Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, November 25, 2024

In the USA (and a few other countries), there is a celebration called Thanksgiving. This US holiday (i.e., Holy Day) dates back to times prior to the founding of the United States as a political entity, originating in the days when the Pilgrims came to America.

Background to Thanksgiving

What many don’t realize is the hardship the Pilgrims endured and their efforts to escape persecution in England. How many realize the Pilgrims were attacked, imprisoned, fined, and had their property and assets confiscated? They were literally fleeing for their livelihood. But why? And who were the Pilgrims?

The Pilgrims were those who believed in the Bible but didn’t follow the official state church of England (the Anglican Church). The King or Queen of England (the highest monarch) is also the head of the Church of England—a tradition that continues to this day.

Kings and queens today, though lifelong positions in the United Kingdom, share limited power with elected leaders, such as members of Parliament (the House of Commons and the House of Lords), the Prime Minister, and the judiciary. However, in the past, the King or Queen wielded much greater power. When disagreements arose, the monarch could use both political and church authority to suppress dissent.

One law from the 1600s stated that no one was allowed to belong to or organize a church that was not part of the Church of England. The Pilgrims, desiring to follow the Bible in its purest and plainest sense, sought to establish a church purified from false teachings. They became known as Puritans (Presbyterians and Baptists came out of the Puritan line by the way). Because they refused to conform to the Church of England's practices and methodology and held what they believed were more biblical views, they were seen as "separatists" opposing the Church of England.

This was the situation with the Pilgrims—they were separatists who disagreed with the Church of England on certain points and wanted to serve and worship God distinctly from the prescribed Anglican practices.

As a result, they were hunted, fined, jailed, and persecuted. Some fled to the Netherlands for a time before returning to England to sail to the New World in hopes of finding freedom. After much strife and negotiation, two ships were set to sail: the Speedwell and the Mayflower. However, the Speedwell had to abort its voyage due to leaks. The Mayflower eventually set sail, and after 66 days, the first wave of Pilgrims (102 passengers) arrived in North America at a terrible time of year—November 1620.

The men signed a government charter called the Mayflower Compact. They discovered Plymouth Harbor on December 16, 1620, and began building. The cold, wet, and sickly conditions caused many to fall ill, and only 52 people survived the winter.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrims developed a good relationship with the natives, even agreeing to be allies in case of war.

The First Thanksgiving

In the fall of 1621, about one year after landing, the natives and the Pilgrims held a three-day celebration of thanks to God. Over the next six years, many other Pilgrims were able to join them from England and the Netherlands.

The celebration became a regular event and is forever marked as the first Thanksgiving festival. When a fledgling United States was gaining independence from England (e.g., the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776), the new nation wanted a day to honor and thank God. 

Thanksgiving was recommended and voted a success. Though the date has shifted a few times, it is now always the fourth Thursday of November each year. Thus, it always precedes the Christmas season, which begins with Advent (the four Sundays before Christmas).

I think it is worth taking a closer look at the congressional committee’s recommendation for a national Thanksgiving Day. It shows congressional unity behind the Triune God, which I will emphasize in bold in the text reprinted below:

“Saturday, November 1, 1777

The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, to set apart a day of public thanksgiving, brought in a report; which was taken into consideration, and agreed to as follows:

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defense and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such recreation as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.”[1]

Making Thanksgiving Personal

I hope that Thanksgiving is a blessed time for those reading this. I also hope that you take time to personally thank God who created and sustains your very existence. God is loving and wants all to come to repentance and receive the great news of what Jesus Christ has done by sacrificing Himself on the Cross to die in our place to take our sin upon Him. What a loving God and Savior indeed.

Consider as a conclusion, the importance of thanking Christ for what He has done based on Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV):

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

 

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[1] Open source.

Joseph

What happened to Joseph, the one thought to be Jesus’s father?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, November 21, 2024

After Jesus was born, there wasn’t much said of Joseph but a few things can be ascertained from the Scriptures. 

