GODLESS ATHEISM VS. FAITH IN CHRIST

     There is such a thing as healthy skepticism. Caution has its place. Because many lives have been lost because they threw caution to the wind.

     All of us have been handed a lot of foolish ideas growing up. We’ve placed our trust in many things in childhood that later were proven false. Children formulate many wrong ideas drawn from their limited understanding. Even belief in evolution has come as early as age four.

     And then there is the perpetuation of certain lies within our culture: the deliberate deceiving of one's trust: a subtle form of teasing. As a boy I was told Santa Clause was real. And when I discovered that he was not real my feelings were deeply hurt. It was that seed of betrayal that grew into a more dangerous form of skepticism: a doubt that would deny the promises of Jesus Christ to one day fulfill my childhood dreams for utopian life where every creature will one day be safe from harm.

     This is entirely based on the fact that betrayal is thematic throughout the human race whether in religious or secular society. Everything from the arrogance of false promises from politicians or a man’s vain promises of love to a woman only to serve his own sexual lust, to the minister who promises healing but the healing never comes but the offering plate continues to be passed. The sinful human condition is fundamentally immoral and therefore untrustworthy.

     The Bible has plenty to say about the human condition. It is summed up by GOD in these words: “for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.” Gen.8:21. To counter this degradation of human character GOD has imprinted in every heart the trait of trust and a desire for good, as it is written: “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Rom.12:3; Matt.5:6.

     Now, it becomes a matter of where we exercise our character, whether to one of virtuous living or one of vice: where we are safe to place our faith: where trust is laid without the threat of betrayal. And there is a wide variety of personality traits that exercise discernment between faith and doubt. The range between the gullible and the skeptic is quite vast. There are many who are so gullible as to believe anything told to them. Couple that gullibility with a voice has the tone of authority, or one of an imposing quality, this lends to the ease by which betrayal can be carried out.

     On the other hand, there are those with such a critical spirit that the plainest evidence can be placed before their eyes and they will turn their backs on it.—This is the philosophy of doubt that rules the atheist’s mind. It started out with the Greek philosopher, Socrates and became full-blown dogma in the days when Catholicism slandered the Good Name of Jesus Christ through the inhumane persecution of all who stood against papal supremacy in both religious and secular affairs. A world famous French philosopher exemplifies this: “Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainty is an absurd one.” “Doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous.”—Voltaire

     The heaven-led wisdom of the Apostle Paul sums up the heart of the controversy between faith and doubt by addressing both the fruits and destination of both:

Romans 1:16-32 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe...But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness...Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought...For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. I Cor. 1:21,23; 2:6; 3:19.

Solomon summed up the reason the skeptic anchors his soul in denial of the authority of GOD and the great forbearance He exercises, that His children turn from their sin and live.

“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl.8:11.