Lately I’ve had a few discussions with atheists. These atheists are people I consider friends, and although we disagree on matters of faith, we’ve managed to find common ground on a lot of things. Both sides have overcome prejudices that we’ve either grown up with, or formed from bad experiences. For example, I’ve learned that not all atheists are hateful, spiteful people that resent the very notion of a god and all people who believe in a god. My atheist friends have learned that not all Christians are blind, science-hating drones that insist upon archaic beliefs in spite of evidence.
How did we arrive at these prejudices in the first place? Certainly it was a variety of ways, not the least of which was hurtful words and relationships. We have a way of separating ourselves from people that disagree with us, and in the process, vilifying the “opponent”. While there is a time and place for growing in one’s own fellowship of believers, it seems most Christians stop there because it’s comfortable. Many atheists, likewise, may have come from Christian backgrounds, but after testing out or adopting new ideas (in college, perhaps), they find themselves estranged from their families. Eyes of pity (when the pitied doesn’t want your pity) can be as hurtful as angry eyes, especially from loved ones. A recent study showed that atheists are the minority most distrusted by the general public[1], even though “no religion” is the fastest growing religious affiliation in the country.[2] In the midst of their “persecution”, I now see a great deal of (admirable) camaraderie among groups of self-identifying atheists.
So what shall we do? Let’s try something we don’t do often enough – try to see things from both sides. Understanding will at least help us show them that we care about their point of view, rather than pitying them because they don’t believe in a god. I’ll also re-examine what Christians believe, for the benefit of any of my atheist friends reading. After that, we’ll examine what God thinks (according to the Bible). This will not be an argument for or against the existence of God (anyone reading this knows that I already believe in God), but rather a look at the way we’d all benefit from treating each other.
Logic:
First, I’d have to say that I admire most atheists (the honest ones) for their skills in logic and reasoning, as well as their commitment to good science. The honest atheists, by definition, are technically “agnostic”, because they admit that they don’t know whether God exists. They admit that it would take faith to believe in a God, because it can’t be proved or disproved by logic or science. The atheist/agnostic is a naturalist – someone who only believes in the things which can be sensed, physically shown, and scientifically proven and/or explained. In fact, some atheists may appreciate the term “naturalist” more than “atheist”, so that they don’t have to identify themselves by what they don’t believe, but rather by what they do believe. He or she does not deny the possibility of supernatural beings, but has decided that anything that can’t be proven by our logical reasoning and scientific processes is just not worth believing in or trying to understand, let alone submitting one’s life to these unknown things. He or she has taken the collective understanding of the natural world to its logical end, resulting in a human-centered, science-exalting system of beliefs that excludes the need for a God or an externally-imposed code of absolute, immutable morality. They are not amoral, but rather claim to base their morals on the harms and benefits of mankind, living things, and the hope of furthering evolution.
Faith:
The honest Christian, on the other hand, is in many ways similar to the honest atheist. Any Christian would readily admit that believing in God takes faith. Christians are not inept at logic (contrary to some prejudices), but rather don’t hold it up as the most valuable use of our minds. While there are many people that were raised as Christians that have later abandoned God and become atheists, there are also numerous scientists that have held on to atheism and skepticism for years and years, only to end up convinced of God’s existence and the intellectual value of faith. Some of these, off the top of my head, include C. S. Lewis[3], Ray Comfort (author of God Doesn’t Believe in Atheists), Dr. Don Bierle (author of Surprised by Faith), Dr. Jobe Martin (author of The Evolution of a Creationist), and Dr. Francis Beckwith (author of Relativism: Feet firmly planted in mid-air). There are hundreds of others, of course, but the point is that it’s not whether it’s more intelligent to believe in a God or believe in no god – it’s a choice. Plenty of people have long been examining the same lines of logic and evidence, societal constructs, and natural patterns, and have arrived at opposite “conclusions”. Atheists have faith that logic and reason are sound and sufficient, that the universe is explainable and systematic; Christians have faith that God exists and is good, and that He’s in charge. Both Christians and atheists are capable of seeing human suffering, fighting injustice, thinking critically, advancing science, and getting along.