We know Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55) and surely taught Jesus a fair bit about carpentry during His youth (Mark 6:3). These same two passages (Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3) reveal that Jesus had other brothers and sisters such as James, Joses, Simon, and Judas.  Therefore, Joseph and Mary had other children after Jesus. [1]

We are not told how many sisters Jesus had, but the plural “sisters” in Mark 6:3 suggests at least two. Assuming there were at least two sisters and four brothers, Joseph surely lived several years after Jesus’s birth to have fathered at least six children with Mary (in obedience to Genesis 1:28 and 9:7) and to have trained Jesus in carpentry. There is no indication that these children were twins or triplets either.

With Jesus being the oldest and having younger siblings, as well as other relatives and acquaintances, it makes sense why Mary and Joseph failed to realize where Jesus, their perfect child, was when He stayed behind at the Temple during His first phase of adulthood (Luke 2:42-45).

Joseph was not wealthy. He did honest work as a carpenter. When Mary and Joseph presented sacrifices for Mary’s purification after she gave birth to Jesus, they offered a sacrifice of turtledoves or pigeons (Luke 2:22-24).

It was common for young men in Israel who had used their savings to prepare a place for their bride (e.g., a bridal chamber) and to pay the bride price to the bride’s family. The young groom would often use his remaining funds for basic living expenses to take a year off, in keeping with Deuteronomy 24:5, which says:

When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. (NKJV)

According to the Law of Moses if someone could afford it, they were to bring a lamb for sacrifice but due to their lowly and modest status, they brought turtledoves or pigeons (Leviticus 12:1-6) at least during the early and poorer stages of their marriage. They were truly without riches.

However, one can’t help but miss that Mary and Joseph did bring to the Temple the perfect and infinite Lamb of God who would later be sacrificed. Any sacrifice, prior to the actual sacrifice, must be examined to be sure it is without blemish. In one sense, Jesus’ inspection by the Simeon at the Temple, being filled with the Holy Spirit, affirmed His perfection when he said in Luke 2:29-32:

 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to [bring] revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” (NKJV)

The sacrifice of the perfect Christ was prepared by a perfect God in advance, and here He was. Of course, the rich gifts given by the wise men surely helped fund the trip to Egypt which soon followed. Returning to Joseph:

Now Jesus Himself began [His ministry at] about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) [the] son of Joseph, [the son] of Heli. (Luke 3:23, NKJV)  

In Luke 3:23, Jesus began his ministry when he was about 30 years old.  In the latter portion of the verse, it indicates that people thought He was the son of Joseph. The verb used in the Greek is in the present indicative implying that Joseph was still alive at this time.  

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22, NKJV)

Later in Luke 4:22, when Jesus was speaking with great wisdom, the people asked, “isn’t this Joseph’s son?” The verb form translated here indicates that it was also a present event implying that Joseph was still alive at this time and people knew who he was in that area.  

And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (John 6:42, NKJV)

Also, in John 6:42, it is translated as present tense when referring to Joseph. This was when Jesus was revealing that he came down from heaven after Jesus began his ministry, contradicting their belief that He was Joseph's biological son.

After these events, nothing else is directly revealed from the Bible. It is highly probable that Joseph died during Jesus’s ministry for a couple of reasons.

The first is so that the people wouldn’t be confused to whom Jesus was speaking on the cross, when He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The centurion and others recognized this was not His earthly father but referring to God the Father and believed. Had Joseph been there, there may have been confusion to whom Jesus was speaking.

Mary was present at the Cross and there is no reason Joseph wouldn’t have been there for such an ordeal, unless he had already passed on. Also, Mary is recorded immediately after this in Acts 1:14 without reference to Joseph being present. Since Joseph was not with her when she met with the apostles [and Jesus’s brothers] in Acts 1, it could be an indication that Joseph had indeed passed into glory.

Furthermore, the apostle John (the disciple that Jesus loved) was tasked to take care of Mary (John 19:25-27), implying Joseph was no longer alive to have such duties. Those duties would have passed to Jesus, the eldest, who was then in charge of assigning her into John’s care.

