I've spent a lot of time working with dementia patients. The disease process is fascinating, but not as fascinating as the raw, uncovered look at the human psyche that it offers. Also, watching old people run down the hall in their birthday suit is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life.
I've always thought of dementia like looking at the world through a foggy kaleidoscope, only instead of colored glass beads and panels, there are memories and hallucinations blocking your view. Some patients live inside a house of horror, constantly plagued by the things they are seeing. Others float in an impenetrable cloud of bliss regardless of what's actually going on. Either way, they are still disabled and alienated from loved ones.
Faith apathy is kind of the same thing.
Now, hear me out, 'cause it's going to take me a while to get back around to the point on this one...
If I hear one more person...just ONE MORE, say "I'm basically a good person. I don't think God is going to send me to hell." I. Am going. To scream.
I don't care whether you believe in Jesus, Buddah, or the Great Pumpkin, when you die, don't expect overflowing mercy from a God you've chosen to ignore your entire life. Forget the facts of what happens to an apathetic believer while they're alive. After death, how do you expect to stand before Someone who is pure, blameless, righteous, all powerful, all mighty, Creator and Ruler of all, Alpha and Omega, and tell Him that pathetic crock of hooey!?
"Well, yeah, I've lived a nice, safe life, cheated on my wife and divorced her, dodged my taxes a few times, hit a dog and kept going because I didn't feel like stopping, only went to church when it made me look good, and only prayed when I was in big trouble. And really, I never thought about You unless I could help it. But I think I'm basically a good person, so move aside and let me into Your house. I want to eat alongside people who have suffered and died for you, the woman who prayed every day for her abusive husband, the man who forgave an unfaithful wife, the guy that went to church every single sunday, not because it made him look good, but because it was RIGHT. Wait, what? You're turning down my 'Basically a good person' argument? How could you?"
And for this God is called harsh and wrathful.
The irony is so rich I could go on all day, but that's not my main point. Besides, CS Lewis said that when taking into account what we know of the nature of God, "the question should not be 'Why are so few saved?' but rather 'How are any saved at all?'" Salvation is a beautiful fluke.
My point here is that there are more serious implications than what apathy does to us here on earth, which is in itself very sobering to think about.
A few weeks ago, my homegroup got into the "once saved, always saved" discussion, and it made me HOPPING mad*. How can someone who has been born be unborn? If the steps for salvation were really, truly taken, how can they be untaken? Answer: THEY CAN'T!
However, there is such a thing as starving oneself into ineffectiveness. Again, a case of forgetful freed men, walking around like prisoners. Sure, you can do it. But WHY? Not only are you depriving yourself of healing, joy, and purpose, but you're keeping yourself from having any connection with other people that might help you slog through this world. Not to mention, one day, you're going to have to look the Almighty in the eye and explain why you chose to just sit back and do nothing while the faithful suffered for His name.
I don't exclude myself from this ranting. I'm just as much in danger as anyone else.
Whether or not you're happy with your life, whether or not you feel loved, the reality is not changed.
Like dementia, whether you're happy or sad, you're still sitting in a wheelchair drooling on yourself and being showered by strangers.
The difference? Dementia patients can't HELP IT!
*I would like to make the disclaimer that my homegroup has consistently proven themselves to be capable of respectful arguing and productive give-and-take. Just because I got mad doesn't mean that someone there MADE me cranky. The issue itself teed me off. That is all. Why are you still reading? Go watch TV! GO!
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