Practical Atheism President’s Challenge


by Blaine Donaldson, President


Many surveys seem to indicate that very little distinguishes the be- havior of evangelical Christians from the behavior of non-Chris- tians. Whether one looks at divorce rates, drug usage, criminal behavior or cohabitation, these studies suggest that there is little distinction. I really do not believe that this is an accurate picture of evangelical Christianity, but it makes one wonder. Certainly, immoral behavior is far too prevalent in the evangelical church, and it is not absent from FEBC churches. Te most basic belief for a Christian is that God exists and


interacts with his creation. I doubt that you would find anyone in our Fellowship who would argue otherwise. However, I wonder if many of us are practical atheists, even though we say that we believe that God exists. Belief looks like something. Now, I’m not suggesting that a


person needs to do certain things to be justified. We do not. Justi- fication is by faith alone. I want to talk about what life looks like when we believe that


God exists. Let me also suggest that when our lives do not look like what I will describe, we are practical atheists. We may believe, but we are lacking the fullness of the life that God wants for us. Practical atheism came to bear in my life in the 2000 elec-


tion cycle, although I am reminded of it this cycle. I remem- ber fretting over the counting and recounting. I felt quite stressed as the outcome of the election hung in the balance. But my belief in the God of the Bible should have informed me that God sovereignly appoints the people that serve in au- thority. Why would I fret? Why would I worry? Why would I be troubled? At that time, in that area of my life, I was a practical atheist.


Did some of you feel that way through the election cycle in the


United States (or in Canada for that matter)? If God is here, he is in control of the choice of our leaders. Tis practical atheism can extend far beyond an election. How do we respond to calamity? Whether in sickness or financial loss, the God who is there is sovereign. He is in control. Live in confidence of that. Is God here? We are called to live holy lives. We are called to


sexual purity. We are expected to always speak the truth in love. We are to have lives of moral integrity. Are there gaps in your life right now? If so, do you believe that God sees the choices that you make and the actions that you do? Do you believe that what God says matters? Do you believe that you will give an account to him? When we live lives that are characterized in part by unholiness, we are practical atheists. To believe in God is to believe that he will enable you to overcome sin. Tis provokes you to pray and to look to him to give you the strength to overcome. God will always make a way of escape so that we can overcome sin (1 Cor. 10:13). Is God here? All of us as Christians are called by God to take the


Gospel and make disciples. Do you believe that you can make an impact in a non-Christian’s life so that they will come to believe on Jesus for eternal life? If you feel like you cannot make a difference like that, then in this area, you are a practical atheist. If God exists, he will use you to change people’s lives. It will be God working through you. Practical belief is integral to experiencing the new life that


God has intended for you. Choose to remember that God is there. He is there to secure your present and your future. He is there to enable you to overcome temptation and sin. He is there to guide you in the words to speak that will bring a person to believe in Jesus for eternal life. God exists and interacts with his creation.


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Fellowship Focus, January/February 2017


FellowshipForward.org


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