Recall, Jesus was about 30 when He went into ministry (Luke 3:23) and early in Jesus’s ministry, Joseph is mentioned in the present tense (e.g., John 6:42). Many of his younger siblings were surely old enough to be living on their own—perhaps involved in carpentry themselves.

In light of this information, consider another passage that has Joseph conspicuously missing. After Jesus had been in ministry an interesting situation arose that we sometimes don’t ask why it happened. It is recorded in parallel in Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-34, and Luke 8:19-21. The account in Luke is repeated below:

19  Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20  And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” 21  But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”  (NKJV)

Often commentators speak about the spiritual significance of the passage and rightly so—that should not be neglected. However, I have often pondered why they needed to see Jesus so bad as to interrupt His preaching to a multitude of people in another town no less. What was so urgent that Christ’s mother and some grown brothers are willing to interrupt Him?   

Why was Jesus’ family assembled together and be so bold as to interrupt His preaching? Who was absent? Joseph. Is it possible that Joseph had died and therefore Christ’s family reunited together and came to inform Jesus? Was that the urgent desire? It is indeed possible.

Not long after, was when Mary was put into John’s care at the Cross by Jesus, which means Jesus, the eldest son, was clearly responsible for Mary’s care at this point. This means Joseph was no longer on the scene and likely had died and these passages seem to give a possible reason why. Take note that Jesus’s brothers did not believe in Him when He died on the Cross (John 7:5). Later at least two brothers believed— the book of Jude and James are written by the half-brothers of the Lord.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Galatians 1:19, NKJV)

James, the brother of Jesus, was later called an apostle by Paul in Galatians 1:19. There were other apostles like Barnabas (Acts 14:14) and Paul but they are not to be confused with the Twelve. At the Cross, Jesus’s brothers were not believers yet so Jesus put Mary into the care of John and rightly so—it was His duty. Consider the words revealed in the church for caring about widows.

“If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” (1 Timothy 5:16 NKJV) 

One needed to be a believing man or woman to be in their care. Since Jesus brothers were not believing at the time and Mary needed care, she was entrusted to a believing man—John the apostle.

There is a debatable letter from Mary written in response to John’s disciple Ignatius recorded in the writings of Ignatius (early church father writings). Both are below:

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE VIRGIN MARY

Her friend Ignatius to the Christ-bearing Mary.

THOU oughtest to have comforted and consoled me who am a neophyte,

and a disciple of thy [beloved] John. For I have heard things wonderful to

tell respecting thy [son] Jesus, and I am astonished by such a report. But I

desire with my whole heart to obtain information concerning the things

which I have heard from thee, who wast always intimate and allied with

Him, and who wast acquainted with [all] His secrets. I have also written to

thee at another time, and have asked thee concerning the same things. Fare

thou well; and let the neophytes who are with me be comforted of thee,

and by thee, and in thee. Amen.

 

REPLY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN TO THIS LETTER.

The lowly handmaid of Christ Jesus to Ignatius, her beloved fellow disciple.

THE things which thou hast heard and learned from John concerning Jesus

are true. Believe them, cling to them, and hold fast the profession of that

Christianity which thou hast embraced, and conform thy habits and life to

thy profession. Now I will come in company with John to visit thee, and

those that are with thee. Stand fast in the faith, and show thyself a man;

nor let the fierceness of persecution move thee, but let thy spirit be strong

and rejoice in God thy Savior. Amen.

If this is accurate, this is significant. This show that Mary was still in the care of John and apparently even accompanied him on some trips after Jesus’ ascension.

Though I’m not adamant that Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-34, and Luke 8:19-21 were directly related to Joseph’s death, it is highly possible and makes a lot of sense of Joseph’s absence. I would like to see theologians and historians hash this out more. 

 

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[1] http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/05/31/perpetual-virginity-mary

Why Is Arbitrariness Bad

 

Why Is Arbitrariness Bad?

Bodie Hodge M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, November 14, 2024

Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked about something you believe, yet you don’t realize why you believe it? This happens to all of us at some point.

