Thursday, July 8, 2010

Christian Atheism

This past Sunday I was in Books a Million in Pigeon Forge and noticed a book titled Christian Atheism. The title really interested me. So when I got home the next day I searched the internet wondering what this book could be about. It is such an interesting concept. Reading Wikipedia's article I was confused as to what it means: Christian Atheism- is a belief system in which the God of Christianity is rejected, but the moral teachings of Jesus are followed. I was confused in reading this and wondering why this book titled Christian Atheism was in the Christianity section of Books a Million.

So two days later I went to another Books a Million location and decided to take a gander what was inside the book. The author, Craig Groeschel, writes a letter to his readers. Knowing I don't have enough time to read the entire book in one sitting and not wanting to pay for the book, I decided just to read the letter to the readers. In the letter Groeschel states that he likes to strike up conversations on airplanes with the people sitting near him. One particular flight he struck up a conversation with a college girl who was a "baptist." However her lifestyle didn't always represent that she was a "baptist." Groeschel calls this girl a Christian Atheist, because she understands and somewhat follows Christ's teachings, but didn't live as if God were in existence.

Groeschel then called himself a Christian Atheist. Of course he isn't purposely a Christian Atheist, it's just he will put stuff before God, but will still keep the Christian look on the outside. After reading this I got to thinking how big of a Christian Atheist I am. Of course just like Groeschel, I'm not purposely practicing Christian Atheism. It's just that often times (I use often loosely, I should use always), I put something before spending time with God. I will watch TV, Volquest, go to sleep, go to a friend's house, read Harry Potter, eat an apple, or whatever else there could be. Of course I do all this, while still acting and doing morally right. Sure I will mess up on the morals part, but I'll immediately get back on the right path.

So what can I do to not be a Christian Atheist? I guess it will have to do what Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach strived to do in Practicing His Presence and what Paul instructed us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing," and in Ephesians 6:18 "pray continually.

And I'll probably fail at all times in doing this.