The Arrogant Atheist

A well-known British atheist and entertainment personality was recently asked what he would say if he came face-to-face with God. Response: “I’ll say: bone cancer in children, what’s that about? How dare you; how dare you create a world where there is such misery that is not our fault? It’s not right. It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?” I know nothing of the man’s heart but in listening to more of his vitriol, it didn’t seem to me that he was truly an atheist, but rather, a man who is deeply and bitterly angry with God. Blaming God for the world’s injustice and pain?

An equally well-known British atheist and entertainment personality dumped his Christian faith at the age of eight. “My mum only lied to me about one thing. She said there was a God.” Laughter from the audience causes him to explain, “but that’s because when you’re an underpaid working class mum, Jesus is like an unpaid baby sitter.” More: “I wish there was a God, it would be great, because from what I’ve heard He’s brilliant. Also, if there is a God, why did He make me an atheist?” More laughter, “that was His first mistake; well, the talking snake was His first mistake but….” His seemingly godless and atheist audience were delighted to hear of God and the Bible being denigrated.

Like the first man, God gets the blame for his predicament, plus the world’s injustice and pain. Again, it seems to me he’s not an atheist either. If there is such a thing as a true atheist (I often doubt), I don’t believe God would be given a moment’s thought by him. Once he’s come to that conclusion that should be the end of it. Atheists don’t give the Tooth Fairy a moment’s thought; why should it be any different regarding God? The same applies for the Bible; if atheists really believed the Bible is not the word of God, they would not spend one hour of time and energy mocking it, lampooning it, cursing it and denigrating it? In reality, they would be giving as much attention to it as they do to a Tooth Fairy book!

The first interviewer omitted to ask his man, “Why are you so bitter, angry and vitriolic at a God whom you say doesn’t exist? You’re not being logical. Why are you not attributing another cause for this injustice and pain?” The second interviewer omitted to ask his man, “Why on earth do you blame a God whom you say doesn’t exist for making you an atheist? There’s no logic in what you say. Surely there is another cause?” In both men there was much evidence of arrogance, but not logic. The dictionary defines ‘arrogance’ as ‘an offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.’ God calls it haughtiness and one day the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Isaiah 2:11.    

Speaking of arrogance, a former Socialist Prime Minister of my country (Australia) died recently. Years ago when asked of a “possible meeting” with God at his death he replied, “You can be sure of one thing, I shall treat Him as an equal.” More arrogance: A famous and most successful American industrialist was quoted as saying, “I don’t believe in God. My god is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life.” A tireless worker for International peace, the outbreak of World War 1 broke his heart. Apparently he later changed his of mind, to believe in, “an Infinite and Eternal Energy from which all things proceed.” As I understand it, however, God Incarnate, Lord Jesus Christ was not acknowledged. Broken heart, but not pride.

How about this arrogance from not-just-an-ordinary atheist. “You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?” Why not-just-an-ordinary atheist? Because once upon a time he was not-just-an-ordinary “Christian” either, but also a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – an associate pastor, in fact. Now he gives addresses on his de-conversion across the United States. Did he ever know Jesus? Who knows? Judas did! We know the church has always had, false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ 2 Corinthians 11:13.

Here’s some more arrogance from arrogant atheists: “All thinking men are atheists.” “Faith means not wanting to know what is true.” “Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.” “For god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever would believe in him would believe in anything.” Although I have purposely omitted to name the atheists associated with the comments, views and statements made on this post, whether dead or alive, they are held in high esteem by both thinkers and non-thinkers, the educated and the uneducated, the sophisticated and the unsophisticated alike. They turn more people to atheism than we Christians turn people to Christ!

Just as those who question authority, themselves become the “authority” so too those who question God, themselves become “god” – not just their god but a god of all who listen to and agree with them. One of the grand characteristics of God is His righteousness; one of the not so grand characteristics of the arrogant atheist is his self-righteousness! They are totally immersed and saturated in self-righteousness; it fairly oozes from them as they speak. If ever one wanted proof of the devil’s existence, one need look no further than to the arrogant atheist! So who what is this self-righteous person? He’s a Communist, a Marxist, an Evolutionary Humanist, a Leftist, a Socialist, a Modern Liberal, a Feminist, and, much more than a God-denier, he’s a God-hater!

No wonder it is God Himself who calls the arrogant atheist a fool. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1. Bible Christians must agree with God here. Whether they are entertainers, academics, journalists, politicians, psychologists, human /animal rights activists, community organizers, social workers, we should never allow ourselves to become dazzled by the razzle-dazzle of a God-hater! And the only way not to be dazzled is treat the Bible as both the Word of God and the Voice of God. God has promised to give all the wisdom we need to reject the persuasive arguments of the arrogant atheist, but none will come from outside of the Scriptures. The heart of the righteous studies how to answer Proverbs 15:28.

The second part of the above Scripture reads, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. Three meanings of wicked in the Bible are: ‘ungodly’ ‘morally wrong’ and ‘guilty.” The arrogant atheist prides himself on being an ungodly person in the biblical sense, but he vehemently despises all accusation of being a morally wrong and guilty person. That’s why he’s a Bible-hater too! There’s no other book in all the world to bring him face to face with who and what he is. He knows it’s God’s book! He has a God-given inward witness that this is so, just as Bible Christians do. This is why he cannot ignore it like he can a Tooth Fairy book. The arrogant atheist will be charged with a far greater sin before God than any who are indifferent to God.

The reason the arrogant atheist is totally immersed, saturated in and oozes self-righteousness is because he is possessed by demons. He thinks it’s him coming up with all his so-called cleverness but not so, the reality is, it is the demons within – real, spiritual but demonic persons residing in him. He has a demon of rebellion, rejection, unbelief, deception, bitterness, arrogance, pride, fear and hatred, to name just a few. These own his mind, not him! At the moment of his death, every one of those demons will leave him to go into someone else. So when he stands before God the real person will show up – all arrogance and atheism will be gone. He will need no one to tell him, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Hebrews 10:31.

On that day, the arrogant atheist will see no evidence of, “a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain.” No, instead, he will see a loving Savior with nail scars in His hands and feet and a spear scar in His side! He will also clearly see and quickly believe that he was part of the reason for those scars. As for making mistakes, the arrogant atheist will acknowledge God never made one; not even with a talking snake! Yes, a loving Savior he will meet – but not his loving Savior – a Christian’s loving Savior! Our loving Savior will be his Judge. When he faces his Judge for his sentencing, the arrogant atheist will wish he was never born. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools Proverbs 3:35. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Matthew 4:17.