Are you bored of being “Born Again”? In your quest to be self-righteous you might quickly say “No!”, but really, nobody is watching. It’s just you and your thoughts. You know yourself. You know what you think about on a regular basis. You know if you are really living the truth, or if you are just trying to live so that others don’t find out you are living a lie. Examine yourself! Are you bored of being “born again”?

There is a certain way of living, a “lifestyle”, when it comes to being born again (Eph. 4:1). That lifestyle is one of purity, holiness, righteousness, and goodness. Sometimes, from a worldly view, those things can seem boring (I Peter 4:3-4). However, the person who is born again, the Christian, is committed to living this honorable lifestyle (II Peter 1:5:1-11). It’s how we learned to live in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:20-21). It’s what we have committed to being in Christ Jesus, and it’s a daily effort to live in such a way that glorifies God (Romans 12:1-2). But then sometimes, there’s that longing to go back isn’t there? Sometimes we may think, “I miss the good old days?” The “good old days” that we are supposed to be ashamed of (Romans 6:21), but through time, in our hearts have become days that we long for.

When we first become a Christian, it’s typically easy for us to be faithful. We have just learned of our sinful ways and the pain, suffering, and death that our sin caused Christ to endure. We have the guilt associated with that sin embedded on our hearts, and it strengthens our resolve to not sin again. However, Jesus warns us all in the Parable of the Sower that there are those who receive His word, but then turn back again to unrighteousness and ungodliness (Matthew 13:3-9). This repenting, this “turning back”, is not without its warning signs; and it would do us well to learn them so that we might be able to identify them if they are ever in our own lives.

Apathy in Worship – The new Christian loves to go to church. The mature Christian loves to go to church. The Christian who is “on fire” for the Lord, is not looking for excuses to miss church are they? They are looking for excuses to BE at church. They wouldn’t be found anywhere else would they? The new Christian has a joy of salvation and serving God in a way that they want to express their joy and love through worship. And so they sing from the heart, they give with joy, they pray with fervor, they observe the Lord’s Supper with solemnity, they read and study the word of God with zeal! To them, none of these things are boring. In fact some of them are exciting, enjoyable, and dare I say it; even sometimes they can be “fun”.

Apathy in Work – I have rarely come across a Christian who has fallen away that is truly active in their service to God. In fact, one of the warning signs a Christian is beginning to backslide, is when they backslide in their work. A new Christian with a true understanding of the gospel message knows that they’re created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). They know that Jesus has called for Himself a people that are zealous for such (Titus 2:14). They know they are to persevere in the work of the Lord, and know that God will reward them (I Cor. 15:58). But when Christians aren’t serving their fellow brethren, when they aren’t visiting them in the hospital, sending cards or calls to those who are sick or weak, it’s usually because they are ones who are weak (spiritually). Unfortunately, sometimes Christians get bored with the idea of serving others, and go backwards into believing that “fun”… is when others are serving them. Does that describe you? Do you get joy from serving, or from being served?

Apathy in Walk – Though it may be hard sometimes for new Christians to give up certain aspects of their “old life”, they usually understand it is necessary. However, this area, one’s walk, is perhaps where apathy is most dangerous. Because when we get “bored” with “walking aright”, then that usually means we are walking wrong… we are walking in sin. How many times have you heard of the Christian that went back to drinking, or dancing, or dressing inappropriately; all in the name of “fun”? How many times have you heard of the husband or wife, that was longing for “excitement” in their life; and so they began flirting with a coworker, or neighbor, which led to etc.? I could go on and on with examples, and I’m sure you could to. In your life, do you find yourself “flirting with temptation”? Do you find yourself edging towards sin, and longing for the “thrill” of eating forbidden fruit? Sin may look like fun, but that’s just part of its deceitfulness, because the end of sin is not fun; but rather, death! (Romans 6:23)

If being bored is the problem, then maturity is the solution. It takes maturity to look past an “act” and see its consequences, and determine if it really is something that’s fun, or if sin has just deceived us into believing it is fun (Heb. 3:13-14). Take for example drinking. If you just watched the commercials – you would think drinking is all fun. However, if you just visited hospitals, where people were dying of kidney disease, or being treated from alcohol poisoning, or dying from drunk driving accidents… well then you’d realize drinking isn’t nearly as fun as advertised. That the “risk” isn’t even remotely worth the “reward”. If your daily goal as a Christian, is to mature in the Lord, and you actively work daily toward that goal, then THAT is how you can safeguard yourself against the dangers of apathy.

Are you bored of “Being Born-Again”? Then it’s time to stop being bored, and start being restored. If in reading this article you realize that any of the warning signs of apathy in worship, work, or walk apply to you, then it’s time to do something about it. Don’t keep walking down the path of apathy. Know that it is time to get things right. Know that NOW is the time to get busy and get excited about your service to the Lord again. Don’t wait till you’re lost in sin. Don’t wait till you damage your life, or the lives of others. Wake up NOW, and get busy in the Lord. (Rom. 13:11-14) <David Osteen>