Atheists

I think it is important to point out that not all atheists persecute Christians. In my life, I have had the opportunity to speak with a number of atheists who did not persecute me for my faith. They disagreed with what I believed, but they were still willing to be friendly toward me. This has created opportunities for me to live out 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."  Those atheists that do persecute Christians, however, often do so for a variety of reasons. Some have been hurt by people claiming to be Christians who have acted in a decidedly non-Christian manner. Because of this, they see all Christians as hypocrites and as a threat that must be countered. Before they can trust our faith, they must first be able to trust us as individuals. I had an experience like this once with a devout Muslim. Although he was not an "atheist," his faith and his experience had taught him not to trust anyone claiming to be a Christian. Ultimately, we had many long conversations about faith and religion, but before we could get to that point, he had to know that he could trust me as a person. He did not choose Christ during the time that I knew him, but I know that the seeds of faith were planted on receptive ground during our conversations.  Another reason atheists persecute Christians is a misunderstanding of what Christianity really means. Since they do not believe in any god, they see all religion as mankind's made-up way of controlling each other. They do not wish to be controlled, so they rebel. Unlike other religions, though, Christianity is not about controlling mankind. I have seen this come out numerous times in debates between atheist and Christian scholars. Many times, the atheist's argument comes down to, "I want to do what I want to do, and no god can make me do anything differently."  In Christianity, though, God does not "make" us do anything. We live in a fallen world where we are already slaves to the desires of the flesh and of the world. God saw fit, in his mercy and through his grace, to free us from that servitude through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Those of us who choose that gift are then free to serve God, not because we are forced to and not because we fear punishment, as some atheists believe, but because we can. What they see as rules and control and restriction, we see as freedom.   

The Philippine president's war on drugs

Atheist

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18)

"There’s no such thing as an atheist according to God. Everyone knows that He exists. Deniers just prefer to “suppress [that] truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). In other words, the problem is never a lack of evidence for God, but rather a consuming love of sin." -- John MacArthur

Atheists usually deny the existence of the soul. They do this because they don't know what it is.

The "soul" is the life that inhabits your body. The word "soul" and the word "life" (in the Bible) mean the same thing.

When you and I die, the life (the soul--the real you) will leave the body and pass on, into eternity. The Bible says that your soul is eternal.

The below is from an article on the meaning of the word "atheism," on a site called "Atheist Revolution." It was written because many atheists don't know how to define themselves:

"Atheism comes from the Greek 'a - theos,' and since the 'a' prefix means 'without' or 'the absence of,' we must first make sure we understand theism. Theism refers to the belief that some sort of god or gods exist. A theist is one who accepts the theistic claim (i.e., some sort of god or gods exist). An atheist is one who does not accept the theistic claim. That is, atheism means 'without theism' and refers to the absence or lack of theistic belief."1

So "atheism" means "without a belief in God," and an "atheist" is someone who is "without God." The word comes from the Greek word "atheos" which means among other things "without God."

So if you're an atheist, you can tell people that you're without God. Now you know how to define yourself.

According to the pope, you don't even have to believe in God to go to heaven. Atheists can go just by being good. What the pope is either ignorant of or lying about is that *nobody* goes to heaven by being good, not even those who do believe in God. If the pope himself is counting on getting to heaven by being good, he's headed for the lake of fire, eternally. .

(Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(John 3:16-18)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! - Living Faith - Home & Family -...

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