PRACTICAL ATHEISM

I Was Just Thinking About - - -

Many years ago, a philosophical viewpoint by  Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) emerged that proposed the possibility that God is dead! This conclusion was reached when he commented: “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?” It was thought that Nietzsche’s works were expressing  a fear that the decline of religion, the rise of atheism, and the absence of a higher moral authority would plunge the world into chaos.”

In 1963, Bishop John A. T. Robinson (1919-1983), Anglican Bishop of Woolrich,  published his work titled, Honest To God. It had some thoughts similar to those of Nietzsche regarding God and His existence and influence in the world. In a later writing (1967), Exploration Into God, Bishop Robinson shared the intent to synthesize the work of theologians Paul Tillich and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Rather than clarifying his viewpoint, it muddied the water somewhat when he called on Christians to view God as the "Ground of All Being" rather than a supernatural being out there – somewhere. The views of Bishop Robinson in his book have had thoughts in common with the psychological deconstruction of God-ideas put forward by his fellow Cambridge theologian Harry Williams.

In America, we have come to a juncture in terms of what we believe about the Almighty God. Does He exist in our culture and thinking? Is He relevant at all in terms of lifestyle choices? What about political trends and candidates, does He have any involvement at all? What if the populace has become cultic (a quasi-religious or political organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents) and leaves no meaningful choice among candidates – has this become the nation’s Rubicon or has it become similar to the Tower Of Babel for the voters? Has God lost control of the United States of America? Is He “dead” in our nation? If He is alive, does He have a plan? What is His plan and what is He doing?

Ponder the words of Psalm 75:2-7 (ESV) where The Lord speaks, “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. I say to the boastful, Do not boast, and to the wicked… not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck. For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” In Daniel 2:20-22 (ESV), Daniel has a vision from the Lord that interprets the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.” In Proverbs 21:1-3 (ESV), we read, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Is God in control? Is He in charge of His world? Do we truly believe that the Almighty God is alive and active in the contemporary world? When a nation (and/or Church) has made the incorrect cultural and political choice(s), Jeremiah 4 is applicable as God’s judgment is declared. Verse 18 summarizes, “Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart.” There remains a window of opportunity for the nation (and Church) to come to its senses and repent. Which choice will be made? Prayerfully – consider these things with me!