According to this graphic, found on an atheist website, I’m probably not “saved”.
Here I am, a Bible-believing follower of Jesus Christ (whom serious Christians believe is the son of God) and yet:
- I’m reasonably happy, however one would define that word and apply to our culture.
- I’m intelligent enough to have graduated high school and earned a college journalism diploma & a university management development certificate.
- I have yet to write a single word on this website, or during my 26 years in journalism, condemning diversity.
- Mentally stable? I’m on a mild anti-depressant, just like millions and millions of other people (it’s safe to write that some of them are atheists).
I guess following Jesus has failed to save other people like me, too. Churches all over the world are attended by black men and women, Asian men and women, African men and women, native North American men and women. And some of those people are gay and/or divorced and/or alcoholics and/or convicted criminals and/or mentally challenged.
Intelligence? Ooooo, lots of failures there, too. Among them are university professor and committed Catholic Brian Kobilka, an American Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. There’s also Christian paleontologist Mary Higby Schweitzer and 2007 Nobel Prize Winner (for chemistry) Gerhard Ertl.
That’s just the beginning; Wikipedia lists more than 60 Christians active in biomedical sciences, physics & astronomy, chemistry and engineering. Gee, I’d call that an EPIC failure on the part of Jesus Christ. (Chances are, most of these folks are mentally stable, too.)
Beyond all this sarcasm, I hope it’s obvious to you that deciding to follow Jesus — His life and teachings, His sacrificial death (to make up for all the wrong things his followers have done and all the right things we’ve failed to do) and His resurrection — often helps people become happy, intelligent, tolerant of diversity and mentally stable.
Following Jesus helps us understand that God loves us, and everyone else on this planet, equally and beyond measure. That love comes not from what we’ve done or not done. It comes because that’s who God is.
Serious Jesus followers also understand that just as we have been forgiven much, we should turn around and forgive much in others.
There’s more: serious Jesus followers appreciate science because it helps us understand how God does stuff. Serious Jesus followers believe something that famed evangelist Billy Graham said: “It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict (people of their sins), God’s job to judge and my job to love”.
Do we fall short of this? Absolutely. But most serious Christians have it in our sights and strive after it daily. And doing that makes us better people.
Interested in striving with us? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
You wrote: “Do we fall short of this? Absolutely. But most serious Christians have it in our sights and strive after it daily. And doing that makes us better people.”
So, does this mean that people who are not serious Christians are not striving to be better people? Do non-serious Christians not strive to be better people? What is a non-serious Christian? Do you welcome only serious Christians to your club? Does being a good human being necessarily require that you also be a good and serious Christian? What does it mean when serisous Christians are not good people?
Thanks for your comment. You’ve asked way too many questions to answer in a simple comment. So let me write this: if anyone thinks I’ve implied that non-Christians are not striving to be better people, then sadly, they have read something into the blog that simply isn’t there.
A non-serious Christian is someone who casually believes the God of the Bible probably exists, Jesus Christ probably exists and He’s probably a decent guy worth thinking about on the occasional Sunday when they can be bothered to endure a church service.
You’ll have to explain what “club” you’re referring to because God’s gift of His Son is offered to EVERY person on this planet, no matter who they are or what they’ve done (or not done). And, of course, that includes YOU. There is no better news for all of humanity than this!! 🙂
Mr atheist, I believe what Frank is referring to as far as serious Christians are Christians and actually live the gospel and not just talk the talk.
This isn’t about judgement or criticism, but simply to let it be known that there is a difference between Christians who have died to sin and are free of sin versus others who are confused with Christianity as a “get out of jail free” card to sin. There are actually Christians out there who don’t hide behind Christianity but actually live and breathe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To die of sin is to aim for living as a saint… holy and blameless. It is possible. And it’s not a club that limits who gets to hang out. That type of attitude completely contradicts the message of the Gospel. But I understand, it is only natural that you play Devil’s Advocate. No offense to you… Truly.
Thanks for your excellent reply, Sharon. MyAtheistLife makes a lot of negative suppositions that you answered beautifully.
The criticism is off target. People may be flawed in their understanding or application of the Bible (and other things). There is no substitute for being able to think for yourself.
Thanks for your comment, Dan. I *think* you’re referring to my criticism of the graphic. But you’re right; there’s no substitute for being able to think for yourself. Glad we agree on this point. 🙂
Dan again – on my WP login.
Actually, I was referring to the graphic. Clearly there are many happy, intelligent, tolerant, and stable people who believe in the Bible. There are also few that miss on one or more of those adjectives. 😉
In fairness, there are atheists who are just as bad.
If I were to redirect the original criticism, I would say one should not allow the Bible to stop you from being happy, intelligent, tolerant, and stable. Better?
Thanks for your comment Dan. Anyone who “allows” the Bible to stop them from being happy, intelligent, tolerant and stable has horribly, horribly misread the Bible. And that saddens me deeply. 😦