Rise of Atheism

Answering atheism by carrying the cross joyfully

06/17/2019

Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

I’d like to say a word about something very sad, namely, the rise of atheism, the belief that God does not exist. Some recent polls have shown that 20% of Europeans do not believe that there is a God. Do you have any children or grandchildren who not only question Christianity but even a basic belief in God himself? And for many modern people God has become irrelevant, and only about as useful as the old grandfather clock in the corner that’s pretty to look at but also pretty useless to tell time. The Deity has become reduced to the décor furnishing a house, like a cross on the wall that’s hardly noticed or a bible on the nightstand that’s collecting dust.

I would suggest, moreover, that the two greatest contenders to God’s sovereignty are science and suffering. Since the 18th century Enlightenment and the French Revolution, human reason and science have explained the causes and finalities of things better than God ever did. We went from calling the cosmos “creation” to calling it “nature.” The word “creation” suggests a Creator, but the word “nature” suggests nothing. And science, driven by human reason, tries to give sufficient explanations for nature, without recourse to God.

Secondly, suffering. Nothing makes us doubt God’s goodness, God’s love, and God’s power like seeing the innocent suffer. Last week a parishioner asked me to pray for a baby named Patrick Callahan, who was born without any bones in his chest, meaning his chest cavity is essentially imploding. The doctor’s said he will not live but for a few days. I couldn’t help but wonder: where is God’s love, God’s goodness, God’s power? Why did he create this innocent child to suffer and die after a few days? And the coup de grace, the final death blow, given to God will be when science saves the suffering baby, not a miracle from heaven. The baby will live and God will die.

This is the reason the scriptures today talk about believing in the midst of suffering. Why? So that Christianity’s contenders cannot use suffering as a weapon against God. St. Paul boasts in his sufferings, saying: “We are treated as deceivers and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” In other words, Paul does not see suffering as proof that God does not exist; rather as the evidence that he does exist. Why? Well, because God gives us the grace to endure the cross with joy and peace. In short, the cross makes us more like Christ.

And in the gospel Jesus urges his disciples to see suffering as a sign of the strength of their apostolic ministry. He teaches: “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” In other words, human science has struck God on the right cheek, and how did the Creator respond to his rebellious creation? He turned the other cheek so human suffering could strike him there as well. Just like Jesus was beaten by the blows of the Roman soldiers, so God is beaten up by the blows of the modern soldiers of atheism named science and suffering. In the end, however, the cross will make us more like Christ, and believing in God while we’re being beaten up will prove to the world God exists, as he strengthens us to carry the cross.

Last week we had our vacation bible school for 3 year olds to third graders. They played games, read bible stories, and danced and sang songs about their faith. One of the VBS volunteers painted a pallet that summarized the message of the whole week. The top plank of wood read, “God is good.” The next plank read: “When life is unfair.” The third plank read: “When life is scary.” The four plank read: “When life is sad.” The fifth plank read: “When life changes.” And the last plank read: “When life is good.” Fortunately, for most of those small children life has not been too unfair or very scary or really sad. But it will be someday. And we’re trying to teach them not to lose their faith when their Christianity feels beaten up by science or by suffering.

Honestly, I am not sure how to stop the rise of atheism. The only answer I can offer is the same one given by St. Paul and Jesus: embrace suffering with joy and peace. In other words, the best answer to atheism is to become more like Christ. And even little Patrick Callahan was a lot like Christ.

Praised be Jesus Christ!