This week’s been a blur. I’ve been too busy living to write about it. (I’ve even had some fun!)
But a passage I read has been haunting me. I share it with you as a Lenten thought to chew on over the weekend:
“Without trust in the good news of Jesus, without trust in the good news of God’s saving work even in this moment, without an active moment-to-moment trust in the good news of an all-sovereign, all-good God, how can we claim to fully believe? This is the trust I lack: to know that if disaster strikes, He carries me even there. Trust in the wholeness of the gospel—including this moment, good news too—and be saved. Choose stress, worry, anxiety, reject what God has given now, which is good news, too—refuse to trust—and be condemned.
I’ve just begun to feel around the outside edges of it, here in crumbling economics, the fretfulness of parenting, the dizziness of the twenty-first-century spin. Just begun to realize it, and it catches in the throat:
If authentic, saving belief is the act of trusting, then to choose stress is an act of disbelief… atheism.
Anything less than gratitude and trust is practical atheism.”
Ann Voskamp (emphasis hers and mine.)
Wow.
More on this topic later. Traveling again tomorrow… gotta pack and clean. But I will be meditating on this passage for days to come.
Please read the last prayer request (click on praying lady on the right) and join me in praying for our friend Susan.
Safe journeys, wherever you go. May we all be granted greater trust.
p.s. The tsunami was a non-event here in LA. But it made for a reflective morning.
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2 comments:
You seem to have a big problem with atheism. It really isn't the opposite of good. You write about it like it is a horrible thing. Atheists are good people and bad people just like Christians.
Many atheists know much more about the Bible and religion than religious people do. Knowledge is power.
Dear Anonymous,
Welcome!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond.
First, I need to point out that I was not writing about the topic of atheism. Perhaps if you re-read the post, you will notice that those words were not mine; they were a quote from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I stated that I was contemplating the meaning of a passage I’d read.
I have been blogging for almost three years now, and I don’t remember ever actually even addressing the topic of atheism. Thus, I don’t understand why you assume that I “have a problem with it” or that I think atheists are either “bad” or “good,” and that atheism is a “horrible thing.” I have never made statements to that effect. I don’t have a personal problem with anyone else’s spiritual life, or lack thereof. (Although I might experience sadness and compassion if I feel that the person is missing something that would make his/her life more meaningful.) I have enough issues to deal with in my own life. I judge no one. That is not my job or purpose on earth. I am blessed with a great diversity of friends, many of whom do not share my beliefs or worldview. We are still able to enjoy and appreciate each other and our relationships. It is to be hoped that the exchange of intelligent ideas between people of different faiths can be a growing experience for all involved.
I am assuming that you are a recent visitor, or you might have been more familiar with the context of the blog. If you had read the information at the top, (i.e. “Who am I?” or “Why?”) you would have known that the blog is stated to be the autobiographical musings of someone who holds a Christian world-view. The emphasis is on personal spiritual growth. My stories, thoughts, and experiences are shared in the hope that they might be of some value to those whose aspirations are similar to mine. (i.e., those who are pursuing the development of a more vibrant, consistent faith.) So, obviously, a lack of faith (“practical atheism”) would be the antithesis of that desire.
I agree wholeheartedly with your statement that “many atheists know much more about the Bible and religion than religious people do.” As a matter of fact, you have reminded me of a post I started a long time ago and have been meaning to come back to. If you are interested in more on this topic, please check back in the next few days.
Again, I do thank you for your comment. It is a gift to have the input of those who are coming from different places. Discourse with those who aren’t in our own little coterie is challenging in a good way.
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