Does an Atheist Have Greater Belief and Faith Than You?

Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well!  I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #56!  
 
I just want to thank you for tuning in with us today, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.  It means everything to me to share the messages that God’s lays on my heart to share.  
 
And, as always, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord, not just another podcast episode.   

Quick ask – if you’ve found value in these episodes, would you take 30 seconds after the show to go to submit a quick review and star-rating in your app.  This is what potential listeners look for when deciding whether to give a show a listen – which is confirmation from other listeners that it can bring value.  Would you do that for me, IF and only IF you find value in these episodes?  I can’t thank you enough.

So, without further delay, let’s get ready to invite God in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.   
 
So, today’s topic is on “Does an Atheist Have Greater Belief and Faith Than You?”

I know this sounds like such a bizarre theme for a Christian podcast and a crazy title.  It’s as crazy sounding as it is a reality, unfortunately.  What do I mean by “a greater faith and belief” you ask?  I thought they didn’t have faith and didn’t believe, I’m sure you’re thinking.  Oh, but they do!  And it’s scary to know that most atheists are more vocal on their faith and belief than today’s Christians are or supposed Christians I guess would be a better title.

Before I even begin, I want to say (and I don’t believe I’ve ever said this in any prior episode) that with this episode and every episode I’ve created to date, with God and the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance – I’m always speaking to myself first.  Yes – I’m talking to myself first, and you the audience, second.  I’ve either been convicted recently, in the past, or going through something – and so I write about it as the Lord is helping me through it or has helped me overcome or go through it.  It’s now 44 years into my life and God through The Holy Spirit are, simply put, downloading information and wisdom to me that I have never known – most all is right in the Bible and I just never took notice, nor did any church ever speak about it, OR, it’s being given to me as I’m living the life He’s prepared for me here on Earth, and He is speaking to me and teaching me things, answering questions, providing answers to questions I didn’t even have, if that makes sense!  So, this is yet another reveal that He’s given me lately that is my own conviction….my own “shaming” if you will.  I’m getting to believe and understand it is also His way of shaking me awake, or in current terms, kicking my butt into shape.  He’s not allowing me to stay complacent or comfortable, like I had been my whole life – He wants me to keep running HIS race that He has laid out for me, not my race that I’ve laid out for myself.  And so, I believe, as some of you may be now, in a state of a groove, or ‘flow’, that seems right and for the most part is, but it’s not gaining any momentum.  It’s not driving the results for the Kingdom that it COULD be if you don’t change direction/course/action/mentality/tenacity/intensity.  Do you understand where I’m coming from?

So, I noticed that atheists – and when I say atheists, I’m referring to those that do not believe there is a God as well as those that don’t care if there is one or not – they have their own beliefs and aren’t compelled to seek out, believe, or deny the existence of God – they just don’t care.  To me, they’re both in the same category.  So I noticed that those that don’t believe tend to have a strong belief and faith in something, just not in God – OUR GOD; the ONLY God; our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  They are convinced that this life is all there is – perhaps they’ll reincarnate when they die as many believe, perhaps, they just simply turn to ash and bone and exist nowhere – just cease to exist any longer; some belief we’ll be alive in the universe somewhere – in another dimension, and many others don’t even think of the afterlife.  They set their days, every day, on themselves and what makes THEM happy.  What makes THEM content.  What makes THEM move towards whatever goals THEY have for THEMSELVES.  They are determined, to a great degree to live towards their believes and faith in what they trust most – themselves and those around them.  Everyone, except for Christians and of course, our Lord.  

According to Pew Research Center, one of the largest research companies globally, in a 2019 study stated - The vast majority of U.S. atheists say religion is not too or not at all important in their lives (93%) and that they seldom or never pray (97%). At the same time, many do not see a contradiction between atheism and pondering their place in the world. About a third of American atheists say they think about the meaning and purpose of life at least weekly (35%), and that they often feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being (31%). In fact, the Religious Landscape Study shows that atheists are more likely than U.S. Christians to say they often feel a sense of wonder about the universe (54% vs. 45%).

The literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods,” according to Merriam-Webster. And the vast majority of U.S. atheists fit this description: 81% say they do not believe in God or a higher power or in a spiritual force of any kind. (Overall, 10% of American adults share this view.) At the same time, roughly one-in-five self-described atheists (18%) say they do believe in some kind of higher power. None of the atheists that Pew Research Center surveyed, however, say they believe in “God as described in the Bible.”

