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Practical Atheists
Sometimes I’m a “practical atheist.”
Spiritually, I believe in God. But practically, I live as if He doesn’t exist.
- If I REALLY trusted God, I wouldn’t worry so much.
- If I REALLY believed it was His church and not mine, I’d sleep better.
- If I REALLY believed in prayer, I’d spend less time strategizing and more time on my knees.
What about you?
Fill in the blanks:
If I REALLY believed _____________, I’d _______________.
I pray God stirs our hearts to live as if we really believe!
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Craig,
You couldn’t be more right about that one. Even when we feel like we are “with” God on things we are shocked that “he came through for us” or actually answered our prayers. Thanks for the insight. I needed that.
Oh man can I join the support group with you??
If I REALLY believed the Holy Spirit could change my life, I’d stop trying to change my life by myself.
If i really believed the bible, as a christian, i would stop looking like everyone else in the world.
John 15:19, james 4:4, 1 john 2:15-17
If I really believed that I lived in Him, I would always love like Him.
If I REALLY believed God called me to write and it is His voice in my works, I wouldn’t worry about sales numbers and marketing so much.
This one has been a bitter pill I’ve been trying to swallow for a little while now.
Thanks a lot Craig!
If I really believed that God works all things for His good, I’d quit worry about death so much. Both orphaning my children and becoming a widow.
If I really believed God created cats, I wouldn’t try to hit them w/my car so much.
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
If I really believed God raised Christ from the tomb, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell people so.
If I really believed that God is in control, I would stop being a control freak!
If I really Believed “for me to die is gain, but to live is Christ”, I’d quit loading the gun and start healing the wounds!
If I really believed in God I’d trust His plan & quit trying to control my life. I would stop being committed & start being submitted.
If I really believed that people were lost and going to hell, I would tell them how they could be saved.
Craig - thank you!!! I have been trusting God for something really significant. I am praying more than I have ever prayed in my life. I have had much encouagement, seen God work in many other areas of my life, but still haven’t seen this thing become a reality yet. I was so ready to give up - then I read your post.
(I am someone who is skeptical of God speaking to people, but who knows, this might be straight from God)
If I really believed the potential God saw in me, I would stop telling myself how useless I am.
I am sorry but I must ask…Is the comment from J.G. Marking just a shameless plug? Not that I think its wrong, it just seems ironic that in commenting about not worrying abotu sales of a book, yet you give us a link to a website where we can buy the book.
J.G - I will pray for now that your book finds the people who near to read it, and that God uses it to make disciples.
kathy,
i think that is the most important out of all of these comments. If we really believed that people were dying and going to hell, not for a weekend, but for an eternity, maybe we would get up off of our couches and go out and tell the world about Jesus, the only one who can save.
Mark,
I post on swerve every week and have always had my book’s website as my name’s link, as others have their personal blogs or church’s link because it is their ministry. In light of your comment, I’ll remove my link though.
To be clear, I was simply confessing my practical atheism regarding my avenue of ministry.
But I think your question helps validate just how difficult an issue it is for a Christian author or artist to overcome, seeing as my confession led to this discussion regarding motives.
If I really believed God for miracles, I would stop thinking that He can’t/won’t heal my broken tooth and I would start speaking the truth!
J.G., I love your transparency! If you really believed that God gave you the words, would you remove the link? (Jeremiah 1:9)
Thanks for the support Dawn but I was just being honest. Though you are certainly correct at pointing out yet another “If I REALLY” moment again.
Between you and Craig, I don’t know how much challenging conviction one person can take in a given day.
I think Craig’s post is more potently stirring and thought-provoking than we realized, especially if we think about the question before we act throughout the day.
Hey J.G.
Wasn’t trying to have a go at you. Just thought it was ironic. Sorry.
I have no idea how difficult it must be to be in your position. I imagine all authors/artists find things difficult. I trust that if this is how God wants you to make disciples, then he will give you fruit.
All of us want to produce a crop 100 times what was sown
[...] Are you a Practical Atheist? Here’s a thought provoking post from Swerve. [...]
Hey brandon, God has been doing a work in my heart for the lost. I can feel the pain for family members who are lost and have started to share the law and gospel with them. But I struggle having a heart for people I don’t know or don’t know well. I care enough to pass out tracks but I know I need to have the courage and compassion to talk to them about the salvation that Jesus offers. We need to do so much more than “invite” people to church. Pray for me, that God will give me compassion for all the “lost”.
If God really did call me to do this thing, I would stop worrying that someone else could do it so much better.
[...] Reading this post at LifeChurch.tv’s Swerve blog, I really felt convicted that I don’t often live out what I profess to believe. I’ve been extremely blessed to possess a generally optimistic personality and the means to make a good living, so I haven’t had to grapple with putting food on the table and basic cares of that nature. If I did, I certainly would have to get on my knees and pray for faith and strength! [...]
Multi-site is a great church model for God to use a recovering control freak. My practical atheism has been:
If I really believed that only the Holy Spirit could truly transform a heart (not my curriculum), then I wouldn’t try to control the details of the execution of the programming I send out from our (LC.tv) central offices.
Every time I observe at a campus, I’m reminded of how little my written plans really matter.
I also second Cindy and Jessica’s remarks.
If I really believed God wanted to Grow my Church more than I wanted to grow it, I would stop trying to get God to bless my plans and start figuring out what God has planned.
If I REALLY believed “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, I would stop wasting time in so many other areas and spend MUCH more time in His word.
I agree wholeheartedly with Kathy. If we really believed that people have a fatal disease of sin, we would care enough to tell them about the only cure. If we really believed that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, we would do as He commands us to. If we love him, we’ll love what He loves–the lost! May God give me the compassion and boldness to open my mouth for Him daily.
J.G., I’m in Christian publishing, and perhaps I can help you with marketing your book. Please email me at lynncopeland@genesis-group.net.
[...] O pastor Craig Groeschel faz uma declaração corajosa e sincera em seu post “Practical Atheist”. Afirma que algumas vezes se sente como um ateu na prática (quase caà da cadeira quando li). Porém o seu ponto é muito interessante e nos faz refletir em como estamos vivendo a nossa fé. [...]
Speaking of Atheists… I wanted to let you know that on abc news now (which is online) Christians will be debating atheists live. It will be shown on nightline too! Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort will be proving that God exists without the bible…its going to be awesome and I wanted to let you guys at LC know to tune it and pray for them!
Exactly! I feel that way too sometimes. We say “yes, I believe” with our mouths and hearts - then get in the real world and our actions betray us… or should I say “reveal” us. Thank you for the post.
If I really believe God has a plan & purpose for my life, surely I should be less concerned about others’ expections of me.
i heard this message at catalyst. God distrubed me. thank you for giving us the message that God gave you with out watering anything down. truly a slap in my self-righteous christian face.
if i really believed that God was who he says that he is - i would stop relying on myself and put everything that i am in him.
[...] Pastor Craig had this post - This is what hits me the hardest: [...]
[...] Practical atheism, according to Craig Groeschel, is when you believe in God spiritually, but practically live as if he doesn’t exist. “If I really trusted God, I wouldn’t worry so much. If I really believed in prayer, I’d spend less time strategizing and more time on my knees.� In our minds we say that we are absolutely sure that God can be trusted, but we show by our actions that we don’t trust him. [...]
If I really believed the bible was the literal word of god, I’d be an idiot.
We are, just like Peter.
http://infinitychurch.tv/idiots.htm