Faith

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(everyone believes in God, …even if you don’t admit it now)

There is a saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes.”  I have never been in a foxhole, but I can say I have been in a life and death situation with a group of people.  During that intense time, when our lives hung in the balance and we faced death or injury, I witnessed everyone becoming devoted believers in God.  

As a pastor, I witnessed the same thing in people’s lives when it comes to death, tragedies, and big events (positive or negative) with an undetermined outcome.  Every person I have known in any of these situations turns toward God.

When people encounter large events in their lives, nothing seems to matter more than God (the event or undetermined outcome comes in at a close second).  One could argue in these situations that God is the thing that matters most to people, but it takes losing so much or not knowing one’s imminent future to admit it.        …then why don’t people pursue God when they aren’t in those situations?

A great quote from someone who claims not to have faith in God is from Ayn Rand.

“As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy.  Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation - or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single solid weight: self doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown.”

Ayn Rand, Philosophy: Who Needs It (New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1982) New York: Signet, 1984.

Many people’s understanding, belief, and faith in God (including many Christians) is just as shallow and in times of need is often thrown together in a last ditch effort for comfort and reassurance. It is sad that what some claim is really important to them in reality isn't important.  

I have seen it in every demographic, no matter how poor, rich, innocent, educated, tough, sensitive, bitter, or good natured.  A question I would ask those reading this is, “have you mentioned something in relation to God, heaven, Jesus, etc. when clearly your theology and life shows little understanding of what you just stated?” 

If you find yourself in this category, I would urge you to ponder your spirituality now rather than when an event is looming in front of you.  It is during those times you will call on God, or even say you believe in Jesus. But remember what the Lord said about just believing in God rather than living a life by that belief, "You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder." James 2:19

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