Atheism: A Layman's Response...(literally just one response)

*Image from reclaimingthemind.org

A recent response to atheism, aspects of modern science and a declaration of my faith:


If you’re an atheist reading this, it is likely that we will not see eye-to-eye. Why? We have both heard the arguments and we have both concluded that our position makes more sense. I’ve read books like Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” and while challenging, I am personally pushed onward towards a Creator and beyond the core principles of atheism. While atheists tend to be highly educated, very intelligent and well-learned individuals, they more than any should realize that we have not “arrived” in the things of science OR the things people consider spiritual/supernatural (i.e. the things not proven by a “microscope.”)

So, what is the evidence for a Creator? We could start with the logical question “what/who set creation in motion?” Then we can go beyond the science of a literal microscope and start with the obvious yet complex human responses to love and emotion. Where does it come from? Is it simply the natural response to reproduce and then to protect? Every time we look at our kids with love and affection, do we have feelings that seem to go well beyond the natural desire to keep them safe and help them survive in order that the circle of life may be pushed onward? Is it possible that we love them with a passion and pure emotion that goes “beyond the microscope?” Where do these complex emotions come from? Why do we care if our wife goes and F’s another dude? Beyond the obvious right and wrong that sustains a culture and perpetuates growth, why do we naturally care about liars or hypocrites or infidelity? If we are only particles, matter and chemicals…who cares about any of these things? Why do you care about a person’s belief in a god? If you align with this thought pattern, our very belief in or indignation towards a god is no different than our stomachs telling us we’re hungry. So why care? Why even engage in the argument? Why love your kids? Do we simply protect them, feed them and help them sustain a new generation? Would we not miss them if they were taken from us? And if we do, is it only based on a frustration that we weren’t able to push our DNA forward?...Really???? Why do we care about any aspect of relationship?

If we are only going to focus on the tangible, the physical or the touchable, we’re only looking at half of the truth; but truth nonetheless Likewise, if we only look to the spiritual, we’re missing the equally important aspects of our physical world. Adaptation and survival are definitely a big part of who we are, but I believe we are much more than this based on the things discussed above (although there are many more examples like intuition, healing, goodness, evil). This is the point at which I start to look within the realm of the spiritual. I’m skipping a couple steps but eventually I start looking for a Creator within this spiritual/supernatural realm. Here begins my pursuit to answer these questions that science alone does not; partially, yes but completely, no.

The atheist will throw out buzz words like “fairies” and “magical beings” as if to equate the Creator with these things. But it brings up an interesting point. Regarding fairies and other “supernatural beings,” where do we even get the idea of anything supernatural if we are nothing more than matter? How would we even know to make up something that isn’t purely human; something completely contrary to what we are? (Especially a God or a Creator). I guess our brains evolved to think these things? That doesn’t answer it for me. Or, is it our response to an existing supernatural presence that we couldn’t and can’t yet explain with “microscope science?” Furthermore, if science is still evolving, why wouldn’t we be able to tangibly prove the supernatural down the road? This is clearly where I differ from the atheist. I look at both science and the spiritual and they seem to focus on science alone.

So why even bother with the things of life if everything is strictly science-based? I do “bother with life” because of the supernatural element. It is here where my Christian belief takes root. Does it provide me all the answers I seek? Absolutely not. Does it provide me with a logical explanation for the questions I seek as stated above? Yes, it really does. Therefore I continue to pursue what I believe to be truth, rooted in what we call the Bible regarding our existence. Do I need this to sleep well at night? No, but I do greatly appreciate the truths regarding the human condition and the teachings of Christ. I even appreciate the Old Testament and it’s clear example of how morality and law alone are nothing but legalism and religiosity…the things that cause war and hatred and self-righteousness; the things Christ hated and clearly preached against throughout the New Testament. Is today’s church filled with religiosity and legalism? Immensely! But what do you expect from a movement whose clear mission is to bring in the “broken” and “flawed;” the ones who acknowledge human intellect and humanness are NOT enough. Some of these “converts” get on the right path and pursue the things of Christ, while others see the church as “an opportunity” and become more flawed as they pursue things that only enhance their own selfishness while still claiming to be “Christ-followers.” So atheists shouldn’t confuse Christ with people who claim they follow him for various reasons; extreme differences exist between the two.

Way too many places to go with this material but always worth getting my thoughts out regarding these subjects.

I Bleed Apollo's Creed

A few weeks back, we put together a team for an upcoming Crossfit competition in November.  It's been great to work out with a team again.  The camaraderie, the push, the accountability; all good stuff.  So, I finished writing up a "Team Creed" to help motivate us over the next few months as we look to go into St. Louis with full preparation; both mentally and physically.  Here ya go:

Crossfit is for a special breed of individual; humble, with an uncommon desire to succeed. Forged in adversity this individual stands alongside their teammates to serve them and push them; I am that individual.

