First off, it’s not really new.  It’s a new way of saying the same old thing.  It’s a new way of excusing pride & selfishness for rational thought.  The very term “atheism” asserts that not only do they already believe that there is no God, but that by labeling themselves as such they also do not want evidence to the contrary of their belief system.   It’s the finality of the term “atheist” that concerns me.  No other label denotes such hopelessness, closed mindedness and pride than “atheist”.  One who has determined in their heart that there is no God and defines themselves as such.   But, many atheists are closer to knowing God than many so-called Christians.

Many so-called Christians want to fight it out with the atheists about if there is a God, historical data, and silly philosophical questions.  The best way to fight atheism isn’t knowledge.  It isn’t knowing more historical data.  It isn’t even having the answers to the fossil record that neither Christian nor Atheist can explain in full.  It’s in how we love.

If we truly love, the fighting won’t matter.  It will be seen.  If we love the atheists that try so hard to convince us that there is no God, we nullify the very argument through genuine compassion, real prayer and a life lived in the Spirit.

Today, there are Christians who are fed up “with the institution of the church”.  Sure they phrase it all sorts of ways.  Really, it’s a cop out.  They are fed up with people who play at being the church and excluding the very people they need to be showing love to.  Don’t get me wrong.  A life that is actively being lived in sin has no place within church leadership.  But we all fall short of God’s perfect will.  We all sin.  Yes, Christians sin.  It’s the belief in Christ forgiveness of our sins that we find grace.

So my encouragement is yes, steep yourself in the knowledge.  Study science.  Study biology.  Study philosophy.  The church has long neglected the sciences and arts because of those who use it for evil.  But inquiry is made not just for knowledge.  It is made for the affirmation of faith.  But don’t use the weapons of knowledge against the ones who have made up their mind already.  Knowledge without faith is merely looking at the creation and refusing to aknowledge a creator.  Only half of the puzzle makes any sense at all.  If you turn it around and look at science, history, sociology, philosophy from the perspective of realizing that God is, that He exists and is active within His creation, all of creation will speak… nay, sing of His wonder

What we will become of this generation? Will we slip into the dark shrouds of history as the generation of silence like many before us?

We have watched unborn infants sanctioned to death by a government that does not value life.
We have become fearful of stepping up and speaking of our faith because it may offend someone.
We have a history of fakers, slanderers, liars, cheats and scoundrels in our midst.
We have more voice than ever before to show Jesus Christ at work in our lives.

While all around us our liberties and freedoms are not being ripped from our grasp. They are being given away. Easily deceived by hopes of a grander future, we have handed over the inheritance of gold to be made into golden calves that we all bow down to. We will taste the bitter cup of that drink in good time.

But there is still time today. We have today, this moment to make a difference.

We need to stand together across denominational lines, across racial, economic and personal ambitions and be the church we were called to be.

I don’t care if you speak in tongues. I was not blessed with that gift of the Spirit. But, one of the fruits of the Spirit is patience. Another is self-control.

We are one body after all. The fruits of the Spirit need to be evident now more than ever so that we can enact the message of Christ that we need to be presenting and quit dividing ourselves along lines that do not matter more than the fact that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, to set us free from sin and give us the gift of life. Abundant life in Him.

We cannot hold to both life and sin which causes death at the same time.

It is not up to what I think, or your professor thinks, or the blogger who you read…. or how we twist the word of God to say what we want it to say. It says what it says because God said what He meant for all generations and He used men from all walks of life to convey that message.