JRMI: Jerry Robinson Ministries International

The New Atheism: Part 4

Written by Jerry Robinson
Originally Posted on 5/7/2007

Part 4: Towards A More Reasoned Faith For An Age of Reason

Through this series of articles, I have attempted to demonstrate the inadequacies that the American Church has had over the course of the last few centuries. My goal was to clearly present the problem so that a solution could be sought. Solutions do not materialize on their own. Rather, solutions emerge only when the problem has been clearly identified and a group of people become convinced that the problem is worth correcting. Therefore, in our case, the problem has been clearly identified. The problem facing the American church today is its continued emphasis upon emotionalism and its de-emphasis of reason. Why is this a problem? Because we are living in the “information age,” not the “emotionalism age.” While it is true that many people today are seeking after an “experience,” the emerging generation is much more skeptical than ever. Most people today want facts and information. If they are going to be asked to believe something incredible, they want simple facts. Just because you are convinced that Christ has resurrected from the dead and is returning soon does not mean that the minds of others have been likewise illuminated. Why do you believe what you believe? Have you investigated for yourself, or did Grandma’s persuasive stories about Adam and Eve, and Jonah and the Whale convince you of the reality of your faith. If you are simply believing a story because someone else told you that it was true, then you will not be able to fulfill the words of 1 Peter 3:15 which says:

“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.”

In this final article of this series, I would like to suggest five quick strategies in which you, the reader, can de-emphasize emotionalism and emphasize reason in your Christian faith and life.

I preface these five strategies with this comment: As Christians we must rely upon the Holy Spirit and not merely upon on own minds. The Holy Spirit is capable of doing more in a second than we can do in an entire lifetime. But relying upon the Holy Spirit has been a point of great confusion for many of today’s Christians.

Relying on the Holy Spirit does not mean:

that we quit thinking
that we quit learning
that we quit engaging
and that we expend no mental sweat

Rather, relying on the Holy Spirit means that we allow God to guide our spirits and our minds as He wishes.

5 Suggestions to De-Emphasize Emotions and to Re-Emphasize Reason

1) Give yourself permission to ask why you believe what you believe

When God’s people begin to ask why they what they believe, many new apologists will be born in the church. Today, there are relatively few eloquent apologists within the church as a whole. In the battle that we see being waged in our culture, today’s churches should seeking ways to serve as an incubator for those who wish to serve in the honorable role as an apologist.

FACT: Christians who don’t know why they believe what they believe will convince no one to believe.

2) Do not base your Christian faith upon emotions.

Base them upon reason. There is nothing wrong with feelings. They are God-given. But our feelings overstep their God-given boundaries when we rank them over our reason. This is what much of our culture has done. Emotions are great, but they cannot identify truth. Trying to discern truth with your feelings is like trying to smell a flower with your ear. Good luck!

As a Christian apologist, I have been in several staged debates in which my Christian counterparts would become so frustrated with others over their lack of belief that they would slip into emotional ranting. “Reason” is what the Apostle Paul used and it is what informed Christian apologists use today.

Finally, take time to do a simple study of the life Jesus. It will demonstrate that Christ set the perfect balanced example for us when it comes to feeling vs. thinking.

3) Teach and model the Christian life to your children

I remember hearing one young student tell his professor that he knew without a shadow of a doubt that Christ had indeed risen from the dead. When asked by his professor how he knew, his response was: “I know that I know that I know”) While that kind of language may work in your church on Sunday morning, unbelievers need a little bit more evidence than that. Parents and the Church have both stumbled in this area and have left Christian young people extremely vulnerable to atheistic professors who have an ax to grind. STAT: 80% of Christian College students admit to losing their faith in during their college years.

Parents, begin to teach and train your children about the realities that await them in the real world. But parents, never forget that at some point your children will begin following your example instead of your advice. If your daily life doesn’t reflect your belief system, do not expect theirs to either. Therefore, teach, and then just as importantly, model the Christian life for your children.

4) Don’t apologize for the gospel

Karl Marx, a vehement atheist, called Religion “the opiate for the masses.” But isn’t that how the gospel is promoted to unbelievers?

“Be a better person!”
“Become a better you!”
“Overcome Loneliness”
“Overcome Depression”
“Live the Life of your Dreams!”
“Find your Purpose”

While all of those topics are great and important in their own right, they really have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I challenge you to find any scripture where someone is led to Christ with those types of ploys.

You see, when you and I treat the gospel like that, we make it sound optional. It is not optional. There are only two roads: Life and death.

The fact that man is a sinner and that a Savior stands ready to forgive his sin is the sweetest news in the world!

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the Gospel. You are a sinner. You need a Savior. As sinners, we have one problem and one problem only. Sin. It is a cancer that will kill us eternally without intervention. God promises that he will heal us from the sin that ravages our body like a cancer and make us new creatures in Christ Jesus. That is the good news. Everything else is icing on the cake. But when we sell the icing as the cake, we are elevating gift above giver.

Unfortunately, this over-emphasis upon “feelings” has turned many people away from Christ who feel that they need nothing. The truth is every person needs Christ whether he “FEELS” that need or not. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true regardless of your feelings.

Never apologize for the gospel. It is the best news in the world!

5) Find a pet topic and become an “expert” in it

The Body of Christ needs people who are passionate about the things of God. God has gifted each of us in certain ways. Find a particular book of the Bible that interests you and commit to studying it. Or, find a topic that really interests you and become an “expert” in it. For example, 13 years ago, I began studying Eschatology, Church History, and Middle Eastern and Jewish History & culture. And today, 13 years later, I still am learning. In 1999, I embarked on a major study of Islam. My self-study has aided me greatly when I am confronted with an unbeliever who needs Christ.

The church’s slow drift into anti-intellectualism has led to a lack of boldness in confronting educated unbelievers. Christians many times come off as shallow, defensive, and reactionary instead of thoughtful, confident and articulate. But we don’t have to fall into that trap.

The truth is, God wants us to love and glorify Him with all of our minds. Will we allow the enemy to gain entrance through our heritage of retreat? Or will we the church, regain the look of blood in our eyes and fight the good fight of faith, no matter what the costs?

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JRMI: Jerry Robinson Ministries International

Challenging Believers to Think and Thinkers to Believe

The New Atheism: Part 4