic church, as noted by his words to the Church at Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-17)
God wants us to go all in. We’re not meant to be passive. God gave the promised land to his people, but he also made them go and take possession of the land. (Joshua 1:15) We need hearts that are willing to get in the battle and go and take the land—and in some instances take it back.
Our challenge is to be more like the prophet Isaiah and say, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)