This morning (Wednesday, December 15, 2004) I was contemplating the song by Filter, Hey Man Nice Shot, and its meaning and relevance. This song is about R. Budd Dwyer, the Pennsylvania Treasurer who after being caught and found guilty on 11 Federal charges of receiving $300,000 in bribes, committed suicide on live television. Dwyer had pulled a .357 magnum from a manila envelope and warned those in the room, I would assume mostly the press, to stay away so that they would not get hurt. After doing so, he put the gun to his mouth and committed suicide. He did all of this for $300,000 which he did not really get to enjoy.
I do not know what sentence Dwyer would have faced, but was that really worth the $300,000; was $300,000 worth his life? Sin (greed) had corrupted this man. His sinful flesh (and possibly demonic powers) lied to Dwyer and convinced him that he had to have the money. While I cannot pass judgment upon Mr. Dwyer, I can say that his actions were ones that are a clear case of practical atheism: or living in actions as if there is no God.
Jesus addressed this issue straight forward. Here are Jesus words to the lost and to all who desire eternal life:
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34-37)
Let us notice a few things here, because, as is evident, practical atheism is far too common among those who claim to be “Christians,” especially in the United States.
First, Jesus was addressing two groups of people here: the crowd and His disciples. This command of Jesus then clearly applies to two groups of people: the lost, or those without Christ (the crowd), and those who are following Jesus and are saved (the disciples). There is absolutely no way around this without committing an exegetical fallacy; in other words, Lordship Salvation is clearly taught in this text. The demands of what Jesus is saying apply to those who are first hearing the gospel and desire to believe upon hearing it, and to those who have been walking with Christ. This text clearly teaches a one level view of Christianity, not a “Catholic,” or two level view of Christianity (there is no varsity and junior varsity Christianity; there is no moral demand for those who want to be “merely saved,” and a higher demand for those who wish to live a higher, more blessed level of Christianity.)
Second, all must die to themselves and their desires, or “take up his cross and follow Me,” Jesus says. This means counting all our own righteousness (Philippians 3:4-11) and all our own covetous, self-seeking desires as loss. We must submit to Christ as Lord; that is the only real outcome of faith (cf. James 2:17 Ephesians 2:10). Faith, by necessity, produces works (the kind of faith you have determines the kind of works you will produce—cf. Matthew 7:15-20).
Third, Jesus gives a reason why people are to submit to His Lordship: there is no real gain if we choose to follow our own ways. If we do not follow Christ, we will be judged and cast into hell; losing everything we ever worked for anyway. We are all going to die, so we will leave earthly possessions here, and we will face eternal punishment for our galactic treason. As Jesus says, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:25-26). The Father only honors (with eternal life; a.k.a. knowing God) those who follow the Son and are identified with Him. It would not benefit someone to deny the Son and to lose his soul, even if he gained the whole world and everything in it. You cannot make a trade with God. You cannot trade money and riches, or even your own righteousness to God for eternal life.
So how does this relate to practical atheism? Well, those who deny Christ with their actions are still denying Him. They are trying to save this life, not considering eternity and the coming judgment. They are living for themselves, and like Budd Dwyer, do not fear the consequences of their actions. They seek momentary comfort at the loss of everlasting blessings. This is why a gospel and a life that does not commit itself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ absolutely fails. Such is another gospel than that of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:6-9).
Those who are living as practical atheists, whether they claim Christ nominally or not, still fear man, not God. They say in their hearts, even if they will not say it openly, “there is no God,” as their deeds prove they believe (Psalm 14:1). This is absolutely an epidemic in America. Practical atheism is as despicable, if not more, than nominal atheism. At least nominal atheists are not complete hypocrites (they act in accord with what they claim). Thus my warning to you, brothers and sisters, out of complete love for you, is to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord, and seek to do so every moment, and to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (a.k.a. the Lordship of Christ). If you live as a practical atheist, you will face the consequences, so I urge you, I implore you with all my heart, repent and believe the gospel!
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