A common response, though incorrect, is to say you "just believe it." But in retrospect, there really isn’t a good reason behind this response. You just believe it. You might even give one or more reasons for why you believe something, but often, none of these answers are logical or reasonable upon further reflection (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

An Illustration

To illustrate, here’s an example: imagine an adult who has a severe headache and asks their 5-year-old what they should do to feel better.

Child: "Eat some chocolate."

Adult: "Why do you believe I should eat chocolate to feel better?"

Child: "I just think it would work."

Adult: "How do you know?"

Child: "I heard that my friend ate chocolate, and he felt better. And if I ate chocolate, I would surely feel better too."

Did the child believe chocolate would help? Yes. But did he have good reasons for this belief? No. Although he gave a reason, he was appealing to his own feelings and to someone else’s alleged experience. However, this reasoning wasn’t logical or reasonable for the situation—even though chocolate is delicious!

This is an example of being “arbitrary.” The child had no good reason to believe what he was saying; it was simply a random opinion or whim. Although he tried to justify it, there was no logical basis for it.

Arbitrariness

There are several ways someone can be arbitrary, including:

• Mere Opinion
• Relativism
• Ignorant Conjecture
• Unargued Bias

Without delving into technical definitions, each of these involves arguing without any substantial support. They are merely unjustified opinions, biases, whims, and conjectures.

As a Bible believer, I hold that God (and by extension, His Word) is the absolute authority on all matters. When people go against God’s Word, they are often arbitrary in their attempts to justify it.

One way to spot arbitrariness is by examining the authority behind the argument. When people rely on themselves or others—saying things like “I feel,” “my opinion is,” “my friend says,” "ancient sages say", or “most scientists believe”—to contradict what God says, they are being arbitrary. Fallible humans have no authority compared to the absolute authority of God and His Word (Isaiah 2:22).

Consider hearing or reading statements from people—even professing Christians—who hold beliefs that clearly contradict God’s Word, and they attempt to justify it with phrases like, “that’s just how I feel” or “I think this route is better” or “I trust what people of another religion are saying.” This, too, is arbitrary.

Notice how these responses rely on personal opinion or appeal to other people’s opinions rather than what God says. You can easily identify the authority behind these statements: “I,” “my feelings,” “my opinion,” “my friend,” “my pastor,” “most scientists,” or “Billy-Joe-Jim-Bob.” Essentially, arbitrariness is one way people try to elevate human ideas above what God says.

Another Illustration

Imagine a professing Christian saying to you:

“I believe in the big bang.”

You respond, “But God disagrees with that in Genesis 1.”

They reply, “But that’s just how I roll.”

You say again, “But God disagrees with that in Genesis 1.”

They counter, “But some secular and Christian scientists believe the big bang is true.”

You repeat, “But God disagrees with that in Genesis 1.”

Finally, they insist, “That’s just how I feel, and you need to respect that.”

Did you notice how this conversation went nowhere? They continued to reject what God says, appealing to themselves and to the arbitrary beliefs of secular scientists and Christians who have been influenced by secular humanism (Colossians 2:8). Eventually, they expect you to give up what God says to respect their opinion.

A good question to get to the heart of the issue is:

“By what authority do you or these secular scientists challenge God’s absolute authority?”

At that point, it’s back to God versus the ideas of fallible, sinful humans. Any professing Christian should realize they are asserting their authority above God’s—an enormous theological error.

This error is pervasive in our culture and even within the church. People often believe their opinions hold weight and that others should bow to those opinions—even, at times, by force. We are seeing this Sexual Immorality Movement (SIM) today particularly at a political, educational, and sports level (Consider Romans 1:18-32).

Conclusion

But this is not how God operates. God does not submit to mere opinions, whims, biases, and conjectures that oppose His Word but is a logical and reasoning God (Isaiah 1:18). Instead, those who deviate from His standard will be judged against it (John 12:48). This is an essential lesson in humility: returning to God’s Word—especially when confronted with its truth (according to the plain, straightforward meaning based on the historical-grammatical approach to interpretation; e.g., Proverbs 8:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:2).

