God’s Message to The Atheist and Agnostic

I was interested in the concept of faith in something. This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. 

                                      – Woody Allen

Legendary filmmaker Woody Allen has written and directed nearly 60 films and won four Academy Awards. In 2010 he released the film, “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.” Dave Itzkoff, a New York Times columnist, interviewed Allen about the film and his life. Itzkoff noted the supernatural is important to the movie, which opened the door for Allen to comment about his view of faith. Allen said, “I was interested in the concept of faith in something. This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going.” Allen is not alone in his sentiments. The Gallup organization conducted a religious survey finding that more Americans agree with Allen today than they did nearly 70 years ago. In 1956 96% of U.S citizens identified with the Christian faith. Since then, that number has plummeted to 68%. In 1954 0% of Americans considered themselves atheists, agnostics or people who just simply were not religious. However, for the last seven decades the number has skyrocketed with 22% claiming that spot. (Image by Unsplash)

For Allen and the growing number of Americans that view religion as not important or delusional, they have it backwards. Having no faith in God and putting faith primarily in oneself is the ultimate delusion. It is a grave mistake to believe that all you need is yourself – your own goodness, education, wealth or personal effort. The wisdom writings in the Bible address this, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5) It is also eternally dangerous to believe God does not exist. The Bible strongly states, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1)

Throughout history there have always been people that did not believe in the Lord God. Either they did not believe in any god or believed in a different and false god. The position of Allen is nothing new.

Throughout history how has the one who made the heavens and the earth responded to such deeply held views? Has He turned His back on them and refused to engage at all or lashed out in anger? Not at all. God Himself says to the atheist, agnostic and all who do not trust Him, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) When God says “reason together” it means He is intentionally reaching out to help you understand Him.

How is He doing that? Through His Son. He has revealed Himself in Jesus, who stated very clearly for those wondering who He was and who God is, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (Jn. 12:44-45) Do you want to know if God exists? Look at Jesus.

Christians talk much about the death and resurrection of Jesus. What does it reveal about God? It is written that Jesus “was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5) In the face of your arguments against God, He sees within you a sickness that comes from a life of sinful choices, and while you debate against Him, He has sacrificed Himself on a cross that you might have His perfect peace.

Woody Allen commented on death in his interview, “I’ve experienced that thing where you wake up in the middle of the night and you start to think about your own mortality and envision it, and it gives you a little shiver.” In the face of death and dying the Lord God points all people to His unique Son who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." (Jn. 11:25-26).

A prayer for you – Lord God, some may wonder if you exist. Today, reveal yourself to them through your unique Son. Let them see who you are in His teaching, miracles, signs and wonders. In His holy name. Amen.

The Battle for Moral Truth

The battles we face today are fact versus feeling, reality versus idealism and truth versus lies. – Clint Decker

A university student once listened to his professor give an unplanned lecture on why God does not exist, then afterwards he asked the students to write a paper on the question, “Does God exist?” The Christian student felt if he wrote a dissenting viewpoint, it could cost him a good grade. (Image by Unsplash)

An employee was working late one night when he witnessed his manager swipe some cash from the company safe. The manager spotted him, then instructed him to keep quiet about it. The next morning when the owner discovered the cash was missing, he told employees to come forward with any information. The employee wrestled with what to do, feeling he could not betray his boss who had been so good to him.

A young woman was asked out for a date by a charming and handsome young man. As the evening progressed, she felt such a connection with him, feeling like he was the perfect guy. While they were having conversation during dinner though, she noticed how he asked their server for his third beer. She knew about the dangers of alcohol all too well, as she had dealt with alcohol abuse in her family.

A pastor was once asked to share a message on what the Bible says about abortion. However, he knew there were at least two women in the congregation who had abortions and was concerned how they might feel about such a message.

The battle for moral truth is a war zone, and it becomes intensified when the truth conflicts with our feelings for others. The battles are fact versus feeling, reality versus idealism and truth versus lies. These struggles are the grounds for building a life of courage or ruining a life because of cowardice.

