Monday, October 26, 2015

Something Stuck on my Mind

       This morning as usual I was listening to the Christian music station Klove as I drove into work. One of my favorite things about this station is that each morning they share the encouraging story of the day, where someone calls in and gives testimony of how God has impacted their life. Today's story was really different from anything I'm used to hearing on there and has really stuck with me through the day. Typically the testimonies given are by people who are or always have been believers, or people in jail who meet God in their desperation. Today's story though, came from a former atheist, and I keep going back to something he said in the course of the interview.
       During the interview they asked him some questions that I think most of us would, were you always an atheist or did this happen later in life? What made you decide there wasn't a God? And what made you turn back to God. This guy stated that he didn't grow up in a home where they were really taught about God, but that up until the death of his brother and shortly there after his father, he had felt that there was a God, these tragic events however changed that and to him became proof that there wasn't a God. He said that when these things happened he believed that there could absolutely be no God because a good or loving God would not have allowed such tragedy into his life. His pain became his proof and he admitted he went out of his way to tear down and disprove Christians, it became a mission for him to deny God and prove to others he was right to do so.
        Then he said the thing that I can't quit thinking about. He said looking back he realizes that the only person he was really trying to convince was himself. He said every atheist who sets out to prove there isn't a God is really only trying to prove it to themselves, because people who don't believe in something don't waste time trying to disprove it. The radio Dj then said that he could see this man's  point because he didn't believe in aliens but didn't go out of his way to disprove it to those who did. To him it was a settled thing, and he was fully convinced of it so he had no reason to waste time discussing it, or targeting people who did believe. The Dj said if you don't believe there really isn't a reason to hunt out someone to argue your point with them that it was their choice so unless asked to state his opinion on that he kept it to himself. It's only when you need to convince yourself that this kind of targeted and persistent behavior is exhibited because you need the reassurance of being proven right.
          I really can't say if this is all true or just one man's opinion based on his observations from his experiences, but I can kind of see his point too. I have often wondered why so much time and energy was spent cutting down and mocking Christians if these people truly didn't believe, because as the Dj who interviewed him had said if you don't believe there really isn't a reason to hunt out someone to argue your point with them. That kind of behavior to me represents two things insecurity and a need to fuel a false pride to hide it, a false sense of superiority.
       After hearing this man's testimony this morning and thinking about it all day I'm left with a desire to ask all of you to pray for those who don't believe in Jesus as the way, for the atheist that mock and target us as fodder for their pages. They need our prayers desperately, whether they know it or not. Be blessed brothers and sisters, and walk in love even to those who make it difficult.

Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Proverbs 28:26
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Romans 1:20   
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse

2 Peter 3:3-7
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
      

No comments:

Post a Comment