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Atheist Tuesday: A View Askew, Part 2: Mythperceptions

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Last week I posted a video from The Thinking Atheist entitled “Welcome to this World” which purports to give an analysis of what Christians believe. I understand that it was satiric, but it still got many facts wrong. I will limit my response to the five main errors, and with a short response. But first, you may want to review the video yourself:

Before I correct the errors, I must say that this “thinking” atheist should know better than to explain such abstract thoughts to a baby! But, in a sense, that is what evangelists do every time we speak to unbelievers, I guess.

Wrong “fact” #1: The video asserts in its introduction that a person is born into the world “worthless,” “void” and “corrupt.”

The Truth: Actually, a person is born in the image of God, full of worth and value. (Genesis 1:26, 1 Cor. 11:7, Col. 3:10, James 3:90) He also has “crowned him with glory and honor” and made him ruler over all things.” (Psalm 8:5-8)

Actually, anything we do to please God,  apart from Jesus Christ, is worthless, void and corrupt.

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
(Romans 3: 11-12)

Wrong “fact” #2: The video asserts that when we get older we must ask for forgiveness, not for anything we’ve done, but for what others have done thousands of years ago at the beginning of the world.

The Truth: Asking for forgiveness will get you into Hell. No one gets into Heaven and into a right relationship with God by simply asking for forgiveness.

No.

If you are found guilty of a crime and you stand before a judge and tell him that you are sorry right before he sentences you, he may feel pity for you, but you will still have to do the time; you will still have to pay the fine. You broke the law, you will pay.

In God’s eyes, you are guilty of breaking his Law, the 10 Commandments, by lying, stealing, blaspheming, lusting or hating—and more! You will pay the fine in Hell unless you repent and put your trust in Jesus who paid the fine for you. You must have your fine paid. Jesus paid it all by suffering and dying on a cross, he was buried for three days and rose again, giving you the hope of eternal life when you repent and trust in Him. (Romans 3:21-26)

Don’t blame it on Adam and Eve. You are a recipient of the “sin gene.” You are responsible for your own actions while here on the earth. (Romans 5:12-21)

Wrong “fact” #3: The video states that we must tell God we are sorry for murdering his Son Jesus.

The Truth: Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. No where.

Wrong “fact” #4: The video says that we must give a portion of everything we produce in our lifetime to God.

The Truth: The Bible isn’t a bunch of “have-tos.” The gracious giving principle is found in 2 Corinthians 9: 6-11:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Wrong “fact” #5: When referring to Heaven, the video explains that it is a place that can only be seen by the dead.

The Truth: Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God…. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29, 31-32)

I sure hope that this straightens out everything you watched in the video. And, if not, please remember these other words of Jesus: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

*****

BONUS EDIT: In another post from last week, “Should Young Evangelists Submit to Their Parents,” Vagon, an atheist, made this comment:

William, first thing’s first critically think about everything I say in this comment.

Now with that as your frame of mind, you need to figure this contradiction out for yourself. Here is a clear example of where this particular religious book has failed to provide you with a clear moral path. You have found a contradiction in honouring your parents versus promoting your particular belief.

William, contradictions do not exist. Whenever you find a contradiction you need to check the premises and discover which one is incorrect. So then your premises here are:

1. Your particular religious book is correct.
2. You should share your beliefs.
3. You live in your parent’s house.
4. You should honour your parents.

Which of those are incorrect (it is probably more than one) and how can you tell?

The final thing to note is that there is nothing bad about being wrong, it is an opportunity to learn. It is only bad when you remain ignorant as a choice.

My answer to Vagon:The question should not be “Which of those [choices] are incorrect?” but, rather, “Which choice is the best course of action to take in light of the fact that you must obey God and honor your father and mother?”

William can share his faith any old time he wants; he just doesn’t have to use tracts. He can have conversations with people, can he not? Using tracts is just one effective way to get the Gospel out. By sharing verbally with people he will honor God and his parents. Now, if he is told by his parents that he is forbidden to share his faith, he must honor God and make the necessary sacrifices. That may mean moving in with friends until he can afford to move out. But this doesn’t preclude the possibility that his parents would be amenable to his convictions if he just sat down with them, and in a gracious, patient way, explained his position.

And, by the way, Jesus promised trouble in a family if one becomes a believer. This is one of the promises they leave out of those Bible Promise books:

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:32-39)

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