A new series began today at Crosswalk called "Practical Atheist". Pastor Kay DeBlance gave the message on how 94% of Americans say they believe in God. That is a huge chunk of people in this United States wouldn't you say? However, how is it that so many people "believe" in God, yet we still have so much crime, homeless, divorce, etc. There are some of these "believers" that could be known as "practical atheists".
Pastor Kay defined a practical atheist as "someone who believes in God, but lives as if God doesn't exist".
The scripture that was referenced was 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Paul was speaking to Timothy saying "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." That list sounds pretty familiar in the world today from where I stand. These are actions that have destroyed our world- people living as if God doesn't exist.
Another practical atheist could be called a "cafeteria Christian". Pastor Kay gave us the image of Luby's and waiting in line to "pick" whatever we wanted to eat. There is always food we definitely want to pick, and some that we don't want. These people treat their Christianity in this way. They say "yes, I'll have some grace- uh no, I don't want judgement. And yes, I'll take prosperity... no, I'll pass on the generosity."
If we are to be called believers in the Creator of the Universe, the One who came to die for our sins to redeem us eternally, the One we call upon when our life isn't going the way we want it to- we need to be obedient to everything God asks of us and thankful for what He freely gives us. The ending to this cafeteria imagery is at the end of the line, you do have to pay.
A practical atheist does not fear God because they don't "know" God. The closer we walk with God, the more we study His Word and get to know Him, the more we are in awe of who He is and fear Him.
Pastor Kay spoke of two things when we truly fear God:
1."We will serve him wholeheartedly without any conditions". The scripture referenced was Genesis chapter 22 where God told Abraham to take Isaac his son up to the mountain and sacrifice him. It was pointed out that verse 3 of this chapter states that "early the next morning" Abraham got up. I found it interesting that Abraham did not procrastinate, or make an excuse to not go the very next day etc.. but got up early. He was obedient... without condition. And Abraham did exactly as God asked and laid his son down and was about to kill him. Then in verse 12 God said "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God..."
2. You will be forever ruined.
What a strange thing to be.... ruined.... I look at this in two ways, one way as Pastor Kay described it, and one way of my own personal experience. The funny part about both ways is they are completely opposite, however if one way had not happened, the other way may not have either.
In my own personal experience, before I came back to Christ in 2009, I felt that my life was in ruin- financially bankrupt, broken relationship, depression. I felt ruined. Trying to run my life "my" way. Putting so much of my "stuff" in front of God and making people and money my idols. But Pastor Kay spoke of a "ruined " that has changed my thought process. She referenced Isaiah 6 where Isaiah saw the Lord. And it says:
"In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two wings they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Isaiah 6:1-5.
Isaiah knew that as soon as he saw the Lord, that everything he had ever known in his past, or had ever done did not matter anymore. I can only speak for myself, but when I gave my life back to Jesus in 2009, and came into His presence and received His joy, love, and peace for my life- I was ruined.... I never looked back. I chalk it all up to I was "there" to get me "here". He ruined me, and I will never be the same.
Are you a cafeteria Christian? Picking and choosing what you want from God, and leaving everything else He asks or has for you behind? Do you fear God? Not in the sense to be afraid or scared of Him, but to be in awe of who He is as Creator, Savior, Father, and the Holiest of Holies.
Has Jesus "ruined" your life? In the sense that once He gets hold of your heart, nothing else matters but to serve and praise Him for who He is?
....Allow Him to. Open your heart and get ruined.
Father-God, I thank you for this message given to your church by Pastor Kay. I thank you for those that are receiving it now, that it may penetrate their hearts and minds to want to be "ruined" by your love. Speak to each person where they are, right now, and reveal to them the awe of who You are.
In Jesus' name I pray this,
Amen
