Evangelical Apostasy

MMR Men’s Group March 16, 2018

In the “Old Christendom”, Christians increasingly encounter currents that pull people away from God, often at first by simply encouraging doubt, disconnection and drift in agnosticism and apathy. There are prophets of spirituality without moorings, and of a godless “good life”. While secular western culture retains many of the values of Christian teaching, the central role of Christ and the Church in the formation of Western thought and ethics is often overlooked or disavowed. Increasingly the notion of Christ as the foundation of morality and example of selfless virtue is rejected, even regarded as anachronistic. Man has always set up false gods without openly disavowing the God of the bible, however today many overtly and militantly reject God and the idea of God, ridiculing a God-centered world view and a selfless God-centered life. There are strident voices that reject the idea of God as author of history and as the infinite intellect behind science, and One to whom we owe thanks and praise. One might call this evangelical apostasy. The agnostics and apathetic are prey to evangelical apostasy, and ultimately, to Satin. Christ speaks to the apathetic, and to the evangelical apostate:

To the Agnostic and the Apathetic: Rev 3:15-20:

¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Of one who misleads:

Luke 17:1-2 (P1)Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! (2)It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

The Subtle Voice of Evangelical Apostasy

Dear Friend,

The mission of the Richard Dawkins Foundation is to promote scientific literacy and a secular worldview. Some might see this as two distinct missions: 1) Teaching the value of science, and 2) Advancing secularism.

Yes, those are my foundation’s goals. You will not be surprised to learn that my personal priority is science as one of the highest and most aesthetically rewarding achievements of the human spirit.

But permit me to trace the connection between science and the other preoccupation of my foundation, the advancement of secularism. I see those goals as interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

You are well familiar with the existential challenges of global climate change and unsustainable population growth facing mankind and the planet. Of all the forces opposing an evidence-based response, religion is the most active — and it is especially strong in America.

Religious extremism not only interferes with the advance of science but with personal freedoms and human dignity, and not only in places where jihadists hold sway but in America as well, in areas such as access to contraception, LGBTQ rights and women’s equality.

Critical thinking is the real saviour of humankind. My foundation promotes respect for people who hold critical thinking as a cherished personal value and use it in day-to-day life.

The logical counter to religious extremism is people who rely on evidence to make decisions. Yet the voice of secular people is maligned in this country. Forty-five percent of Americans think you have to believe in God to be moral. Secular voices are considered immoral. They are not listened to on that basis.

We must counter this baseless hostility to allow the contributions of secular people in vital national debates to count. Making secular views and people welcome in politics and policy-making will advance human safety, security, health, achievement, prosperity and most of all, science.

Please accept my personal thanks for your interest in the foundation. If you agree with our mission, please consider becoming one of us. If you are already a member and supporter, thank you for standing with me.

My greatest hope is that together we can change society for the better.

Warmly,

Richard Dawkins

God Speaks on Those Who Fail to Recognize Him in His Works

Wisdom 13:1-9

Foolish by nature were all who were in ignorance of God,

and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing the one who is,^*

and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;^a

(2)Instead either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,

or the luminaries of heaven, the governors^* of the world, they considered gods.^b

(3)Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,

let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these;

for the original source of beauty fashioned them.^c

(4)Or if they were struck by their might and energy,

let them realize from these things how much more powerful is the one who made them.^d

(5)For from the greatness and the beauty of created things

their original author, by analogy, is seen.

(6)But yet, for these the blame is less;^* For they have gone astray perhaps,

though they seek God and wish to find him.

(7)For they search busily among his works,

but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.

(8)But again, not even these are pardonable.

(9)For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world,

how did they not more quickly find its Lord?

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever sensed that others felt your pursuit of faith was trite, cute, uninformed, outdated, reflective of resorting to superstition over reason and evidence?

2. What advice can you pass to your brothers to strengthen them when their faith is challenged and shaken by others?

3. How would you plant doubt in those who are smug and overt in their rejection of God?