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Thursday, April 12, 2012 |
"We Shouldn't even need the word "atheism".
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For the message about the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I
will thwart.’
Where is the one who is wise? Where is
the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made
foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of
God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided,
through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who
believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we
proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s
weakness is stronger than human strength. -1 Corinthians 1:
18-25
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"We Shouldn't even need the word "atheism". If
people didn't invent ridiculous imaginary Gods,
rational people wouldn't have to deny them." This is
a recent tweet from the comedian Ricky Gervais who
is both extremely funny and a devout atheist.
Gervais frequently takes to twitter to share his
views on religion, and in case you are confused,
those views can make this tweet seem tame. Gervais
is but one of many public figures who have made
their atheism a centerpiece of their persona. Others
include the comedians Bill Maher and Sarah Silverman
and even, more subtly, Jon Stewart. They are joined
by a wave of atheist intellectuals whose books are
often riding high on the New York Times' Bestseller
lists. When you combine the popular momentum of
atheism, as well as the demographics (the fastest
growing religious affiliation in America is now
"none") it's easy to feel as if things are getting
away from the Church.
"Perhaps Gervais is right," we might think to
ourselves. Alternatively we may think he is a crazed
enemy of God. Neither of these would, however, be
accurate regarding Gervais in particular or atheism
in general. As Paul writes to the Corinthians he
points out an important and timeless truth regarding
the Christian faith; it will always seem foolish. At
its inception the Greeks (parlance for the educated
intelligentsia of the day) often found Christianity
lacking in numerous ways. Atheism, or at the least
deep skepticism, has always been around. My purpose
here is not to rebut the atheists' sundry
perspectives. I really don't have any interest in
doing that. But instead I want to point out to all
of you that Christianity has never been immune to
these sorts of attacks. There will always be those
who call it foolish, who claim it is a fiction, who
believe you have to be a little crazy to believe it.
No matter what we say or what arguments we make this
will happen.
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But our challenge is to discern the true voice in the world. Is it
the voice of the atheist, claiming there is nothing more than what
we can see, or is it the voice of Christ saying, "follow me?" For
me, it will always be the latter. I will continue to pray that those
who cannot find belief will have it given to them, but I will also
remember these words of Paul to the Corinthians because they remind
me of the challenges of faith. Human reason is not God, and because
of this our faith will always be questioned. And yet it will always
persist as long as God desires it.
Prayer: Holy God, on this day please increase my faith, and give the
gift of faith to those who do not have it. I pray for all those
struggling with their beliefs today, or who live in doubt, or
denial. Please guide and strengthen them that all may know you. I
pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
[Phillip Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church] |
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