They never knew the LORD

 I’ve heard and read the testimonies of people who once identified themselves as Christians but now are a collection of atheists, agnostics and so called ‘free thinkers.’ Most of the  testimonials they call ‘eximonies,’ are from people who relate one sort of dissatisfaction with their Christian peer group or church which resulted in a total rejection of that peer group’s beliefs. In many cases the peer group included family members and/or friends, which means broken relationships that can seriously damage the psyche of the rejected.  In seeking solace for themselves many have become cynical of all faiths and resort to atheism  in it’s various forms to validate themselves and denigrate those who rejected them. There in the company of other non-believers they find welcome and are provided a new purpose of commonality in attacking those who believe in god.They find the ‘non-god’ approach liberating, freeing themselves of the restrictions once imposed on them by their religious peers. The fact of the matter is:  They never knew the Lord in the first place, and never were in-fact Christians.

There are others who testify to having had a genuine conversion to Christ at one time in their life, but rejected their conversion because they found their theology couldn’t answer some of life’s most troubling questions. So their rejection of Christ is based more on intellectual grounds than the social grounds of those mentioned above. The only bonds they share with each other are a strong animosity toward those who embrace the Christ of the Bible, real Christians who do know (have a relationship with) the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those I’ve met of these ‘former Christians,’ either in person or through correspondence have demonstrated hostility both to Christianity in general and me in particular. Though they claim to reject all religions, their expression of rejection is focused almost exclusively on Christianity. There was one such person I attempted to reach out to on a blog by this rather innocuous, although admittedly overused statement, “God really does love you and has a plan for your life.” That statement was immediately met by some of the most rude, crude and belligerent statements ever made to me. Finally I discontinued corresponding because my comments were being altered and degrading icons were being posted into my comments boxes (i. e. depicting an elf defecating among other things). The plain and simple fact is that none of them – not one, ever knew the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the course of my correspondence I met Mr. Dan Barker. He is a musician, author, lecturer, debater and head of the ffrf (freedom from religion foundation) a former Christian, evangelist and pastor. I thought I might have met him in the past since we were both acquainted with the ‘60’s – ‘70’s Christian world in Southern California. Mr. Barker had the courtesy to answer my emails. I had difficulty understanding how or why anyone would leave the faith, but particularly him. I don’t really know what happened in his personal life that caused such a decision. Oh, I assumed (incorrectly) that he must have gone through a horrific personal tragedy, but he assured me this wasn’t the case. I was aware he’d been involved at one time in the Assembly of God. Being Pentecostal myself I questioned if he’d ever spoken in tongues. He answered in the affirmative and added that he could still speak in tongues even as an atheist. How does that square with his life today? To him it’s all wrapped up in the human mind. All of our sensory experiences enter and are interpreted in various ways by the human mind. It has nothing to do with God or any other supernatural cause, because, in his opinion, there is no such thing as the supernatural, there is no soul, and there is no god. My concern were the words of Jesus who said that if it were possible the elect could be deceived. If Dan was deceived, not by miracles or false signs and wonders, but in his carnal mind, who couldn’t. So I described my conversion experience to him but he kept insisting that it was all in my mind.

Granted, the mind of man is amazing and remains a largely unexplored frontier, but the Bible says this about it:

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” - Romans 8:6-8

But was it really just in my mind? To Mr. Barker it was.
The New Century Version of Romans 8:6-8 puts it this way:

“If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God, because they refuse to obey God’s law and really are not even able to obey God’s law. Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.”

So according to the Bible, the human mind cannot comprehend the reality of God – or one cannot know God through their own understanding.

Paul said:
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” – Ephesians 4:17-19

So did they ever know the Lord? No, they never knew the Lord. By his own admission, Dan’s perceptions were strictly a natural act of his human mind.  Dan Barker as well as all the former “Christians” turned agnostic – atheist or ‘free thinker’ never knew the Lord Jesus Christ. Their perceptions were in their carnal mind which is ‘enmity against God, not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.’

Oh, but they say, “I was a preacher, teacher, pastor evangelist. I conducted missions to Mexico and preached in the jails and led many to faith in Christ.” That may be true, but the fact is they never knew the Lord Jesus Christ! They absolutely never knew Him! This leads to what will happen on that day when they stand before the Christ.  Jesus described that event like this:

“On the last day many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.’”

What unbearable words to hear from the Son of the livng God; “I never knew you.”

Oh dear friend, come to Christ! He is waiting for you and will not reject you.