Madalyn Murray O’Hair wrote a statement that expresses a very common misconception in atheist thought and argument. Her statement was as follows:
An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated.
A simple response would be to restate this statement form a theistic point of view:
Theists believe that a hospital should be built, then actually builds one, and also builds a church in order to meet other spiritual and social needs. Theists believe that deed must be done, they do the deed, and also say prayers. Theists strive for involvement in life and understands that death is not an escape but a continuation. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated and has always been the one most responsible for actually working to do away with these ills.
Atheists often argue that theists are so wrapped up in their belief in eternity and heaven that they do not live full lives here and now. This is simply an argument that is based on the atheist imagination, presupposition and prejudice but has nothing to do with reality. Theists are not sitting around waiting for the heavens to part. Theists are just like any other people-they have jobs, families, goals, aspirations, responsibilities, etc., etc.
Hindu and Buddhist monks are known to withdraw form the world and live solitary lives in the mountains seeking Nirvana.
Certain Roman Catholic clergy have monastic systems in which they likewise withdraw. This is rather odd since Jesus said, “Go out into all the world” (Mark 16:15) and not “withdraw from all the world.”
At times Jehovah’s Witnesses have predicted the end of the world. At times such as these some of them dropped out of college, stopped having children, stopped growing crops and literally put their lives on hold thinking that since the end would soon come there was no point in doing anything with their lives.
However, what people choose to do and what they are supposed to do, assuming that they follow the Bible’s teachings, are not always the same. The Bible teaches that we are to be vigilant and busy about our work since we do not know when the Lord will return and we are supposed to be found working, living and doing.
Jesus offered the following parable in this regard:
But know this, that if the steward of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through.
Therefore you also be ready, for in that hour you think not, the Son of Man comes. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord shall find him doing so when He comes. Truly I say to you that He shall make him ruler over all His goods (Matthew 24:43-47).
Moreover, have theists really been sedentary? It is the atheists who are not exactly known to be the ones who establish, run and fund all sorts of charities, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, disaster relief organizations, hospitals and universities. Rather, theists are known for these acts. This is not to say that individual atheists are not charitable, but for whatever reason they simply do not organize for the good of humanity as theists have always been known to do.
Now, let us be charitable to Madalyn Murray O’Hair and point out that perhaps some of her criticisms do apply to some people at some times. But, speaking now of Christian theists in particular, these criticisms do not apply to Christians when they are acting according to the Bible but rather, when they are acting against it.
My brothers, what profit is it if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it? Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works. You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.”
You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:14-26).
Clearly, James’ criticism of some believers came about two millennia before O’Hair’s. One is even tempted to think that while James meant his criticism to build up, O’Hair may have meant hers to tare down. It is the Bible that clearly teaches that claims are not enough, but actions are required. Prayer is not enough, but actions are required. Claiming to believe in God is not enough, but living out our faith is what turns it from a mere claim to world enriching reality.
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