Dead means separated from God, not incapable of responding to God. And there are many passages speaking of us as blind, or slaves, or ill - all of which must be ignored if man is to be presented as unable to respond to the command of God, with God then judging him for not doing what he is incapable of doing.
It is like beating a dog with diarrhea for pooping on the carpet, when you left him inside an apartment for 12 hours...
I think beating a dog with a rolled up newspaper might be more effective. Not that we should be beating dogs in the first place of course.
I know, I know, but it was still funny the first time I read it.