Sadly, we’ve all been arbitrary at some points in our lives—I’m no exception. Arbitrariness is flawed. This irrational approach causes us to elevate our own thoughts above God’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:9), making ourselves a “god” by suppressing His authority in favor of our own. How foolish.

The key is to humble ourselves in repentance and return to God’s Word (e.g., James 4:11; 2 Peter 3:9). Let God be God, and let His authority reign—not ours.

 

 

Dear Atheists

 

Dear Atheists, from Bodie Hodge

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, November 9, 2024

Why would an atheist care to live one moment longer in a broken universe where one is merely rearranged pond scum and all you have to look forward to is … death, which can be around any corner?

Tired of It All?

Are you tired of all the evil associated with the philosophy of atheism—Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, and so on? After all, most murderers, tyrants, and rapists are not biblical Christians, and most have rejected the God of the Bible. Even if they claim to believe in the God of the Bible, they are not really living like a true Christ follower (who strives to follow God’s Word), are they?

Do you feel conflicted about the fact that atheism has no basis in morality (i.e., no absolute right and wrong; no good, no bad?) If someone stabs you in the back, treats you like nothing, steals from you, or lies to you, it doesn’t ultimately matter in an atheistic worldview where everything and everyone are just chemical reactions doing what chemicals do. And further, knowing that you are essentially no different from a cockroach in an atheistic worldview (since people are just animals) must be disheartening.

Photo by Bodie Hodge

Are you tired of the fact that atheism (which is based in materialism, a popular worldview today) has no basis for logic and reasoning? Is it tough trying to get up every day thinking that truth, which is immaterial, really doesn’t exist? Are you bothered by the fact that atheism cannot account for uniformity in nature (the basis by which we can do real science)? Why would everything explode from nothing and, by pure chance, form beautiful laws like F=MA or E=MC²?

Do you feel like you need a weekend to recoup, even though a weekend is really meaningless in an atheistic worldview—since animals, like bees, don’t take a day of rest or have a weekend? So why should atheists? Why borrow a workweek and weekend that comes from the pages of Scriptures, which are despised by atheists? Weeks and weekends come from God creating in six literal days and resting for a literal day; and then the Lord Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week (Sunday). And why look forward to time off for a holiday (i.e., holy day), when nothing is holy in an atheistic worldview?

For professing atheists, these questions can be overwhelming to make sense of within their worldview. And further, within an atheistic worldview, atheists must view themselves as God. Essentially, atheists are claiming to be God. Instead of saying there may not be a God, they say there is no God. To make such a statement, they must claim to be omniscient (which is an essential attribute of the God of the Bible) among other attributes of God as well.[1] So, by saying there is no God, the atheist refutes his own position by addressing the question as though he or she were God!

Do you feel conflicted about proselytizing the faith of atheism, since if atheism were true then who cares about proselytizing? Let’s face it, life seems tough enough as an atheist without having to deal with other major concerns like not having a basis to wear clothes, or no basis for marriage, no consistent reason to be clean (snails don’t wake up in the morning and clean themselves or follow other cleanliness guidelines based on Levitical laws), and no objective reason to believe in love.

Are you weary of looking for evidence that contradicts the Bible’s account of creation and finding none? Do the assumptions and inconsistencies of dating methods weigh on your conscience when they are misrepresented as fact? Where do you suppose those missing links have gone into hiding—there should be billions by the way in the atheistic evolutionary worldview? Surely the atheist sees the folly and hopelessness of believing that everything came from nothing.

In fact, why would an atheist care to live one moment longer in a broken universe where one is merely rearranged pond scum and all you have to look forward to is … death, which can be around any corner? And in 467 trillion years, no one will care one iota about what you did or who you were or how and when you died—because death is the ultimate “hero” in an atheistic, evolutionary worldview. Of course, as a Christian I disagree, and I have a basis to see you as having value.

Invitation

I invite you to reconsider that the false religion of atheism is simply that. I’m here to tell you that atheism is a lie (Romans 1:25).[2] As a Christian, I understand that truth exists because God exists, who is the Truth (John 14:6),[3] and we are made in His image.[4] Unlike an atheist, whose worldview doesn’t allow him to believe in truth or lies, the Bible-believer has a foundation that enables him to speak about truth and lies. This is because believers in God and His Word have an authority, the ultimate authority on the subject, to base statements upon.