What really compelled me as of late is the realization that I see more camaraderie, as a whole (in their entirety), more cohesiveness, more agreeability, and more joy (although it is not spiritual or better put, from God) in their lives and actions than I do, again – as a whole, in most professing Christians lives!!!  Yes, you heard me right and you’re probably shaking your head in dismay and disagreement with me as you’re listening to me right now.  A few of you, are likely right in alignment and know where I’m headed, as you’re seeing this in today’s society, we find ourselves in at the current moment, as well.  There seems to be more peace and stability and joy in the lives of atheists than professing Christians.  They have no Bible to argue about!  They have no God, or Jesus Christ, or Holy Spirit to disagree about or contend with, or so they believe.  They have comfortable clicks and circles they stay within, and they love the world, and the world loves them – just as the Bible states.  Just as Jesus stated in Matthew 24, today’s society is as they were in the days of Lot.  They are merry, drinking, partying, making lots of money, living their best life, as they claim, and making every day as fun and profitable as they can.

However, I cannot say the same about the majority of professing Christians, as a whole.  And I’d wager, neither can you.  I’m not speaking directly to YOU in particular, or in YOUR church, or in your circle of Christian friends – and I’m not claiming you’re a ‘professing Christian’ vs. a ‘True Christian’ either.  Again, and as always – if the shoe fits – kick it off!!!!

You want proof?  Join an online, and dare I say, a Christian FB group.  Stay in it at least a week and read the posts and comments.  You’ll see some of the worst hypocrisy, foolishness, blasphemy, hatefulness, anger, biblically incorrectness, and outright cold-hearted individuals you will have ever met.  These are those I speak of.  It’s bad – it’s really bad.  It’s not just one or two or three groups – it’s just about ALL of them!  The larger the group – 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 100,00+ members and it feels like you finally know what Jesus was referring to when He used the term, “brood of vipers” to the Pharisees and Sadducees.  These are worse!!!  I’m not saying every member, or every professing member – but a significant majority!  Then, you go and join a few non-Christian groups – like I’m in a few guitar groups because I’m into playing guitar and like to have a little guitar fun every once in awhile…they’re peaceful, they’re happy, they’re friendly, they get along, they’re helpful towards one another, they provide assurance, and pats on the back, and compliments galore…. why?  Because they’re good and faithful servants of the Lord and are true Christians???  NO – most are NOT!!!  The significant majority are in the atheist’s category!!!!  Yet what they believe and have faith in, is enough to reflect Christian-like action and demeanor.  It’s flip-flopped.  Somethings not right with this picture!!!!  They come across as true Christians while the professing Christians come off as aetheists!!!  

Same goes for any other outside group.  Don’t believe me?  Go join a few of each – many of you already do and see this happening.  There is NO doubt why they don’t wish to ‘convert’ to Christianity!!!!!  Most will never read their Bibles – they read Christians!  And other Christians that don’t read their Bibles – they read Atheists and Christians.  And to be 100% as transparent and honest as I always am – If I was an atheist, I would never want to be a Christian either!!!!!  I would stay as far away from so-called “Christians” as I could!!!!   Of course, that would be solely based on what I see – what I gather or conclude by witnessing how they act vs. how atheists act.   And here’s what’s even worse – or just as bad – many professing Christians so not stand out from the world – you wouldn’t know they believe in a god called GOD.  You wouldn’t know or even believe they read the Bible or go to church!  Why?  Because they don’t act any different.  Nothing separates them from the rest of the world – they blend in and what’s worse, they’re standing out now looking more confused and at war with one another’s theology than atheists are!!!  How is that for pathetic irony?!??!

So, why do atheists seem today more put together than many professing Christians?  Because they’re not trying to pretend to be something they’re not.  Yes, you heard me right and I’m going to repeat that – someone needs to hear this – It’s because they’re not trying to pretend to be something they’re not.  They are who they are and don’t put on a mask.  They don’t give themselves a label because they attend an occasional hour long service on a Sunday.  They’re not lukewarm and despised by Jesus enough for Him to vomit them out of His mouth, because they are just flat, cold.  They are getting the best this life and this world have to offer them, and they’re responding in kind.  Heck, some even worship the world and the atmosphere around us, including the universe – they’re that appreciative!   As Jesus said many times about many groups – they have their reward here (because they will not receive one in the Kingdom of God).  So their best live IS in and of this world – because their next will be eternal torment and punishment that will never end.  That’s why it’s so critical, perhaps more so today than ever in history, to witness and preach the gospel to the lost.  There’s hope in Jesus Christ, until they take their last breath here on Earth.  That last breath will be the best breath they’ll ever have, for eternity – no matter in what manner they perish.  Isn’t that a horrible thought?  No – isn’t that a horrible REALITY!??!!  What are we doing to reach them as Jesus commanded us to?