God’s opinion:
Let’s not water anything down – God doesn’t think highly of atheists. Psalm 14:1 says “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no god.’” While the tone of this verse seems to imply it, it does not necessarily state that everyone who doesn’t believe in God is a fool. It merely says that a fool tends to agree with atheists, choosing (in his heart, not his mind) to believe in no god rather than be held accountable for what that God calls sin. An honest atheist/agnostic may very well be a fool for now, but may come to the moment that they open their minds far enough to admit they were fools (see the list of great minds above). It’s not our place to beat atheists over the head with “you fool!”:
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' [empty-headed good-for-nothing] is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:22, NIV)
It’s God’s place, not ours. Let's just worry about not being fools ourselves! God will hold them accountable, without an excuse:
“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes... Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself.” (Romans 1:18-23,25 NLT)
Harsh? Well, it contradicts what I’ve heard a number of atheists tell me: “if there is a God, He’ll forgive me because all I’m doing is using the mind He gave me to the best of my ability.” Well, He'd forgive them right now, but not after it's too late. No, instead their mind has become “dark and confused”, and their idols are in the image of “mere people” and our limited form of reasoning. God is confident of His existence, and – whether any of us think it’s fair or not – He’s also confident that He’s given us more than enough evidence. He believes that atheists (and, it’s important to note, everyone that “pushes away the truth” – which includes even a large number of so-called Christians and other theists) are only hanging on to atheism to justify their way of life, which usually includes “do what you feel is right” as the central tenet. Living by your feelings will only lead to ruin.
However, it’s important to remember that God still loves and pursues atheists. There are atheists that have hardened their hearts, who will not listen to Christians, who will not believe even if they see miracles. However, there are the honest atheists, who are still seeking truth, and just haven’t let go of their own self-exalting values and taken hold of the hope and purpose that comes from trusting in God. God’s invitation is still open: “anyone who would come to God must first believe that He is, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” An atheist left to his own line of reasoning may never “believe that He is” or ever “earnestly seek Him”. However, an atheist encountered by the body of Christ as He is represented by His people on earth – as long as they reflect Him properly – will have a much harder time rejecting all merit of faith and trust in God, and the merits of what you say about God and His truth. It is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance – not a miraculous sign, nor the soundness of an argument.
What should we do?
The Christian believes that trusting in the existence of God and following His ways are a win-win situation: if there is a God (and He is who He says He is), we have a responsibility to follow His rules for living, so that we can fulfill what we were created to do. If there is no God, at least you have lived a moral, selfless and fulfilling life that has helped others. The atheist believes that it is intellectual suicide to believe anything you cannot prove, but the honest atheist can at least see the human benefit of such a belief even though he or she does not share it.
The problems have come from (1) how Christians have treated atheists, and (2) how well Christians have lived up to what they say they believe. How Christians represent their God tells atheists all they need to know about the nature of God. If someone who is supposed to be salt and light has lost their saltiness and hidden their light (e.g. inside a church-box), what good are they? If a Christian dismisses an atheist’s value as a person because of what lies the atheist decided to believe, they have lost their own value as an ambassador of Christ. Certainly there are atheists that can be antagonistic, those that blow off Christians no matter what they do, those that have hardened their hearts. But there are also those honest atheists, waiting to see God on earth – many have told me “I wish I could believe in God”, and some have even admitted that they probably don’t believe in God only because they’d have to submit to Him.
Let’s give them a taste of what our God is like, and why He not only exists, but is worthy of all praise and honor forever! If we don’t give them truth to taste, who will God hold more accountable – those that never had the truth, or those that hid it from them?
Good word Jon. Hopefully those who need to hear it will.
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