Over my three little decades of being a believing Christian, I've come to know a lot of atheists in the course of my days. Most of which I would definitely call my friends! Most of my
atheist friends are the ones that I have noticed, being those who typically
have some level of issue with simply enjoying anything for pure enjoyment sake. An example would be, going to the movies, and not enjoying it because they are
seemingly on the look out for inconsistencies,
or “plot holes” or something to grab onto with the intent of being able to point and say "...see, this is dumb because it doesn't work like that." or "...this movie is horrible because there were things that didn't make sense at all." Now, granted, I think we've all seen movies that didn't make a lot of "sense". And that we didn't really enjoy. But I've noticed it with intense consistency in my atheistic friends.
It does stand to reason they might lean in that direction, being that they are filled with incredulity. Or maybe a better way to say it, is (in the case of the staunch atheists I've known) they are happiest when they can mock something. If they are going to trust something, they have to see it first. When I hear them discuss movies, I feel they enjoy discussing how much they "hated" the movie rather then talking about the one they did like. There is a certain pride that is displayed when they can berate a movie with vitriol, and contempt. But if a movie meets their requirements, the passion is considerably less. It's almost like a glass ceiling, that doesn't allow them to enjoy too much, even of a 'good' thing. The enjoyment, and maybe a big reason they see movies, is so they can take pride in not enjoying them.
Now in terms of enjoying something that 'doesn't make sense' there are PLENTY of Broadway plays, and musicals that flow and overflow with nonsensical content, and transitions. They are often written so that they don't make any sense to the logical mind, and THAT is somehow something that is supposed to be a beautiful thing, and something that can really make a person enjoy a performance. When the boundaries of so called meaning are ignored, and we can move forward freely with the notion espoused by Albert Camus that life is inherently without meaning.
I personally see that there might be a bit of a double standard when it comes down to the "reasons" an atheist was not able to enjoy something that didn't 'make sense'. And I also see that there might be a little window into a persons decision when it comes to not "trusting" Christ. It may just be that they have already decided before they saw the play weather they would choose to appreciate it, or to lambaste it. Weather they were going to look for things that they can enjoy, or for things that they can rip apart.
The thought of a loving God who would reveal Himself to us, and not only that, but would become one of us. God in human flesh, meek and mild... and would, out of his Great Love, rescue us from our rebellious and sinful state, so we can once again have fellowship with him. We all have our own starting point, but is it really too much to believe? I ask, how different is the person who accepts, and has the faith to believe in the things that comes from God, from the person who does not accept, and has faith to not believe in the things that come from God? And what is missed by a person who would rather try and poke holes in the fabric of their own salvation? This person not only misses salvation but the Joy that comes to a life that is at "peace with God". The Joy that is known in the Heart, and Soul of a person redeemed by God. Not of anything the person has done on his own to save himself, but only by the work of Him who saves. Christ alone!
It remains true that "Intent, is prior to content" And life is a lot like watching a movie. And when we sit down to watch a movie, that we had no part in making, and we have no say in how it ends. We can't change anything about the goings on in the middle of the movie, or the characters, or the lines... it is still the movie. The movie remains the movie. We can enjoy it for what it is, or we can poke fun at the things we don't like, disregarding it as foolish.
Life, like the movie, we didn't make it, we didn't decide to be born. We work in our lives, we grow. But when you live long enough you realize that there are a host of things that are not in our own control. We can't always change the lines, and the scenes, or the characters. We are helpless when we enter this life, and helpless when we leave. That is unless... you, with a repentant heart, accept and receive the work that Christ has done for YOU! By placing your trust in Him. "Because he cares for you!" "Place your hand, in the hand of the Man, who calmed the water." the song says.
"Oh taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8
I'm reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote to Timothy...
"But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what was entrusted to me." -2 Timothy 1:12
Get to Know Him. Start by reading the Gospel of John.
Take this as a challenge to anyone who has not placed their trust on the Lord Himself.
Read John, and Luke, or any of the Gospels, but do so daily for 30 days. Get to know Him through His word. And when you do, ask Him to reveal Himself to you as you read!
Paul knew the risen Lord, he 'tasted, and saw' that the Lord is Good!
