Historical Posts
Two Kinds of Atheists
Men have forgotten God
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn made an astute observation when he wrote: “I heard a number of older people offer this explanation for the great disasters that have befallen Russia: `Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.'” He went on to say, “If I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: “Men have forgotten God.'”
Whenever men forget God disaster is inevitable.
The apostle Paul wrote of this ruinous sin in his letter to the church at Rome. He attributed the Roman decline to the fact that men “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Romans 1:28). Men had forgotten God.
What happens when men forget God?
They become wicked, greedy, evil, envious, murderous, malicious, gossipers, slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, disobedient to parents, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful (Romans 1:29-31). It’s not a pleasant picture to contemplate, but it is clearly where atheism leads, and we are rapidly going in that direction.
George Gallup, Jr., readily recognized as one of America’s leading pollsters, has observed that “We want the fruits of religion, but not the obligations…That we revere the Bible, but don’t read it…We believe the Ten Commandments to be valid rules for living, although we can’t name them.” We may claim to believe in God and revere the Bible, but most of those who profess to be Christians don’t know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, can’t name one Old Testament Prophet, and almost never read the Scriptures. We, too, are in danger of forgetting God. The warning of the prophet Hosea bears repeating. He wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Specifically, they had forgotten God!
Almost a century and a half ago Abraham Lincoln wrote: “We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in number, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand that preserves us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior virtue and wisdom of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us… it behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
Little difference
There are two kinds of atheists in our world. The first make no pretense of believing. They foolishly say, “There is no God!” The second profess to believe, but live as though He did not exist. In reality there is little difference between the two. Both have forgotten God!
Biblical Illiteracy
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Introduction
1. A growing problem is one of “Biblical Illiteracy”
a. Not just by those in the world
b. Also in the church
c. “Americans revere the Bible – but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.” – George Gallup
2. How bad is it? Consider these results from various surveys
a. Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels
b. Many professing Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples
c. 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments
d. 82 percent of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse
e. 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife
f. A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife
g. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham
3. “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.” – George Barna
4. “Biblical Illiteracy” is like a poison, wreaking havoc in the lives of individuals, in our churches, and in our communities.
Body
I. THE POISON OF BIBLICAL ILLITERACY
A. ITS EFFECT ON INDIVIDUALS
1. God’s people have always been destroyed by lack of knowledge – Hosea 4:1, 6
2. Where there is lack of God’s Word, the people faint – Amos 8:11-13
a. In ignorance they make the wrong choices
b. When they stumble, they do not know where to turn
3. Without a knowledge of God’s Word, a person has
a. No real direction or guidance in life – Psalm 119:105
b. No true joy or peace in life – Psalm 119:111,165
4. How many lives are being destroyed, how many people are stumbling through life, because they do not have the light of God’s Word guiding them?
B. ITS EFFECT ON CHURCHES
1. Churches languish for lack of teachers; teachers are few for lack of knowledge – Hebrews 5:12
2. Churches are led astray by false teachers and false doctrine, for how can the ignorant knows what is false? – cf. 2 Peter 2:1-3
3. How many churches are “dying on the vine”, or into wholesale apostasy because their members cannot discern between truth and error…?
C. ITS EFFECT ON COMMUNITIES
1. Our standards of morality are skewed, where good is evil and evil is good – Isaiah 5:20
a. We slaughter the innocent (abortion), sparing the guilty (no capital punishment)
b. We reward the wicked (movie stars, entertainers), depriving the good (teachers, etc.)
c. Divorce is made easy, adultery looked upon lightly, fornication “an affair, a relationship”, homosexuality an alternative lifestyle
2. The effect of such things destroy our families and communities
a. Evil (pornography, promiscuity) is allowed to spread in the name of “freedom”, ripping families apart
b. Children are deprived the kind of parenting that is their God-given right
c. Leading to juvenile delinquency and greater evils
3. Consider how the moral fabric of our nation and others in the world are becoming unraveled when “everyone does what is right in his own eyes” – Judges 21:25
D. The poison of “Biblical Illiteracy” has infected and sickened our people, our churches, and our communities. Is there an antidote to this poison? Indeed there is, but it requires individual effort
