Apathy Pathology

"Apathy is the world's worst problem, but who cares?"

The other day, an armadillo chose my yard as his place to give up the ghost. The chickens took quite an interest in the dying creature, but I was wary. Armadillos are one of the few creatures which can be infected with and spread leprosy.

Leprosy, while curable, is still a disease. Numbness is an early and primary symptom of this skin ailment. Apathy, like leprosy, causes numbness in those affected. Not caring leads to lack of feeling. Whether we are overwrought by the stressors in our lives, or we are guarding against being maudlin, apathy is a complacent state of not caring.

It is not hard to think of apathy as a spiritual disease. It is highly contagious, bad for our spiritual health, and makes it easier for the enemy to pick us off one at a time. Most importantly, it is curable.

There is too much to care about. We have a finite supply of empathy and attention span, not to mention resources. Media bombards us with tragedies, along with commercial and political advertisements. Are you going to vote “no” on ballot measure seven?

Whether it is the condition of our cultural politics or the needs expressed by those around us, it is easy to build a cocoon.

The prophet Amos proclaims a woeful judgement against those “that are at ease in Zion,” (Amos 6:1). He describes their lavish, ignorant bliss while not being “grieved for the affliction of Joseph,” (Amos 6:1-6).

In the New Testament Church, we are called to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ,” (Galatians 6:2).

It is true, some Christians care a little too much or in the wrong way. Some of the loudest “carers” are the worst helpers. Much “caring” is camouflage for gossip or laziness.

Sometimes people need space more than they need aggressive care. We can push too hard. We must discern just how empathic to be and when it is time to give space. When caring for others, we must “first, do no harm.”

Apathy also affects vision. Douglas Adams, in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, calls attention to SEPs (“Someone Else’s Problem”) which are by nature invisible. Apathy makes things invisible.

Paul, being the (literally) inspired writer he was, used many appropriate metaphors to illustrate the spiritual universe, such as the Ephesians 6 panoply. While avoiding cheesiness, we can borrow some of his style, (within reason). My past few Substack articles have been a trip to the “spiritual aid station.”

How do we prevent or cure the apathy pathology?

First, let us love Jesus and allow Him to love others through us. The heart of Christianity is Christ in us. Jesus touched the leper, rebuked the Pharisees and fed the five thousand. If we are communing with Christ, He will show us who or what to care for, and how to care.

God loves us more than we can imagine. He is constantly ready to hear our prayers. He succors us when we are hurting. Sometimes He uses fellow believers to help us. Why would we not care for others, considering Almighty God condescends to work in our lives?

Pray about when and how much to get involved. People used to excuse themselves with, “You can’t legislate morality.” Yet, if we don’t legislate morality, what do we legislate? Legislation reflects how we spend public (taxpayer) money, which crimes we will prosecute, and a host of other moral issues. While we do not have resources to engage with every issue, we should at least know what issues are important to us; something should be important to us.

Get rid of the excuse pathogen. Excuses incubate apathy like the plague.

Next, we must be within range. Soldiers learn the maximum effective range of various weapon systems, so they know when they are close enough to engage. If we do not care about knowing people, we will never get close enough for true empathy. We cannot be adamantly against a measure at City Hall if we do not intend to use our voice and our vote against it.

“If we don’t legislate morality, what do we legislate?”

“Within range” also has a literal component. We must first weed out any apathy we have for our neighbors and coworkers. In his novel Bleak House, Dickens (whom I prefer to Adams), entitled a chapter “Telescopic Philanthropy.” It is easy to care about people from afar. It is easy to be “pro” or “anti” anything when the issue is distant or theoretical.

Lately, I have seen a remarkable number of church advertisements on television. Many show families snuggling up on the living room couch for church. Pajama church is better than truancy, but we must have an extraordinarily good excuse for forsaking the assembly. It is convenient not to have to fuss with traffic, the parking lot, and that greeter “Floyd.” Do we not care enough to attend church, be seen, and be counted?

It is easy in our overstimulating world to lose our compassionate edge. This week, let’s take some time to “think about what we care about.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn the appropriate response to our community’s needs; stewarding emotional energy while refraining from apathy. If we endeavor to think God’s thoughts after Him, then we will strive to know His heart as well.