Jesus is our prime example for learning how to courageously stand for truth under fire.

Once some religious leaders approached Jesus to ask Him an accusatory question, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” (Matthew 15:2) To which Jesus immediately turned the tables and asked them, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3) It was more of a rhetorical question, as Jesus did not give them an opportunity to answer. Instead, He publicly charged them in a bold rebuke saying, “…you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites!” (Matt. 15:6,7)

It was such a startling and concerning exchange that the disciples approached Jesus privately and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” (Matt. 15:12) How did Jesus respond to the concerns of His disciples? He did not back down or apologize at all. Rather he stated, “Leave them; they are blind guides.” (Matt. 15:14)

The charge the disciples made toward Jesus was serious. They were saying He was being a spiritual stumbling block to the religious leader’s relationship with God. Their question revealed how they had a greater concern for the Pharisees than for the truth of Jesus. This is the problem with our culture. We have equated feelings to the same level as truth, and if the truth is offensive to others we might go so far as to reinterpret the Bible to our liking, or just ignore it all together.

When we are not honest with people and dance around the truth, it is the greatest disservice we could ever do toward someone. Even though we may have avoided conflict, we have put their life and soul in jeopardy.

Conversely, when we speak the truth, is the most kind, gracious, humble, loving and compassionate thing you could ever do for someone in the eyes of God, regardless of their response and regardless of what happens to you.

Jesus once said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:23)

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will help us to be more concerned about the souls of others, than the feelings of others. Help us to never fear speaking your holy truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God, Religion and The Human Soul

You were created to worship God, and it is through worshiping Him that you will find answers to life’s deepest questions, discover who you are and what you were made for.

– Clint Decker

Since our founding in 1776, most Americans have always been religious. This remains true nearly 250 years later. According to the most recent Pew Religious Landscape Study 40% of Americans are Protestant Christians, 19% are Catholics, another 19% do not identify with any religious group, 6% are agnostic, 5% are atheists, 2% are Jewish and 1% each are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. This means 62% of our nation’s 340 million people identify with some religious group. (Photo by Pexels.com)

Why are so many of us religious? Because we were made that way. The Bible says, “God created man in his own image…male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Since God Himself is a spiritual being, so are we. The evidence is found in our soul. It is said about Rachel, that when she was dying, “…as her soul was departing, she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” (Gen. 35:18) The soul lives on after our body returns to the way of the earth. But the soul is more than that. We ARE a soul and not just a body. It is written, “…those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

Because we are these spiritual souls, we naturally ask probing questions. “Who am I?” “What is my purpose in life?” “Is there a God?” “Is there life after death?” “Why does God allow suffering?” All these and thousands more questions like them reflect our spiritual existence. Nothing else God created wonders about such things. The religions of the world point to this as well, for you were created to worship, and it is through worship you find answers to life’s deepest questions and discover who you are and what you were made for.

What is worship? The Bible says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6) To worship is to humbly submit yourself to something greater than you. That “something” is where you go for wisdom and guidance. It is where you go when facing times of crisis or when you are looking for meaning in life. Some worship through organized religion, while others may reject religion all together and even argue against the idea that God exists. But does that mean they do not worship? Stephen Hawking, a physicist and cosmologist once said “I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail.” Hawking relied upon his own reasoning and his own mind for answering the questions of life. No matter if it is religion, nature, the universe or ourselves – our soul’s worship at the altar of something.

Considering that there are so many religions, and even those who reject God and religion; who is right? Since we were made to worship, is there one Being we were created to honor and submit our lives to above all others? The Bible says about Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16)

You were made by God and created to worship Him! He sent His one and only Son from heaven to earth to show you Himself that you might believe in Him with all your soul. And your soul has tremendous value. Jesus once declared, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Jesus died and rose again for you. Your precious soul is of utmost importance to Him. Turn from your ways. Believe in Him with all your being. Come and worship!

A prayer for you – Lord God, in a world of so many competing religions and those who reject it all, show us the way. Let us see you high and lifted up above them all. Teach us your ways that we might understand and worship you with all our soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.