[Faith-talk] FW: [masterslist] Practical Atheism

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "Dean Masters" <dwmasters at earthlink.net>
To: "masters list" <masterslist at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [masterslist] Practical Atheism
Date: 
Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:30:06 -0400

Practical Atheism?

Have you ever met an atheist?  An atheist believes there is no God.  Do
you 
know what God's response to that is?  "The fool has said in his heart, 
'There
is no God'"
(Ps. 14:1).

While no Christian would ever be guilty of being an atheist, many
Christians 
are guilty of being practical atheists.  Practical atheism does not
believe 
there
is no God; practical atheism lives as if there is no God.  Could you be a

practical atheist?

THE PRACTICAL ATHEISM TEST

Notice the convicting similarities between atheism and practical atheism:

1.  An atheist does not pray. So many Christians do not really pray. 
They 
may mumble something with a bowed head before dinner or before bed, but 
there
is no real time to seek God in prayer. The Lord says in the Book of
James, 
"You do not have because you do not ask" (Jas. 4:2).

2.  An atheist does not read the Bible.  So many Christians do not read
the 
Bible.  The average Christian is very susceptible to the devil's lies 
because
he/she does not take time to read and study God's Word.

3.  An atheist walks by sight, not faith.  So many Christians do the same

thing.  They fail to evaluate their situation in light of God's
miraculous 
power,
so they worry and fear and fail to simply trust God.  How quickly we
forget, 
"Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God" (Heb. 11:6).

4.  An atheist does not give to the Lord's work.  So many Christians do
not 
either.  Many Christians spend more money on their pets than they do the 
Kingdom
of God. A recent statistic revealed that if all the members in an 
average-sized church were on welfare, and each one tithed, the giving to 
that church
would double.  WOW!

5.  An atheist lives only for this life.  So many Christians are guilty
of 
the same.  They store up their treasure on earth.  They live and plan as
if 
this
temporary, mortal life is all that matters.  They make decisions with
only 
earth in mind, not heaven.  The Bible says, "The eyes of a fool are on
the 
ends
of the earth" (Prov. 17:24).

CHANGE ME, LORD!

If some of those similarities are too close for comfort, don't sink down
in 
guilt and shame.  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  Confess it as sin, and ask God
to
change your heart.  Tell Him that you do not want to live another day as
if 
He were not alive and able to work miracles.

The story is told of Martin Luther, the great Christian reformer of the 
1500s.  There was a time in his Christian life when he was very depressed 
for days
on end.  His wife, Kate, came into his study all dressed in black as if
she 
were in mourning.   Luther asked her what exactly she was mourning:

 "Have you not heard?" she questioned.  "God is dead."
 Luther responded, "Woman!  That is absurd!  God is not dead!"
 "Well," she replied, "if God is not dead, then stop living like He is!"

My friend, God is not dead, He is alive and well.  He still answers
prayer, 
He still speaks through His Word, He still blesses when we honor Him with

our
wealth, He still moves mountains when we come to Him with a mustard seed
of 
faith, and He still rewards those who diligently seek Him.

No matter what you are facing today, God is able.  Take Him at His Word
and 
trust Him!!  Determine to live every day in the light of His presence. 
Remember,
His name is Jehovah Shammah, "the Lord ever-present."  He is ever-present

for you this day and every day.  Live like it!

Love,

Jeff Schreve

Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff at fromhisheart.org
1-877-777-6171

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana,
Texas. 
He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are
blessed 
with
three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and 
television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely 
listener/viewer
supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of 
people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts

go to
further the broadcast.



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I personally know someone who is literally older than dirt.
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