There is a God, and you are also made in His image (Genesis 1:26; 9:6).[5] This means you have value. Whereas consistent atheists teach that you have no value, I see you differently. I see you as a relative (Acts 17:26)[6] and one who—unlike animals, plants, and fallen angels—has the possibility of salvation from death, which is the result of sin (i.e., disobedience to God; see Romans 6:23).[7] We have all fallen short of God’s holy standard of perfect obedience thanks to our mutual grandfather, Adam (Romans 5:12).[8] And God sees you differently, too (John 3:16).[9] While you were still a sinner, God stepped into history to become a man to die in your place (Romans 5:8)[10] and offer the free gift of salvation (Romans 5:15; Ephesians 2:8–9).[11]

Atheists have no consistent reason to proselytize their faith, but Christians like me do have a reason—Jesus Christ, who is the Truth, commands us to (Matthew 28:19).[12] We want to see people repent of their evil deeds and be saved from death (Acts 8:22; 17:30).[13] What a wonderful joy (Luke 15:10)[14].

Where atheists have no basis for logic and reason (or even for truth, since truth is immaterial), Bible believers can understand that mankind is made in the image of a logical and reasoning God who is the truth. Hence, Christians can make sense of things because in Christ are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).[15] Christians also have a basis to explain why people sometimes don’t think logically due to the Fall of mankind in Genesis 3.

The most logical response is to give up atheism and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to rescue you from sin and death (Romans 10:13).[16] Instead of death, God promises believers eternal life (1 John 2:25; John 10:28)[17] and in 467 trillion years, you will still have value in contrast to the secular view of nothingness.

Christians do have a basis to wear clothes (to cover shame due to sin; see Genesis 2:25; 3:7),[18] a reason to uphold marriage (God made a man and a woman; see Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4–6),[19] a reason to be clean (Leviticus contains many provisions to counter diseases in a sin-cursed world), and a source of real love (since God made us in His loving image; see 1 John 4:8).[20] As Christians, we have a solid foundation for saying things like back-stabbing, slander, theft, and lies are wrong (see the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20).

I invite you to leave the false religion of atheism and its various forms and return to the one true God who came to rescue you (John 17:3).[21] Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, loved you enough to come down and die in our place so we can experience God’s goodness for all eternity instead of the wrath of God for all eternity in hell (Matthew 25:46).[22] And we all have sentenced ourselves to judgment because of our disobedience to God and rejection of Him (John 3:17–18).[23]

The day is coming when we all will give an account before God for our actions and thoughts (Romans 14:12).[24] Will you repent and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior today so that you will join Christ in the resurrection from the dead (John 11:25; Romans 6:5)?[25] I invite you personally to become an ex-atheist, join the ranks of the saved through Jesus Christ, and become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)[26] as we continue to advance with the gospel in peace that only God can provide (Romans 5:1).[27]

This article was first published here; Reprinted by Permission.

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[1] If one claims that God may exist or that there may be a spiritual realm, then that person is not an atheist, but an agnostic, at best. The agnostic says that one cannot know whether God exists, but how can they know that for certain apart from being omniscient themselves? Additionally, the Bible says in 1 John 5:13 that we can know for certain that we have eternal life. So an agnostic—who claims we cannot know—does not hold a neutral position regarding the biblical God.

[2] Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)

[3] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

[4] Keep in mind that Christians, including me, do fall short due to sin and the Curse, but God never fails.

[5] Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” (Genesis 9:6)

[6] And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. (Acts 17:26)

[7] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

[8] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

[9] For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

[10] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

[11] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

[12] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

[13] Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22)
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)

[14] “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

[15] In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

[16] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

[17] And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. (1 John 2:25)
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28)

[18] And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25)
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. (Genesis 3:7)

[19] So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4–6)

[20] He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

[21] And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

[22] “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

[23] “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17–18)

[24] So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)

[25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25)
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:5)

[26] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

[27] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)