In a fact-filled message from the pen of Reverend Mark Adams, Pastor of the Redland Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland , he writes . . .
In an excellent article titled “How Easter and Christianity Undermine Atheism,” which appeared in USA TODAY some time back, Anthony De Stefano says that there are an increasing number of atheists in our nation.
According to a recent survey, one out of five Americans say they do not believe in God. This new breed of atheist claims that our Christian faith is just wishful thinking—the product of weak human psychology, a psychology that is so afraid of death it must create “delusional fantasies” in order to make life on Earth bearable.
Stefano’s response is very insightful. He writes:
“Is it wishful thinking to believe in hell, the devil and demons?
Is it wishful thinking to believe we’re going to be judged and held accountable for every sin we’ve ever committed?
Is it wishful thinking to believe the best way to live our life is to sacrifice our own desires for the sake of others?
Is it wishful thinking to believe that we should discipline our natural bodily urges for the sake of some unseen ‘kingdom’?
And while we’re at it, is it wishful thinking to believe God wants us to love our enemies?
For goodness sake, what kind of demand is that? If human beings were going to invent a religion based on wishful thinking, they could come up with something a lot ‘easier’ than Christianity. After all, why not wish for a religion that promised eternal life in Heaven, but at the same time allowed promiscuous sex, encouraged gluttony, did away with all the commandments, and forbade anyone to ever mention the idea of judgment and punishment? Wouldn’t that make a lot more sense?
And yet, atheists persist in this ridiculous notion that human beings ‘invented’ God merely because we’re afraid of death and want to see our dead relatives again. Amazing.
But atheists can scoff all they want. They can write all the best-selling books they want. No matter how hard they try, they will never succeed in making Christianity ‘a thing of the past.’ And they will never succeed in snuffing out that faith in God that all human beings naturally possess, a faith that is ingrained in our minds, hearts and souls forever. Why?
Because aside from all the logical arguments for God’s existence and all the miracles and all the truths contained in Scripture, one simple fact remains: 2,000 years ago, on that first, quiet Easter Sunday morning, Christ did rise.”
Aren’t you thankful our faith is based on this fact—not on “wishful thinking?”
© 2011 Mark Adams
It’s something we all know as Christians … but isn’t it great to be reminded of this truth from time to time?
Love . . .
Telling God you love Him!
Thank God for loving you!
God is Love!
Worship is loving God … in spirit and in truth!
Lust wants . . . love waits!
