Christianity is a crutch?

People like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and numerous other atheists are fond of ridiculing Christians. One tactic they use to belittle the faithful is to state or imply that belief in God is a crutch.

They believe that the ‘crutch’ of religion will help Christians deal with thoughts of death, illness, disaster, or other uncontrollable events in life. They see religion as a way of creating a false peace of mind. They see our faith as an imaginary opiate that creates a false serenity.

How poorly they understand the Christian life.

Of course, like all such arguments, there is an element of truth to it. Christians do enjoy the grace and lovingkindness of the Lord.

Isaiah 12:1 tells us that God provides comfort. Second Corinthians 1:3-7 reminds us that the Lord is our comforter no matter what the affliction. It tells us that God is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort...”

Scripture reminds us of His lovingkindness a number of times. Psalm 63:3 describes God’s lovingkindness as “better than life...”

Christ promises peace and fearlessness through faith in Him. He says, in John 14:27, “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

How can a Christian help but have peace of mind when we consider that God pursued us, even as a wretched sinner and enemy? God’s amazing forgiveness and salvation is a thing of wonder. We can wholeheartedly rejoice in our freedom from slavery to sin, exchanged for slavery to Christ and righteousness (Romans 6:15-19).

In return for our repentance, faith in Christ alone, and obedience to the Lord, we share in the wondrous fruits promised in scripture: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

This is where the atheists stop, with a partial (and flawed) understanding of Christianity.

The obedient Christian understands two facts that non-believers don’t: the peril awaiting non-believers, and our responsibility to preach the gospel to them.

For example, Scripture clearly describes the fate of the lost:

• Everyone dies (Rom 5:12)
• After death comes judgment (Heb 9:27)
• Without Christ on judgment day, God’s wrath is poured out as you are cast into hell, where you will remain forever. (Eph 2:1-3, 2 Thess 1:9)

When talking with non-believers they sometimes tell me, “But, I don’t believe in heaven and hell.” That doesn’t matter. Consider this: if you don’t believe in traffic, and you suddenly run onto a busy highway, you’ll quickly be confronted with the truth about trucks, cars, and the frailty of the human body.

As a Christian, once you realize the fate of the lost you begin to see people differently. There’s no peace of mind in knowing that people you see every day, people you love, people you care about, will spend eternity in hell if they continue in their rebellion against God.

There’s more peace of mind for the atheist. What can be more peaceful than believing that there is no judgment after you die, or that if you were a biological and evolutionary accident once, and you just might be one again.

In addition, there is no peace of mind in knowing that it is our responsibility to preach the gospel to the lost, the enemies of God, those who find the gospel to be foolishness. It’s easier for the atheist to stand up and talk about evolution and proclaim falsehoods to people who want to have their ears tickled.

But it is our responsibility. Mark 16:15 says, “ Go into all the world and preach the gospel” and Acts 1:8 says, “you shall be My witnesses.” It’s not optional. Scripture does not say, “I hope you consider the possibility of being a witness of the gospel.” No! It says, “you shall be My witnesses.”

If you want peace of mind, take the easy way out. Deny reality. Make up your own reality. Be an atheist.

If you love the Lord, then read His word. Obey Him. Share the gospel. Forget about the peace of your mind, find your rest and peace in Him. Then find an atheist and explain the truth in love.