Monday, May 26, 2008

Many die who never once turn to God

There are many sad deaths in the news. Some are religious and faithful people, and some are not. No one should draw conclusions about this, assuming that faith or lack of it makes a difference in whether a person becomes ill, or experiences an accident or natural disaster. What it should do is give you pause if you are a person who has never once had a moment of connection with God and your faith. It is very problematic when materialistic and smug secular people die who have never once referred to God, except as a punchline in a joke or in a curse. I read about someone who overdoses, for example, and there's no mention of a church or faith in God in their obituary. That's not why they overdosed, but what I am saying is that many people suddenly run out of time. That is why children are supposed to be raised within faith, so they have that relationship with God, should their time suddenly be cut short. Obviously they should be raised with faith and religious instruction so that they have better and more meaningful lives too. But in this time of many disasters I have to remind people that responsible parents do not "leave it to them to decide" and thus have children grow up without knowledge of God or their own faith. You can't send them to "catch up faith school" if they suddenly are gone. I've never read so many obituaries where the people have clearly not even had the name of God on their lips once in their life or in their minds. It's not a good thing, and God has to dispense accordingly when each person dies, circumstances notwithstanding.