I was walking back to my dorm from class just a few minutes ago, and I saw a group of people holding signs that said, "UGAtheists." I've had this thought before, but the signs refreshed my memory: What good can come from atheistic evangelism?
I don't mean that in an offensive way. It's a serious question because I really don't understand what good it would do anyone to preach that God doesn't exist. Okay, so there's the argument that Christians pray too much and never get around to doing anything, and atheists are better off because they supposedly control their own lives. But that's not true at all. Yeah, Christians pray, but that doesn't mean we sit around waiting for God to do something. We believe that we can't do anything without God. So we pray and ask God to help us, and then we do whatever it is we need to get done with His help. Part of being a Christian is going out and doing something in order to benefit the kingdom of God. We take control of our own lives too, but we believe that "our" lives really belong to God, and God alone. We believe that God can do anything without our help, but we also believe that that wouldn't serve His purpose in most cases. More often than not, God wants us to step out and get to work so that He can work through us, not just for us.
Think about this: Christians believe that God exists, that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins (and rise from the grave) so that we could live with Him in heaven for eternity. Atheists believe there is no God, and that heaven doesn't exist; there is no life after life here on earth. (At least, as far as I know, that's what they believe.) Christians have hope for a future. In fact, most other religions do too. Atheists, on the other hand, are content to live for 70 or so years and then stop existing altogether. And it seems to me that that should be a scary thought for evolutionary atheists (or anyone who believes that the earth is actually billions of years old). If you look at a timeline of the history of the universe, each of our individual lives would be just a speck compared to the rest of eternity. What's the point in appearing randomly on a planet in the middle of nowhere, only to live for a moment and then disappear forever?
And why would you want to spread that kind of information? Christian evangelism makes sense to me because we are trying to spread the gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Atheists are spreading the news that there is no hope for the human race. People will just keep coming into existence and then disappearing. Millions of years from now, Albert Einstein will be nothing more than a legend. Harriett Tubman will be long forgotten. And chances are, only the major historians will know the name George Washington. If these famous men and women will barely be remembered, what hope do I have of being remembered even a thousand years from now?
And why do we remember these names anyway? If they have disappeared from existence, why do we keep track of their marks on history? It's not like they can appreciate the fact that we remember them. It's not like they can be proud of their accomplishments. If there is no hope for a future after life on this earth, everything is meaningless. The world might as well come to an end now.
Christians believe that we can gain eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Even if it turns out that Christians are wrong, at least we can still go through life with a hope for a future. If we live as if there is life after death on earth, there are two possibilities: 1) we are proven right, and we get to spend eternity in heaven, or 2) we are proven wrong and we stop existing, so we're not around to care anymore. But if we live as if there is no life after death, then we also have two possibilities: 1) we are proven right and we stop existing, so we're not around to care anymore, or 2) we are proven wrong, and we spend eternity in... well, you know. So either way, following Christ has more benefits than giving Him the cold shoulder.
College is a time and place for decisions. I've made mine. It's time to make yours. And I pray that you would consider the options wisely.
Until next time, God bless!
Michael
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"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." ~ 1 Timothy 2:8
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to live is Christ and to die is gain." ~ Philippians 1:20-21
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