It is a privilege to train the way we do. A blessing that goes beyond the four walls we call “our box.” Though we all possess different strengths and weaknesses, we push each other beyond common limits, evolving the team into a single unit that disposes of all weakness; becoming defined by our collective strengths.

 For this reason we expect to lead and be led. When I’m weak, I expect to learn and be pushed beyond the self-imposed limits that seek to destroy me (us). When I’m strong, I expect to lead and do so by example in every training situation.

 The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of ego, pride or circumstance, sets me apart from other individuals. For this reason, I remain calm and confident in the heat of competition.

 I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity because I know it’s in these moments when I am most alive and where I go beyond fitness for the body, but preparation and strength for life. I will be physically tougher and mentally stronger than my competitors. If knocked down, I will get back up…every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to exceed my own expectations and push my team towards victory…every time. I am never out of the fight…ever.

 We demand discipline and thrive on the growth pains it provides. We realize that our training is never complete. There is always room to improve upon technique, strength, conditioning, flexibility, capacity and mental toughness.

 We don’t make excuses. In times of affliction, injury or sickness our efforts remain above reproach because in moments of good health, our work ethic had been solidified. We edify and walk through the fire with our teammates until affliction is no more. The result: collective strength.

 We train to compete and compete to win. We are always ready and will not fail if we give our whole selves to those short, treasured moments of training and competition.

 These principles don’t begin and end in “The Box”, but it is here they are sharpened for life. Let’s do this!

Acknowledgment:  I used the structure of the Navy Seal creed when writing this

Uncle Pharisee...STILL Wants You!!

Laws of morality were created simply as a recognition of a brokenness or evil within our world.  They are the human reaction towards and the attempted fix for the sin in this world; a system that when implemented by itself is nothing more than an exhaustive and equally exhausting list of do's and don'ts - (Dictionary According to Jake). 

While recognizing there are several avenues I could go with this, let's continue our School for Pharisee's and break down a basic principle...conforming to a set of stringent rules and regulations is only trading one set of bondage (sin) for another set of bondage (legalism).  One comes as advertised while the other only has the appearance of something good; neither provide any true freedom.

We needn't look any further for this truth than in the Old Testament.  Inside, we consistently see the shortcomings of morality.  In fact, the OT seems to be God's long-standing example of how much "The Law" and adherence to that law is NOT enough.  It could be said that The Law was only created to show us that on our own we could never fulfill the standards of righteousness; a gauge to show that we are broken and left to our own plan would continue to break ourselves against this law.  In the NT we see Christ note this time after time in his encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducee's; individuals who only sought to uphold The Law for their own gain.  Christ followers are pushed towards righteousness for very different reasons; that others might see and taste the goodness of Christ in them and through them.  The funny thing is, pursuing Christ ends up fulfilling both purposes; salvation for the self (righteousness through Christ) and salvation for others (Christ's righteousness lived out). 

Final Note:  Non-conformity to the world for the purposes of morality looks very different than non-conformity to the world for the purposes of Christ.  Which do you pursue: morality or Christ?

Forward Thinking

We should always look for opportunities to "pay it forward."  It frees the soul when we bless others; especially when done so chearfully.  Sometimes the most fulfilling acts of kindness are when we provide for complete strangers. 

We should never forget that even the smallest acts of kindness can change someones life; setting them on a path that can literally alter their past, present and future circumstances for the good.  Look for those opportunities.  If nothing more, do it for the simple fact that it will transform your own life for the better. 

Uncle Pharisee Wants You!

How To Be A Pharisee Tip #101:  Get so caught up looking righteous that you forget the need to pursue righteousness. 

As I continue to create posts that deal with the human condition of sin, I want to make a very clear distinction between my growing hatred for sin and a self-righteous, Pharisaical attitude. 

It's not natural for us to hate the things our flesh is craving for.  It is natural for us to crave self-piety and a sense of "arrival" in the things of God.  I write about the dangers of sin and their enslaving nature because the more I can expose sin for what it is, the more I become aware of my ever-increasing need for Christ; the more I realize my need for Christ, the less I desire the things of the flesh; the less I indulge in the desires of the flesh, the more I allow Christ to shine through me; the more I allow Christ to shine through me, the less Pharisaical I become; the less Pharisaical I become, the more I can genuinely reach people with the truth about sin and it's enslaving nature. 

It can appear to be a fine-line between legalism and the pursuit of righteousness.  One is sinful; one is necessary.  Don't allow the former to overshadow the latter. 

Just One More...

"Just one more."  "Just one more time." 