So where does that leave the rest of us….Christians?   What are we doing with our faith and our beliefs?  What are we doing to run the race that He has set before us.  Are we even on the same race track anymore?  Are we even in the same state as we were when we were first saved?  Are we any different that before we first believed?  Are we worse?  Are we following the Bible?  Are we following the two greatest commandments that Jesus spoke of – daily?  To love God with every fiber of our being and to love others as ourselves and to serve, not be served?  I’m talking to ME HERE!!!!!   Everyday I wake up – every day YOU wake up, it’s God giving you another day to….what?  What would be your answer if I turned that into a question?  Let’s do it – Mr./Ms. Listener – everyday that God gives you another day on His Earth, what is it you chose to do with it?  What is it that GOD wants you to do with each day He gives you as a gift from Him to you?  Because that is EXACTLY what it is – a gift from Him to you…..TO DO HIS WILL!!!!!  Jesus said that only those that do the will of the Father will inherit the Kingdom.  Do you think He was exaggerating???  Do you think He was just in a bad mood and said that out of frustration????  No!   Like EVERYTHING He said and that is written in the Word, it is 100% true – doesn’t matter if we agree or like it.  It’s true!





1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


 Wow! Those are some strong words written by the Apostle Paul. “Worse than an unbeliever.” Why would Paul speak in such a manner?   Regarding this verse, it was once written, “The Christian who falls below the best heathen standard of family affection is more blameworthy, since he has what the heathen has not, the supreme example of love in Jesus Christ.”  That quote is very helpful because it applies to more than just how we care for our family.   We have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ to guide us as we relate to our neighbors.   We have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ to guide us as we relate to our co-workers.   We have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ to guide us as we relate to our enemies.   We have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ to guide us as we relate to our church family.   We have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ to guide us as we relate to authority.   The list is endless …. you fill in the what’s missing. 

The point is that we have the ultimate example of love in Jesus Christ and that should determine how we interact with all people. 
Tall standards. Love always raises the bar and asks us to respond in ways that stretch us, inconvenience us, and sometimes exhaust us.   As you think about what I have shared, perhaps you want to think about your own family, or those that I just mentioned. Ask God to show you what it would look like to love them as Christ would. Then ask Him to help you to do it. 
Lastly, I want to read you 12 verses and stay connected – don’t disconnect yet because this is the most important part of today’s episode and it comes from God’s Word.  The following verses, no one ever shared with me at church growing up.  In fact, perhaps that is one of many reasons why I discarded Jesus for most of my life – I thought John 3:16 covered me no matter what I did.  Had I known these then, perhaps I would’ve taken God more seriously and my professing faith and belief then.  For I was worse than an unbeliever and would be in hell this very day had I died at any time between August 20th, 1977 and April 7th, 2019.

Revelation 3:15-16 -  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
1 John 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
Titus 1:16 - They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.
Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
1 Corinthians 13:2 - If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Isaiah 29:13 - The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."
1 John 3:8-10 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.

James 4:4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.



So, in closing, my final statement is this:  
Many will go before God and they will be denied Heaven and God’s wrath will be upon them. If any of the following resonate with you personally, today is the day to repent and get as close to God as you can, so He can become as close as you’ll allow Him to be.
 
• You only come to God when you have a problem.
• Your Christianity is what can God do for you? How can He make your life better?
• You don’t obey the Word of God and even try to twist Scripture to justify sin. You call obeying the Bible legalism or radical.
• You think you are a Christian because you do good deeds or go to church. You live like a devil 6 days a week but are holy on Sunday.

• You compromise with the world because it’s the most popular choice.

• You only want to be Christian because you are afraid of hell.

• You have no repentance. You’re not truly sorry for your sins nor do you really want to change.

• You think you’re saved because you compare yourselves to others around you, rather comparing yourself to Jesus and what the Bible says.
• You never or rarely share your faith.

• You care more of what others think rather than the Lord.

• You don’t have new desires for Christ and never did or only once did, in the past.

• You are not willing to make sacrifices. If you do make sacrifices it will be close to nothing and it won’t affect you at all.

• You like to say or think things like “do not judge.”


So, my final question to you is this:  Have you ever convinced yourself that you don't have to give up something that clearly conflicts with your faith? Periods of compromise don't automatically make you a lukewarm Christian, but a continued pattern of behavior without repentance, which reveals a lack of commitment to God, does.
Do you have more belief and faith in God than an atheist who doesn’t?  How do you know?
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So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by today’s message and scripture.  If you’d like to reach out to me, please call me directly at 4074933208, email me at ben@shaken-awake.com, or check out the show at shaken-awake.com.
 
Next week!!!!  Tune in Next Sunday – or WHENEVER YOU’RE ABLE, as we discuss “How to Fully Surrender to God” and I will also share some exciting news about an additional podcast or podcasts (yes, that’s plural) that I will be starting, and it may surprise some of you!
Next week’s episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!  
Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.