No, I am not talking about wearing heavy golden chains or shaving your head Mohawk style or even working on bulging biceps. But anybody who lived in the 80′s remembers Mr. T’s signature phrase, “Pity the fool.”
In our day we are seeing a significant rise in people who declare themselves to be atheists. As Christians we need to keep in mind that some of the sharpest Christians once were avowed atheists. C.S. Lewis became one of Christianity’s great thinkers after his conversion from atheism.
Yet for those who are now atheists, it is important to be reminded of what the Bible says about an atheist.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.
The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the LORD?
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is his refuge.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
(Psalm 14 ESV)
As I have been reading through the gospels the past few days, I have repeatedly read where Jesus had pity on those who needed him. When we are stirred by pity on those who know not the Lord or even deny his existence, we will desire more and more that they know the joy of trusting a mighty God who has come to us.
The sweetness and the wonder of fellowship with Christ that we experience should motivate us to want others to experience that as well. Pity the one who doubts or denies that God exists. But pity him because he is missing out.
There will always be temptation to sin, but woe to him who does the tempting.
I agree that atheists need Jesus. And I agree that it’s sad that they’ve rejected Him. However, I think there is a lot of truth to the saying, “The gates of hell are locked from the inside.”
After spending years interacting with atheists, I’m more inclined to feel pity for those who are taken in by the lies that atheists pawn off on innocents.
Nevertheless, good post.
God Bless
See you There!
Well said.
If we have a limited supply of pity, it should go to those who have been deceived rather than those who do the deceiving. Jesus taught that.
You must have a little pity for them to keep interacting with them. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.