“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
Have you ever heard the term "practical atheist”? This is a term used by some religious groups to describe all those believers who technically believe in God, but who behave immorally. The assumption is that moral behavior follows automatically from genuine believing in God, thus immoral behavior is a consequence of not genuinely believing. A believer who behaves immorally must really be an atheist, regardless of what he believes. Spiritually he believes in God. But practically, he lives as if He doesn’t exist.
A practical atheist disbelieves God as a matter of practice. Practical atheism is centered on the idea that one disregards belief in God in day-to-day living but doesn't necessarily reject the existence of God when it comes to professed beliefs. Thus a person might profess faith in God, but in practice be closer to atheism.
For years, I believed the church was filled with two types of people; those who believed in God and those who didn’t. Our messages were aimed to reach both groups. We tried to help those that already believed by deepening their faith as well as their understanding of the Bible, and we tried to introduce those that did not believe to the reality of God.
Over time, however, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. Many of the people that I talked with throughout my years in the ministry and through the natural course of life regarded themselves as Christians. Very few professed to be atheists, or even to have serious doubts about the existence of God. Everyone seemed to believe in God, yet many of them didn’t attended church on a regular basis or spent much time seeking Him. They live in recognition that there is a God, yet see no connection between their belief and how they go about their daily affairs. They never consider or include God into their key decisions, or patterned their lives after His values. Consequently, they believed in God but behaved as if He doesn’t exist. Practical Atheism is a dichotomy, a split between what we say and what we do. Practical Atheism explains the chasm between what many people say they believe and how they live their lives.
There is a very real disconnect between many believers beliefs and their behavior. I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that Practical Atheism has become the dominant form of Christianity today. What’s more is that it has impaired our ability to encounter God, to experience life change and to engage in the calling He has for our lives. Although the Church is the most educated, resourced, and prominent Church in history, the phenomena of Practical Atheism has inoculated us against a deeper, more vibrant expression of our faith.
Many Christians speak of feeling disconnected from God and discouraged with life because they have come to believe that it isn’t possible to genuinely experience God. Is Practical Atheism something you’ve seen at work in your own life? If so, what have you done to overcome it?
“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:18-21). Most of us have read this scripture before, I'm sure. And we're appalled that those atheists deny God's existence when “His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived.” We know that beyond mere arguments (apologetics), “what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” And so, if we're compassionate people, we're concerned for them because the wrath of God is on them.
When I read this, there is something that stands out to me, and it's not about "them". Paul said that their failure to honor God had a specific symptom. They did not honor Him as God ... or give thanks to Him. The hallmark of this "atheist" is a lack of gratitude to God. And the reason it stands out is that we often lack that particular quality. We are witnesses to His eternal power and divine nature, and yet too often we are not nearly as grateful as we should be. This is very wrong; this puts us, too often, in the category of the practical atheist. We say I love God and we do, but there are too many times that we live or feel or think or act as if He's not there, as if all we have we managed to acquire, as if He owes us, as if it's all about us.
Seventy-two percent of Christians claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, but only 17 percent feel that the local church is necessary for spiritual growth and only one in three Christians believe God expects them to be holy. Jesus Christ didn't just die on the cross so we can just say a prayer and live however we want, I believe when it comes to prayer most Christians are actually superstitious rather than believers in the supernatural.
Not too many people will tell you, "I'm an atheist." At least not with their words. But the lifestyles of many say otherwise. I know a lot of people who are living their lives as if there were no God. They are what we call “practical atheists.” They do not take God into consideration. They leave Him out of their thinking, their speech, their plans and their activities.
Are you living like a practical atheist, disregarding God's commands and precepts, relying on your own wisdom, and refusing to believe in the goodness of God? Or is your belief in God evident in your speech and in your surrender to God's leading day by day? Faith without works is dead faith, James would say. Don't let your life deny your belief in God.
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