These are the famous last words of those who have come to realize their sin is enslaving them but refuse to let God change their heart.  They continue to allow pleasures, sensations, feelings, desires and habits to be the worshipful center of their lives.  The alcoholic says "just one drink, I can handle it this time;" the glutton "one more splurge, then I'll start a diet; the adulterer, "just one more fling, then I'll work on the wife;" the pornographer, "just a few more clicks then I'll ask for help;" and the list goes on. 

The thing is, people that use those phrases above "get it" and yet they still choose the flesh over the Spirit; bondage over freedom.  Just like the golden calfs in the OT, these people choose rediculous things over The One who gives abundant life and freedom both now and in eternity. 

Sin isn't a freakin' diet that you choose to do "one more time" and then start fresh on Monday.  It's a matter of the heart.  If you have the attitude "one more time," you're heart is clearly fixed on the flesh and "one more time" equates to "one more dig" into the grave of a damned soul.  Just sayin'...

Ready by Relationship

We shouldn’t need to “rise to the occasion” but rather step in and do what we have trained to do (i.e. “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; criticize, rebuke, and encourage, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Being ready to “speak graciously, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

Are we prepared for this? Are we in such relation with Christ that we are ready AND willing to step in and do the work he is ready and willing to give us? The Creator of the Universe wants to use you and I to communicate his goodness to all people and see them set free from the bondage of sin. (Yea, that’s Brad Pitt x Infinity on the awesomeness scale). In fact, he has set up a system in which it may be the only way for others to see His mystery revealed. This being through the transformation of us who were once defined by our sin, but are now set on a path of insight to see sin for what it truly is; bondage and slavery. Therefore, we have salvation; the recognition of the brokenness and slavery within sin and Christ providing the means by which to live in its bondage no more.

The wisdom and insight provided by the Spirit and through scripture has given us the opportunity to taste the presence of God in this life; here and now. The more we can turn from sin, the more we can taste the original goodness in all things that once were in the beginning and that will be in eternity with Christ.

So how do we get prepared to live out the 2 verses above? Our preparedness comes through the pursuit of Christ. The more we pursue a relationship with Christ, the more freedom we have from the bondage of sin; the more freedom we have, the more goodness we taste; the more goodness we taste, the more joy we have about that goodness; the more joy we have, the more we feel compelled to share that goodness and joy with others that they too may be released from the bondage of their sin; the more we share with others, the more people come to Christ and share in His goodness; escaping the hell in the present as well as the hell to come (i.e. the eternal absence of the presence of God where no goodness could ever exist). 

So when are we ready?  We are ready when we are in relationship.

(And Yes, God does like long, hand-in-hand strolls in the woods)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye...The End is Drawing Near!!-1/1

Unicorns...Proud Steed of "The Guardians"???

It totally hit me today that there may be some serious theological connections between Unicorns and Guardian Angels.  Through much study and meditation, I have uncovered what I believe to be the proud steed of Guardian Angels...the Unicorn! 

Let's break this down:

Wings...check

Loyalty...check

Supernatural...check

Mysterious...check

Allusive...check

Able to eliminate you with one single thrust...check

Unless you can prove otherwise...Ride Uni's Ride!!!

Chasing Culture?

All Rabbit Trails...

Nothing I write about is an original idea (total understatement).  Sure they're my own thoughts, but they're only rabbit trails of books I've read, messages I've heard, movies I've sat through and songs I've listened to.  None of us have any truly original ideas, especially as it pertains to Christianity.  And if there were any "original ideas" claiming to be Christian, we should probably steer clear of them anyway (i.e. Mormanism, Jehovah's Witness, etc).  However, although we're not creating any new ideas (and shouldn't be), I think the way in which we communicate these ideas should seek to be original and specific to the generation in which we live.  Just like Paul communicated differently to the Greeks and Hebrews, highlighting very different things about the nature of Christ yet conveying the same core message, I think we have an obligation to communicate the message of Christ in a way that can be understood by our generation and culture; all without watering down or losing the effectiveness found in scripture.  But therein lies the problem, because as our church culture becomes more and more "culture-like," the more ridiculous and far-reaching commands like "pursuing righteousness" and "putting our flesh to death" appears.  This is even true regarding "staple" theological beliefs such as the existence of hell.  It could be that in the pursuit to reach culture, we've lost our way regarding the things of Christ. 

So the challenge to myself and you handful of readers is, how do we effectively communicate the nature of Christ to those both in and out of the church walls; all without watering down or straying from the original message? (i.e. "living in the Spirit," "narrow is the road," "taking up our cross daily," etc.)  What does our own life need to look like in order to effectively communicate these things?  How do we get past the "well you're just as sinful as me" mentality when trying to sharpen other believers?  How do we keep from becoming Pharisaical and religious in our approach and appearance?  (Comments are open so share your ideas).