[image: slopes, 2013, JA Van Devender]
Location: Mt. Zion National Park, 2013
Title is from John Blanchard's book of the same name.
Jeremiah 2:11(a)
11 Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
I thank my friend Coral for the following link:
http://www.kcra.com/news/55-atheist-billboards-give-voice-to-nonbelievers-in-sacramento-area/-/11797728/23237406/-/kptd30/-/index.html#ixzz2mQHOrx4V
In the article we find the following quote: "We’re encouraging other freethinking people – atheists, agnostics, humanists – to speak up, especially this time of year when we’re so inundated with the Jesus stories and the music when you shop,” said Judy Saint, president of the Greater Sacramento chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation."
It's an interesting tactic. Militant atheists (ala Sam Harris) have been making noises for a while, attempting with some success to stir up active resistance to (and even suppression of) "fundamentalist" religion with particular attention to Christianity. Here we see a new slant being taken: "atheists as victims." It's not completely new, there have been quite a few court cases arguing that government officials must not subject non-believers to the ignoble experience of enduring prayer at the opening of meetings or during valedictory exercises, etc. The "victim" mentality was there but the primary focus was a so-called "separation of church and state" issue. Now, perceiving the sexual orientation cause as having won the day these folks see atheists as having opportunity to ride the coat-tails of that "coming out" mass movement.
I am amazed at the degree of cultural upheaval that this society is going through. A few comments might be appropriate on this particular episode.
First: There is a dramatic categorical difference between the situation with atheists vis-a-vis homosexuality even as there was a large (differing) categorical difference between the homosexual movement and the racial equality movement on whose coat-tails it hitched a ride.
I, of course, believe homosexual practices to be sinful and prohibited by Scripture, but within Christianity there are those who seriously question whether God does in fact view it that way. It's a discussion in which I have participated vigorously. However I do recognize the challenge of the question and why some Christians have difficulty believing that God would in fact take such a stance.
But folks... no one can seriously doubt that God opposes atheism. So, as far as Christian's are concerned, there is no "moral right" to deny God's existence. There is a "civil right" to do so and freedom of speech requires that Christian's acknowledge that "civil right" but they firmly profess that all professing atheists "ought" (hence the moral imperative) to turn to God and seek forgiveness for their treason.
Thus Christians should recognize the "civil right" of atheists to put up billboards and bumper stickers and whatever. There certainly should not be any coercive actions taken against such activities, either through government means or private.
Second: We ought to recognize that each billboard or bumper sticker provides a ready made propostion that demands exploration. For example, in the article, one bill board proclaimed: "Morality doesn't require religion." Boy, wouldn't that be a neat conversation to have with someone? What I usually discover is that by the time terms are defined ("What do you mean by morality?" "What is religion?") that significant inconsistencies of position are readily identified. Simply put, no Christian denies that people can be "moral" apart from religion.
The real question is what common ground of morality is proposed such that one person's ethical behavior is deemed acceptable or not by others is established. Very soon what one finds is that a common "world-view" is always required and that discrimination based on the principles of that "world-view" will be justified. That was pretty abstract but just look at the imperatives of radical environmentalism. You cross one of those folks... cut down a tree they are engaged in hugging... and "Katy-bar-the-door" ... the doors of vituperous reactions will coming raining down.
The same can be said about "academic political correctness." What constitutes acceptable morality in our institutions of higher education is not based on religion... it is usually atheistic... but it is far from gentle and never truly tolerant.
So... as with this instance... we need to see these things as an opportunity to engage. Let's put up a billboard next to theirs. "Morality apart from religion is the prelude to social anarchy". It's no more or less true than the atheist position but it advances the conversation.
Third: We Christians need to see that these trends are clearly pointing toward a crisis which will require decision. If there is a general relation between the way the Christian faith is treated within a wider culture and God's providential governance of that culture (and we believe there is) then we need to be prepared for how God's providential governance will impact that culture when it consciously rejects the witness of His name and intolerantly seeks to suppress it.
In the passage quoted above God speaks to that very issue. When the knowledge of God has been brought to a community or nation or cultural order, when it has born fruit in that sphere, when it has been understood and broadly accepted, and then, in time, when it is consciously and widely rejected, there has always been repercussions. Christians are to pray for the peace of the city in which they dwell, but like Daniel they are to stand for the truth of God in the very face of radical denials. Apart from this vigorous witness the culture is left without hope.
Christians should see these signs as a call to repentance on their part and not a cause of anger at the atheists themselves. We obviously have our work cut out for us and we had better get off the materialistic band-wagon that we have in common with these atheists and start speaking, living and loving as our Christ has given us command to obey.
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