[CS-FSLUG] OT: Atheism, Inclusivism and Christianity

[Fred A. Miller]

*Falwell Confidential*
by Jonathan Falwell

**


  Atheism, Inclusivism and Christianity**

An interesting squabble was stirred up a few days ago on New Year's Eve 
when singer Cee Lo Green sang the John Lennon song "Imagine" on NBC's 
holiday broadcast.  The humanist anthem, embraced by non-believers 
because of its urge for listeners to cast off belief in heaven, includes 
the lyric, "Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too."

However, Mr. Green took an opposite approach when he sang the song on 
the New Year's program, adopting the lyrics, "Nothing to kill or die 
for, and all religion's true."  His reinterpretation of the song was 
quickly greeted with criticism by American Atheist members who say Mr. 
Green "perverted" the lyrics and "completely distort[ed] the meaning and 
significance of the powerful song."

 From a biblical perspective, I would respectfully say to both sides of 
this argument that you both are tragically wrong.

In fact, while reading about this dispute over the Lennon song, I could 
not help but think of a great quote by the late theologian Francis 
Schaeffer, who said: "Truth always carries with it confrontation.  Truth 
demands confrontation; loving confrontation, nevertheless.  If our 
reflex action is always accommodation regardless of the centrality of 
the truth involved, there is something wrong."

And so, as Christians, we must say to the atheist and to those 
worshipping a diversity of beliefs that there is only one true and 
living God.  Recall that when Jesus conversed with the woman at the well 
in John chapter 4, she spoke of the Messiah.  He replied, "I that speak 
unto thee am he" (verse 26).  That message must be at the forefront of 
all we do and say when we are communicating with non-believers.

Our world has become such a haze of spirituality and total disbelief. 
  As I have pointed out before, so many people have no idea who Jesus 
is.  As such, they do not even have an understanding of the One in whom 
they do not believe.  Many are devout in believing nothing, while others 
are sincere in trying to piece together a patchwork of beliefs.  All the 
while, the one true God stands before them with open arms.

I am reminded of a passage in "John MacArthur's The Ultimate Priority, 
which says, "As Christians we accept one foundational truth -- God -- 
and everything else makes sense.  An atheist denies God and has to 
accept incredible explanations for everything else.

It takes more faith to deny God than to believe in Him."

That leaves Christians with the same responsibility that the Apostle 
Paul spoke of in Romans 1:16.  That passage reads, "For I am not ashamed 
of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to 
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."  And 
like Paul, we must be wise in our faith and use the wisdom of Christ who 
is within us to call people unto Him.

Paul wrote these great words in Acts at a time when the persecution of 
believers was transpiring and much religious confusing was taking place 
within the culture, similar to today.  In our world, people continue to 
believe many things, my friends.  They hope to find peace and a reason 
for being, but they are ignoring the very One who can fill the empty 
hole in their souls.  They thirst but do not find the Living Water of 
Jesus Christ.

Let us not be ashamed to call out to all --- no matter what they believe 
--- to a faith in Jesus Christ, the Living Savior who calls all men unto 
Himself.

-- 
"Gun control defined: The theory that people who are willing
to ignore laws against rape, torture, kidnapping, theft, and
murder will obey a law which prohibits them from owning a
firearm."

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