Consequences of Spiritual Complacency in Christian Life
Spiritual Complacency in Christian Life: Consequences and Biblical Roots
Spiritual complacency is a state of being unresponsive to God, characterized by a lack of spiritual vitality and a focus on worldly comforts. The Bible describes this condition as being "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13) [1]. In Isaiah 50:11, those who are spiritually complacent are warned that they will face great torment despite their current comfort and security [4].
The consequences of spiritual complacency are far-reaching. According to Romans 1:28, one of the serious consequences of turning away from God is an unsound mind; people can no longer use their minds as God intended [5]. This is echoed in Ephesians 4:18, where it is written that those who are spiritually complacent have their understanding darkened, leading to ignorance about the nature and perfections of God, sin, and salvation [7].
The Bible also highlights the dangers of spiritual complacency in relation to sin. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, it is emphasized that those who willingly sin have no share in the Kingdom of God. Continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit [6]. The fruits of spiritual complacency include dead works (Heb 6:1; 9:14) and a life characterized by sin, such as carnal-mindedness (Ro 8:6), living in pleasure (1Ti 5:6), and hypocrisy (Re 3:1,2) [1].
The consequences of spiritual complacency are not limited to individual believers. In Wisdom 14:26, it is written that forgetfulness of God leads to defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness [2]. This highlights the broader societal implications of spiritual complacency.
In contrast, those who are not spiritually complacent are characterized by a living faith. Confessing Christ is seen as a test of being a saint (1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3) and an evidence of union with God (1Jo 4:15) [3]. The Bible encourages believers to arise from spiritual complacency, with deliverance from this state being available through Christ (Joh 5:24,25; Eph 2:5; 1Jo 5:12) [1].
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's spiritual state. Matthew Henry notes that a state of sin is a state of spiritual death, with those in sin being dead in sin (Col 2:13) [8]. This tradition also highlights the need for regeneration, which involves being weaned from the world and living to Christ (2Co 5:16) [9].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition also stresses the importance of a living faith. John Gill notes that those who are unregenerate sinners will not come to Christ or serve the Lord, but are instead bent on indulging their lusts [10].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death, Spiritual — Alienation from God is -- Eph 4:18. Carnal-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Walking in trespasses and sins is -- Eph 2:1; Col 2:13. Spiritual ignorance is -- Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:79; Eph 4:18. Unbelief is -- Joh 3:36; 1Jo 5:12. Living in pleasure is -- 1Ti 5:6. Hypocrisy is -- Re 3:1,2. Is a consequence of the fall -- Ro 5:15. Is the state of all men by nature -- Ro 6:13; 8:6. The fruits of, are dead works -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. A call to arise from -- Eph 5:14. Deliverance from, is through Christ -- Joh 5:24,25; Eph 2:5; 1Jo 5:12. Saints are raised from -- R”
- Wisdom “Wisdom 14:26 (DRC) — Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 50:11: 50:11 warm yourselves by your own fires: Spiritually complacent people are unresponsive toward God. Though they have comfort and security now, they will soon fall down in great torment (see 66:24).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:28: 1:28 thought it foolish: Sin affects our actions and even our thoughts. One of the serious consequences of turning away from God is an unsound mind; people can no longer use their minds as God intended.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:9: 6:9-11 Those who willingly sin have no share in the Kingdom of God. The lives of Christians must reflect the faith they confess. 6:9 Don’t fool yourselves: Sin is deceptive; believers should not take it lightly, as if it were somehow acceptable (Jer 17:9). • Continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Sexual sins include adultery (see Exod 20:14; Matt 5:27-28) and practicing homosexuality (cp. Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10).”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:18: Having the understanding darkened,.... Not that the natural faculty of the understanding is lost in men, nor the understanding in things natural and civil, and which is quick enough, especially in things that are evil; but in things spiritual it is very dark and ignorant, as about the nature and perfections of God, his holiness and righteousness; about sin and the consequences of it; about Christ, his person, office, and work, and salvation by him; about the Spirit, and his work of grace upon the soul; and about the Scripture, and the doctrines contained in it; and”
- Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:13: The apostle here represents the privileges we Christians have above the Jews, which are very great. I. Christ's death is our life: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, Col 2:13. A state of sin is a state of spiritual death. Those who are in sin are dead in sin. As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the corruption and putrefaction of it, so sin is the c”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16: In these verses the apostle mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, both of which are the consequences of Christ's dying for us; namely, regeneration and reconciliation. I. Regeneration, which consists of two things; namely, 1. Weanedness from the world: "Henceforth we know no man after the flesh, Co2 5:16. We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 21:29: He answered and said, I will not,.... Which answer fitly expresses the language and practice of openly profane and unregenerate sinners, who will not come to Christ, that they may have life; nor will they serve the Lord, but are bent upon indulging their lusts; nor will they be subject to the law of God; nor will they hear and receive the Gospel of Christ, or submit to his ordinances, and are averse to every good work: where is man's free will? this is the true picture of it; man has no will naturally to that which is good, But afterward he repented, and went: a c”