December 9 | Standing Against Atheism

Series | The Life of Revival

Scripture | Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”

Lesson 9 | Standing Against Atheism

According to multiple survey’s in the US and Europe atheism is on the rise and Christianity is on the decline.  Though in other places like China and Russia where atheism used to be prominent Christianity is growing in record numbers.  However, what is still disturbing in the US is that “none religious affiliated” young adults are tending to go towards atheism more than returning to Christianity. 

Church leaders have various opinions as to why we are seeing this drop in faith.  Some have suggested that churches have “watered down” the gospel so much that the attendees are not truly taught the Bible and given a chance to encounter the living God thus they walk away from the church disappointed and frustrated.  Others think because of the Internet people are more susceptible to the attacks against the Bible and are easily swayed from its foundation.  Lastly, some Christian leaders believe young people simply love their sin more than God.  Young people now find themselves in a society full of unprecedented temptation and are willing to throw off the restraints of God’s laws for a pleasure seeking lifestyle.

Though I think all the above observations are valid I still believe the Bible gives the clearest reason found in 2 Thessalonians 2:10b, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”  Paul, like David in the passage above, taught that if you deny God and His truth you are only left with man-centered and satanic inspired lies.  Atheism, is just another lie believed by men and women so that they can live however is right in their own eyes.

However, whenever cultures and people throw away the belief in God history proves that horrific evils become normative.  It is estimated that around 250 million people were murdered in the 20^th century alone due to atheistic regimes.  Atheist dictators like Mao in China murdered over 40,000,000 of his own people and Stalin in Russia put to death tens of millions in his revolution.  Not to mention Pol Pot in Cambodia, Kim Song II in North Korea, and Ho Chi Min in Vietnam.

Therefore, we as Christians should stand up against atheism in the following ways; (1) We should expose the foolishness of not believing in God with sound and valid arguments.  For example, we should teach everyone the arguments from “the first cause,” “design,” and “objective morals;” (2) Christians should clearly teach young people the Bible and all its truths with the valid evidence of modern scholarship, such as explaining the Bible’s reliability, proof for Jesus’ resurrection, and the evidence of Noah’s flood; and lastly, (3) We should live such good lives in front of non-believers that they will be compelled to acknowledge God is alive in us.   

Reflection | Do you believe in God?

Action | (1) Explain why atheism is both sinful and destructive.  (2) Pray that God will use you to reach atheists with the truth of Jesus Christ. (3) Lastly, for more information regarding standing against atheism read the following books, “On Guard,” by William Lane Craig and “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist,” by Norman Geisler.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalm 128:1-6, & Proverbs 29:18. Click here to read online.