Religious Atheists?
Is it possible that atheists could be religious?
Is that not a contradiction of terms? Perhaps at first glance it seems like a contradiction. But when we consider what religion is about – worshipping some being or some thing – we see that atheists can be VERY religious. Now of course we must define what we mean by ‘worship’ and that is simply this: “extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem” [1]. In other words, some thing that is a major focus or preoccupation in a person’s life. With that definition in mind we will now present some of the many things that atheists worship:
- themselves
- others
- intellect
- money
- power
- pleasure
- the environment
- material things
The above list not only applies to what atheists worship but it applies to everyone who is unsaved.
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If a person doesn’t believe in God does that make God go away?
If my clothes are on fire and I don’t believe it, does that mean I won’t get burned?
The God you don’t believe in says you are without excuse. |
Most people worship gods of their own imagination – gods that are a combination of things they were taught by their parents, their peers, their school teachers, the media, etc. Just because a person is religious and is satisfied with their religion does not mean that God is satisfied. Few people ever consider that God may expect people to worship Him in a way that is far different than people think. People who worship God often don’t know and don’t care about how He expects to be worshipped:
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” [Romans 10:3]
We are no better than an atheist just because we believe in God. Even the devils believe in God but they are still damned for all eternity:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” [James 2:19].
God isn’t impressed with us just because we believe in Him. He commands us to worship Him a certain way. That way consists of being obedient to His commandments:
“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep ALL my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” [Deuteronomy 5:29].
Notice that it is not good enough to keep some of God’s commandments some of the time. In fact, God says:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of ALL.” [James 2:10].
This requirement of God presents a problem for us humans because none of us are capable of meeting God’s standards. That means we are all deserve to be condemned to hell forever, according to God:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:9-10]
This dilemma that the human race is in requires outside intervention.
We need a Divine Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to rescue us from the coming wrath of God. You cannot be your own saviour, and neither can Buddha, Mohammed, or Mary. All these people were sinners who needed a saviour also, so they cannot even HELP YOU to avoid hell.
If you are currently unsaved, then God describes your spiritual condition quite dramatically and quite unfavorably:
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” [Isaiah 59:1-4]
No matter how much control you may think you have over things, you are currently at the mercy of God. He will either save you from hell or let you go about your way down the road to destruction:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” [Matthew 7:13]
You may not wish to believe what God says about you and your spiritual condition but that does not change things. God has already pronounced you guilty, from birth:
“The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” [Psalm 58:3]
The sentence has already be declared:
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Revelation 20:15]
You have an appointment with God someday and you better be ready for it:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” [Hebrews 9:27]
To be ready to meet God you need to repent of your sins and receive Christ as your Saviour from the wrath of God.
The death of Christ was for a most significant reason.
Jesus died to pay the price for all the sins of everyone He came to save. He left heaven and came to earth to suffer the full fury of the wrath of God. Was it for YOUR sins? If not, then you will indeed be damned because there is no other Saviour:
“for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” [Acts 4:12]
Jesus is not your Saviour until He has converted you:
“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 18:3]
The Lord has not returned yet and you are still alive so there is still time for you to be saved.
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Matthew 4:17]
Cry out to God to have mercy on you and to save your lost soul from the wrath to come – before its too late. — RM Kane
“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” [Luke 12:4-5]
FOOTNOTES:
1. Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Co., c. 1971