II. THE ANTIDOTE TO BIBLICAL ILLITERACY
A. DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING IN PRIVATE
1. The truly blessed person feeds upon the Word of God daily – Psalm 1:1-3; 119:97-98
2. A systematic practice of prayerful Bible reading as part of a daily devotional
a. Will bring a person closer to God
b. Will gradually increase one’s understanding of the Word of God
c. Will offer strength, comfort and hope that only the Scriptures provide
3. Are you willing to do your part, everyday, in stamping out Biblical Illiteracy?
B. FREQUENT IN-DEPTH BIBLE STUDY WITH OTHERS
1. The faithful Christian realizes the value of mutual edification- Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:24-25
2. Churches often provide the opportunity for Christians to study together
a. In their Bible classes on the Lord’s day, during the week, and in their homes
b. Where they can benefit from the knowledge of other Bible students
3. Are you willing to participate in such activities to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
C. PARENTS ACCEPTING THEIR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY
1. God gave the responsibility of spiritual training to the parents – Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ep 6:4
2. Church may provide assistance with their children’s classes, and yet…
a. Parents should not abdicate their responsibility to the church
b. Parents should be very much involved in the teaching programs of any church
3. Are you willing to accept your parental duties to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
D. PREACHERS FULFILLING THEIR DUTY TO THE WORD
1. Preachers are to give heed to the Word, and to preach the Word – 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
2. We should expect preachers to be “men of the Book”
a. Preaching and teaching the Word of God, providing exposition of the Scriptures
b. Not entertaining us with “pop theology” and “pop psychology”
3. Are you willing to require that preachers proclaim the Word to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
Conclusion
1. I was encouraged to prepare this study reading an article by Albert Mohler (The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It’s Our Problem)
2. I thought his concluding paragraphs to be especially on the mark
a. “Churches must recover the centrality and urgency of biblical teaching and preaching, and refuse to sideline the teaching ministry of the preacher. Elders and churches too busy–or too distracted–to make biblical knowledge a central aim of ministry will produce believers who simply do not know enough to be faithful disciples.”
b. “We will not believe more than we know, and we will not live higher than our beliefs. The many fronts of Christian compromise in this generation can be directly traced to biblical illiteracy in the pews and the absence of biblical preaching and teaching in our homes and churches.”
c. “This generation must get deadly serious about the problem of biblical illiteracy, or a frighteningly large number of Americans –Christians included–will go on thinking that Sodom and Gomorrah lived happily ever after.”
3. Are we willing to get “deadly serious about the problem of biblical illiteracy”? If so…
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21
Luke 24:32 Are You an Apatheist? audio
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Text: Luke 24:32
Introduction
1. On 12/25/11, USA Today had an article related to apatheism
a. Entitled “Many Say ‘So What?’ To God, Religion, Atheism”
b. Describing the attitude of those who are ‘spiritually apathetic’
2. This is a condition true of many; according to several polls
a. 46% never wonder whether they will go to heaven
b. 44% don’t spend time seeking ‘eternal wisdom’
3. How about you? Are you an apatheist?
Body
I. WHAT IS APATHEISM?
A. DEFINED – portmanteau
1. Acting with, disregard, or lack of interest towards belief or lack of belief in a deity
2. Describes the manner of acting towards a belief or lack of a belief in a deity; so applies to both theism and atheism
B. EXPRESSED
1. An apatheist is also someone who is not interested in accepting or denying any claims that God exists or does not exist
2. An apatheist is someone who considers the question of the existence of God as neither meaningful nor relevant to his or her life
3. In regards to whether God exists, whether there is heaven or hell, the apatheist’s creed is “So what?”
II. WHAT CAUSES APATHEISM?
A. CONSIDER THE ISRAELITES
1. Warned by Moses about the danger of materialism – Deuteronomy 8:11-14
2. Who deceived themselves when they became rich – Am 6:3-6
B. CONSIDER THE LAODICEANS
1. Lukewarm Christians, with whom Jesus was displeased – Revelation 3:14-16
2. Their spiritual apathy was the result of their materialism – Revelation 3:17
C. When all is well, when materially blessed, it is easy to become spiritually apathetic.
D. Compare that with times of crisis (remember the religious fervor following 9/11?)
III. WHAT CURES APATHEISM?
A. TRUE REPENTANCE
1. Brought about by godly sorrow for sin – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
2. Manifested by diligence, fear, desire – 2 Corinthians 7:11
3. Through which we learn of grace, and the penalty of neglecting it! – Romans 2:4-11
B. TRUE RELIGION
1. Many are apathetic because they have not seen or experienced true religion!
2. But Jesus offers that which truly satisfies!
a. He offers the water of life that quenches thirst – John 4:13-14
b. He offers the bread of life that eliminates hunger – John 6:35
c. He offers light that dispels darkness – John 8:12
d. He offers freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin – John 8:34-36
e. He offers the abundant life, filled with joy and peace – John 10:10
3. Which comes by knowing and abiding in His word – John 8:31-32
4. As offered to the lukewarm Laodiceans, riches now, and royalty to come! – Revelation 3:18-22
Conclusion
1. What causes apathy regarding religion…?
a. It boils down to ignorance, combined with material well-being
b. Ignorance of God’s Word, preoccupation with material success
2. What can cure apathy regarding religion…?
a. It is simple: personal knowledge of salvation
b. Personal knowledge of God’s Word, personal experience of God’s saving grace
c. Begin by committing yourself to reading and meditating on the Word of God. It will burn like fire within you, leading you to Christ where you will find salvation and joy through the wonderful grace of God…!
– And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32
– Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38
– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law – Galatians 5:22-23
– Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 15:13