Believing Atheists
I know that when I talk about believing atheists I am being a little sarcastic, but this oxymoron is more revealing of the culture in which we live than we may want to accept. A believer is a person who acknowledges that God exists and that all was created by Him and for His purpose and glory. An atheist denies the existence of God and conforms his personal lifestyle to his culture and personal interests. A believing atheist is then one who believes in a wise and sovereign God who created him and all things, yet simultaneously places his culture and personal interests as more important than what God has revealed in His Word.
A believing atheist disconnects his personal identity as a Christian from his personal choices and lifestyle. Let me be more specific. A believer can be a sexual atheist when he believes that God has nothing to say to them about their sexual preference and behavior. They attend church, have praise music in their Ipods and cell phones, hang out with their Christian friends, and yet have no self-discipline in regard to having sexual intimacy before marriage. If a believer is willing to compromise his convictions, based on the Word of God, before marriage, a ring on his finger will not make him any more disciplined after marriage.
A believer can be a financial atheist when he believes God is the Lord of all and yet maintains control over his own finances. Instead of obeying the Word of God in regard to his money, he places personal needs and desires as of more importance. Jesus addressed this hypocrisy by saying: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?”, (Luke 6.46). To be a true believer, one cannot compartmentalize his life by placing His faith in God only in a small “spiritual” box. God is Lord of all!
At the end of his life, Paul warned young Timothy of the time when people will turn away from the truth and will accumulate to themselves teachers to suit their own passions. These are the believing atheists who cannot endure sound doctrine. They have a self-styled faith that reflect their culture rather than the character of Christ. It is time to engage this trend instead of putting our heads in the sand. Our behavior as believers reflects our view of God. Is He Lord of All?
As many believers are losing their moral edge and are slipping into a liberal disassociation from biblical truth, it is time to act not only graciously but truthfully. It was the enemy who asked Eve, “Did God really say?” When we swallow this bait of deception by questioning God’s wisdom, we go to the next step downward into “eat and your eyes will be opened.” (Gen. 3.1-5) This is then outright disobedience. Being a believing atheist is a contradiction. A Christian must choose: God is Lord of all or Lord of none.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Col. 1.15-23; Luke 6.46; Heb. 11.6; II Tim. 4.1-5; Prov. 5.21; I Thess. 3.11-13