Atheists can’t threaten us when we know Christ is lord

My view

What is an atheist? The American Heritage Dictionary definition is simply “one who denies the existence of God.”
The most publicized self-declared atheist in recent years was Madalyn Murray O’Hare. She was a militant activist against religious influences in society and government.
Was O’Hare really an atheist? I don’t think so, nor do I believe aggressive adversaries of organized religion are true atheists.
How can a person fight what is he or she doesn’t believe to be real?
A true atheist dismisses all religious practices as the culture of ignorance and doesn’t want to put energy into abolishing them. However, those wanting media attention while defending atheism are attempting to gratify certain inner psychological needs.
A true atheist has no problem rationalizing a hand on the Bible and saying “so help me God.” Atheists wouldn’t feel compelled to abolish references to God in allegiance pledges, courthouses, school buildings or anywhere else in our society.
Gideons could give Bibles to school children and say prayers because all of these practices are meaningless for a true atheist. They would be amused by so-called Christians making excuses for violating the Ten Commandments, lying under oath, and justifying war and capital punishment.
Recently, I became aware of fears prompted by a movie based on a book written by a proclaimed atheist. A parent was concerned that children who read the book or saw the movie might become atheists.
I started thinking about the irony that an author could claim atheism and then try to destroy what he doesn’t believe really exists. I realized that an atheist might be better recognized as an agnostic.
The dictionary defines an agnostic as “someone who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility that God exists.”
At least an agnostic could be open to an opportunity to meet God. I suspect that all self-proclaimed atheists are really agnostics who are angry that no one has proved them wrong and introduced them to God. As long as they look for proof outside the venue of faith, they will remain atheists or agnostics.
Faith and belief in God depend on relationships with people. Christians are expected to represent God in Christ to agnostics and those hiding behind atheist labels. Love is the only effective evangelism.
Let us stop behaving like agnostics and atheists and set an example for our children by taking them to church school and worship. Then we can move beyond our own fears, embracing faith in the risen Christ and inviting him to live in and through us to greet the world.
I was a hospital chaplain when I married an agnostic. I never questioned my love for her or demanded that she accept my faith. She chose to read my Leslie Weatherhead books and watch Robert Schuller with me and, when she accepted Christ as her savior, I was honored to baptize her.
We no longer fear the world around us when Jesus Christ is lord of the world within us.