If you’ve ever had a religious conversation with an atheist then you’ll probably relate pretty well to this article.
But even if you haven’t had such a conversation, I think you will still agree that the unsaved world around us is wondering about our faith, wondering about our God, and wondering why we live the way we do if we claim to represent God.
Do you know what I mean?
I don’t know who first created this tract, but I do think it accurately represents what I mean by this post. I have seen it previously titled The Atheist’s Tract as well as The Christian Life. And here it is.
If I firmly believed—as millions say they do—that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences the destiny in another, then religion would mean absolutely everything to me.
I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity.
Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness.
I should labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone. I would see one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering.
Earthly consequences would never stay my hand or seal my lips. Earth, its joy and its grief, would occupy no moment of my thoughts.
I would strive to look upon eternity alone and on immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable.
I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season and my text would be, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
QUESTION: Have you ever had a conversation with an atheist? How did it go? And do you ever find yourself thinking things like this? (things atheists say)
QUESTION: Have you ever had a conversation with an atheist? How did it go? And do you ever find yourself thinking things like this?
What a rip-off! A more accurate title would be “Comforting lies that Christians tell each other about atheists”.
to Guest: What things would you like to talk about (or say to) a Christian?
I think “guest” means that most christians have a false representation about atheists. I mean really, you have a quote at the beginning that explains it all “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no god”. On a different note, the lines in italics seem to indicate that religious people who TRULY believe in their religion would give up anything and everything for it. Does this include family members? For instance, in accordance with a similar story, would you sacrifice a family member for God? This is a serious question and I’d like a serious answer.
The quote at the beginning is actually a Bible verse. To say that “there is no God” is to make a blanket statement, which would mean the person would need to have omniscient knowledge of all things in order to make that conclusion. As it is, we barely have any knowledge/facts of most things in the universe.
Someone who is willing to give up everything for their “religion” is someone who is serious about it. For a Christian, we are to be ready and willing to deny ourselves, our reputation, and even close relationships, if that is what it would take to honor and worship our God.
Regarding sacrificing a family member, no, the Bible never teaches such a notion. Christians are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, not to cause them harm.
Well, not in a literal on the altar sense, but if it comes down to denying Christ or my family dies, then I will honor Christ come what may.