Atheism and the Christian

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21

I must confess, albeit for completely different reasons, I stand with Christopher Hitchens an avowed atheist, in his amazement that there is any faith in God in the 21^st Century. Hitchens the author of a new book entitled "god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." I actually believe the title for his book would have even been better and more accurate IF he would have inserted the word "False" before the word "Religion." Thus reading, "god is not Great: How False Religion Poisons Everything." Such a god of false religion is not the God of true New Testament religion.

The God of the pure religion of the New Testament is not the god of any false religion. Much of Hitchens' argumentation focuses on the abuse of false religions (institutional and/or state run religion). He points back to the Crusades of middle-ages to the present day acts of terrorism committed in the name of religion as evidence that religion poisons everything. However, all such acts of violence are condemned by the God of the Bible – they are poison indeed!

Yet, I must point out right here that those professing Christ who are not true to the Bible, must accept in part the responsibility of legitimizing Hitchens' claim that such religion poisons everything. I say that because if we profess to be of Christ, whether individually or corporately (including any and all denominations), but do not practice what the Bible teaches, then we ARE practitioners of a false religion regardless of our intentions.

Jesus prayed if we would believe on Him through the New Testament two things would happen: 1) We would be one with Him and His Father; 2) The world may believe God sent His Son. Yet we see the world lying (both literally and figuratively) in disbelief. We must conclude that many who claim to be of Christ are not one with him because they are not following the word He gave. To the extent that any of us are not willing to submit to God in our faith and practice, to that extent we bear the responsibility for the disbelief of the world. Thus, the significance of Jesus instruction is made abundantly clear when he said, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)