I was watching a video clip of an outspoken atheist ranting about how angry and vilifying he says born again Christians are, and after listening to his condescending message, I have to admit that he may actually have a point. Although he plays right into the stereotypes and alleged rumors levied categorically against Christians, he nevertheless makes an interesting point about the vindictive nature that some Christians have toward him and other atheist colleagues.
Now, truthfully, most of what he says about Jesus and the Bible is obscenely arrogant and ignorant, but his banter about how Christians find a certain glee in his hellish torment for his sworn unbelief is interesting and worthy of consideration. Apparently, many born again Christian folk have written scathing letters and emails to him venting their anger about his atheistic polemics and many actually express how much he ought to suffer in hellish torment for his outspoken atheism.
When it comes to preconceived notions and stereotypes of born again Christians, I find that most of them are off base and unmerited. However, there is usually a grain of truth that stereotypes are formed around, which means that there is something probably true about his accusation. As well, I know from personal experience that there are angry Christians among us who do vent their vitriolic frustration out in often ungracious and unwise ways. Unfortunately, those relative few who do this are primarily responsible for the negative views and stereotypes that have been created and perpetuated around the world.
So, his perception of Christians based on his experience is that we for the most part are an angry, judgmental bunch of people. This is an increasingly popular stereotype that has made its way from the philosopher’s classroom in the university all the way to the table discussion at the coffee shop. Chances are, if you ask people on the street what they think about Christians, they will say something to the effect that they are angry, judgmental, close-minded people. Although most of that is untrue and most who say such things have probably nothing in their experience to truly validate that claim, they can point to perpetuated testimonies like these to underline their accusations.
All this is to say that the negative stereotype of the angry Christian is on the rise, but what I just cannot appreciate is why some Christians continue to fuel this fire by proving their point over and over again. Clearly, Christians have to be smarter and better than this. How is it that we who claim to follow Jesus would ever communicate in any fashion a sense of smug glee or delightful satisfaction at the demise and eternal judgment of those who refuse to believe? This is simply unfathomable and a disgrace to the rest of us Christians who know the heart of God better.
As a pastor, I am especially concerned about this issue because it is becoming an inoculating excuse for people not to listen to anything Christians have to say, and it is quickly becoming an almost insurmountable roadblock for the gospel. When it was just a suggestion or a quip, it was something we could navigate around, but now that it is popular mantra, we find ourselves in a progressively isolating predicament. I, personally, can hardly interact with someone outside of the faith without this issue coming up in the first five minutes of any spiritual conversation, and too many people I have encountered are fixated on this excuse to the point where they just aren’t willing to even listen.
This is incredibly unfortunate for us. The fact that this stereotype even exists is cause for concern, but the fact that it is exponential now is really an indictment of the entire Church in the world. If we cannot communicate the gospel because ears are closed off to it, then we cannot effectively accomplish the task that Jesus has given us. And, we cannot share the message of love and forgiveness if most don’t consider us to even have it.
If we look at the Scriptures, we do not see evidence of a God who is gleefully vindictive against those who reject or even spite him. In fact, God is famously known for loving the worst of all people at their worst moments and always extending his offer of forgiveness and conciliation to those who don’t deserve it. In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel it declares: “As I live, declares the LORD GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”
And, even Jesus as he was dying on the cross compassionately asked His Father not to hold anything over and against his tormentors and killers for their ignorant actions. We don’t see conspicuous evidence in the Old or New Testaments of a God or his people gleefully enjoying holy wrath being poured out on others. Though we do see evidence of those who called for God’s justice on evil and were thankful for that judgment, they did not dance joyfully on the graves of their enemies.
In my judgment, the relative but apparently outspoken few so called Christians who say such things are tragically far from the heart of God. Either they do not know God at all or they know Him very little. In my experience, those who don’t know God cannot evidence his heart and those who barely know him are not willing to. If self proclaimed Christians call for the gleeful extermination and torment of others who don’t agree with them, then they obviously are doing so out of a carnal faith.
I have also found that some people who claim to be Christians often are most critical of those who most resemble themselves or at least reflect their own sinful tendencies. I have counseled Christians who say they “hate” others and have told them that if the Holy Spirit of God truly lived within them that they would be incapable of hating others. So, the revelation that they are so angry at someone else is often an indication of either false or extremely immature faith. So, what they may be so threatened by is actually what they are struggling with themselves.
My belief is that if we truly understand who we are in Jesus Christ and have a correct view of God and His relationship with us and others, then we should never be angry or threatened by anyone’s disbelief. After all, why should we be so bothered by their unbelief if we are so secure in our belief? By not believing, all they are doing is acting as we should expect. They should be incredulous, skeptical and even mocking of what we believe, so why are we so bothered by that? My view is that they can rant all they want but it won’t change my secure understanding of who I am in Jesus Christ. That is, of course, unless my understanding is flawed or even non-existent.
I want to exhort my brothers and sisters in Christ to first concern themselves with their own spiritual condition, which is usually enough to keep us occupied. Second, I want to encourage them to fully understand and appreciate their own secured faith and standing in the body of believers. And third, I want for them to learn from and imitate God’s heart and love for all people who don’t share our belief but especially for the evil and wicked people in the world who despise it.
Jesus plainly told us to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” so there really is no reason any one of us should not love or not pray especially for the avowed and outspoken atheists in the world who want to find more reasons and excuses to dismiss our belief in God, His Holy Spirit and His Son Jesus Christ. And, for the sake of the gospel, it is my sincere hope and prayer that we will not provide them any more reasons or excuses.