Once a soul has trusted Christ, Joy, and Peace enters in, like a gentle whisper and brings solace. I can enjoy many things. Because I have the Joy of receiving a Beautiful Savior!
It does stand to reason they might lean in that direction, being that they are filled with incredulity. Or maybe a better way to say it, is (in the case of the staunch atheists I've known) they are happiest when they can mock something. If they are going to trust something, they have to see it first. When I hear them discuss movies, I feel they enjoy discussing how much they "hated" the movie rather then talking about the one they did like. There is a certain pride that is displayed when they can berate a movie with vitriol, and contempt. But if a movie meets their requirements, the passion is considerably less. It's almost like a glass ceiling, that doesn't allow them to enjoy too much, even of a 'good' thing. The enjoyment, and maybe a big reason they see movies, is so they can take pride in not enjoying them.
Now in terms of enjoying something that 'doesn't make sense' there are PLENTY of Broadway plays, and musicals that flow and overflow with nonsensical content, and transitions. They are often written so that they don't make any sense to the logical mind, and THAT is somehow something that is supposed to be a beautiful thing, and something that can really make a person enjoy a performance. When the boundaries of so called meaning are ignored, and we can move forward freely with the notion espoused by Albert Camus that life is inherently without meaning.
I personally see that there might be a bit of a double standard when it comes down to the "reasons" an atheist was not able to enjoy something that didn't 'make sense'. And I also see that there might be a little window into a persons decision when it comes to not "trusting" Christ. It may just be that they have already decided before they saw the play weather they would choose to appreciate it, or to lambaste it. Weather they were going to look for things that they can enjoy, or for things that they can rip apart.
The thought of a loving God who would reveal Himself to us, and not only that, but would become one of us. God in human flesh, meek and mild... and would, out of his Great Love, rescue us from our rebellious and sinful state, so we can once again have fellowship with him. We all have our own starting point, but is it really too much to believe? I ask, how different is the person who accepts, and has the faith to believe in the things that comes from God, from the person who does not accept, and has faith to not believe in the things that come from God? And what is missed by a person who would rather try and poke holes in the fabric of their own salvation? This person not only misses salvation but the Joy that comes to a life that is at "peace with God". The Joy that is known in the Heart, and Soul of a person redeemed by God. Not of anything the person has done on his own to save himself, but only by the work of Him who saves. Christ alone!
It remains true that "Intent, is prior to content" And life is a lot like watching a movie. And when we sit down to watch a movie, that we had no part in making, and we have no say in how it ends. We can't change anything about the goings on in the middle of the movie, or the characters, or the lines... it is still the movie. The movie remains the movie. We can enjoy it for what it is, or we can poke fun at the things we don't like, disregarding it as foolish.
Life, like the movie, we didn't make it, we didn't decide to be born. We work in our lives, we grow. But when you live long enough you realize that there are a host of things that are not in our own control. We can't always change the lines, and the scenes, or the characters. We are helpless when we enter this life, and helpless when we leave. That is unless... you, with a repentant heart, accept and receive the work that Christ has done for YOU! By placing your trust in Him. "Because he cares for you!" "Place your hand, in the hand of the Man, who calmed the water." the song says.
"Oh taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8
I'm reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote to Timothy...
"But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what was entrusted to me." -2 Timothy 1:12
Get to Know Him. Start by reading the Gospel of John.
Take this as a challenge to anyone who has not placed their trust on the Lord Himself.
Read John, and Luke, or any of the Gospels, but do so daily for 30 days. Get to know Him through His word. And when you do, ask Him to reveal Himself to you as you read!
Paul knew the risen Lord, he 'tasted, and saw' that the Lord is Good!
Once a soul has trusted Christ, Joy, and Peace enters in, like a gentle whisper and brings solace. I can enjoy many things. Because I have the Joy of receiving a Beautiful Savior!
Heaven above
is softer blue,
Earth around
is sweeter green
Something
lives in every hue
Christless
eyes have never seen
Birds with
gladder songs o’erflow
Stars with
deeper beauty shine,
Since I
know, as now I know
I am His,
and He is mine.
