so recently, i've had a stream of thoughts running through my mind about atheists. i've been watching a lot of videos on youtube from pastors like john piper, paul washer, mark driscoll and the likes. most times, there are comments from non-believers who state that God doesn't exist or that He doesn't care about them or they question how christians could believe in something that they don't see. i've also been thinking about the phrase "hope and pray"; a phrase we use so freely in our society...used by believers and non-believers alike.
where am i going with this?
to make the statements that these non-believers are making leads me to see that they are admitting that God does exist. by saying, God doesn't exist, you're first admitting that there is a God...otherwise, wouldn't they say that there is no "supreme being" that exists? i mean, afterall, atheism is the belief that there is no existence of a supreme being. so to use the word, God, means that somebody recognizes God does exist. i know this sounds confusing...but think about it...to admit God, is to admit there is God.
this continues on to the phrase "hope and pray". we use it in reference to our families, our sports teams, our favorite nascar driver, etc. but if we think about it, who are the non-believers hoping in? who are they praying to? to say that a non-believer "hopes and prays" is to admit that there is God.
i suppose the biggest hang up for non-believers (besides some legalism in the church) is that they don't "see" God. but after reading hebrews 11 this morning, the Bible clearly makes a point.
hebrews 11:1-2 reads like this:
"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past."
this chapter in hebrews, goes on to list numerous people in the Bible who walked by faith alone! moses, noah, gideon, samuel, sarah and abraham, isaac, and on and on...in a world where we put so much "faith" in what we see, perhaps we should explore true faith in what we don't see!
i would challenge any non-believer to examine why God has permeated our society so incredibly much...why they use phrases like "hope and pray" ...why they admit to God, but don't believe in Him. and if the best answer a non-believer can come up with is, "well, it's just a saying." then perhaps, a re-examination of their belief system is in order.
harsh? perhaps. but even God gets angry sometimes (do i need to remind you of the flood?)...
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Great topic and well put. I agree and do not believe there is such thing as a true atheist. I believe the Bible also tells us this in Romans 1:18 - 1:20:
ReplyDelete18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
The Book Of Mormon also touches on the topic of Faith in Ether chapter 12:
ReplyDelete6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
I think the phrase "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" is key. Most people give up or give in when their faith is tried, but how can Heavenly Father help us if we don't trust in him? It goes on to say:
7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
Faith is essential to anyones testimony of God.
Honestly I think many non-believers choose not to believe as that would mean they would have to admit they are doing wrong, they would have to give up their worldly pleasures and follow Gods law, and they are not willing to do that. They will be very sorry one day though then they see heaven and it's pearly gates and are told "turn away from Me as I do not know you" and they are sent to live in hell for eternity for their sins and their denial of God. Then they will wonder why they were so worried about their worldly possessions when living in eternity with the Father is so much more wonderful than we could ever imagine here on earth.
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