Apologetics
Recently, an atheist group has paid to have adverts put on London buses which proclaim "God probably doesn't exist, so stop worrying and just enjoy your life." There's several things wrong with that, which I'll go through in roughly ascending order.
Firstly, there's the word "probably". Probably? How many groups have inspired people to join them with "probably?" As John Cleese said, "This is a call to war, lad!" If they really want to show those Christians once and for all, they should at least be definite about it! Come on, probably? See how well this works: "I probably have a dream....", or "We will probably fight them on the beaches..." Where's the spark, the oomph?
Except, they can't say anything definite, can they? Because for all certain atheists like to bombast about their intellectual credentials, they can't prove one way or the other that God exists, so even if they could persuade anyone to display the slogan "God doesn't exist", they don't know it's true. The biggest debate between die-hard atheist and fundamentalist Bible-basher is likely to only find 50/50 odds one way or the other, so all these boards really do is proclaim something which even their followers must admit is an opinion, and one they can't even be that sure about.
Which brings us onto- why? Why put up these adverts at all? Are they that dismayed that some people still cling to their beliefs- not just cling to, but thrive on? Is that so repellant to them that they must shout their opinions from the buses?
The trouble is, some of them can't resist a good argument. Look at the online group "rational response squad". Their schtick is to get people to proclaim, on camera, that they deny the Holy Spirit, on the basis that this is an unforgiveable sin, and thus those who commit it go to Hell. They are not afraid to do this, such is their confidence that Hell does not exist. This is supposed to make all us weak-willed Christians realise that there is nothing to be afraid of in embracing atheism, and we can all get together and group-hug while we burn our Bibles.
The trouble is, no one really takes that much notice of them. Go on, see if anyone knows who they are. Sure, they went on TV in America in a debate supposed to prove once and for all whether or not God exists, but it appears to have passed most people by, certainly the billions of Christians who didn't immediately leap into the waiting arms of science once God had been "disproven".
So, these adverts are another attempt to make us pay attention, and engage them. To please, pay attention to them, or they're not playing any more!
But there is one fundamental problem with this advert. One thing which, even if there were no other problems, would still present an obstacle to it being of any worldy use. And that's the last two thirds of the text.
Who says we worry? Who says that God prevents us enjoying our lives? And there is the crux- atheists just. Don't. Get. It. God lets us enjoy our lives much more, we are fulfilled, completed, by Him. He enriches our experience and is the source of all happiness in the world. For them to see God as some sort of threat hanging over our heads, ready to snap and destroy us as soon as we step out of line, is to misrepresent the fundamental truths of Christianity.
How can we worry when there is someone like that watching over us? A loving father, a protector, a giver and nourisher. Do they seriously think that he causes us a massive amount of undue worry, and they need to save us from this? Yes, fine, we are afraid of sin and if we commit a sin we do worry, as we should, until we realise that we are granted forgiveness for He loves us and will always love us.
Worry? Us? We have all the reason to be happy in the world.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 602 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Richard Hames or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 602 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
