There is an interesting and disturbing phenomenon going on in our country, perhaps the world, but I live here so I speak about here, where I live.
Many people say things like "I am not religious but I pray anyway when things get tough." I have only heard one person say this exactly this way, but most people say the same thing in a different way.
Our culture thinks that their words have power. This has been fostered by the "name it and claim it" pentecostal crowd. Even the secular community now thinks all they have to do is declare something and that it is their truth and makes things happen. Even though often they don't get what they want they keep hanging onto this foolish idea.
The culture as a whole operates as though they believe this way in different degrees even church attendees.
They say things like; "I believe in God but I do believe in praying."
I have had people over the years ask me to pray for them because they don't pray and don't believe in God, but they still ask me to do it for them.
Does this not suggest that someone who does not believe in God really does but wants to deny Him? I think so, otherwise why ask a Christian to pray for them, who would they be praying to and why choose a Christian.
I believe there is no such thing as an atheist, there are only God deniers who know He is real. They seem to think denying His existence exonerates them from responsibility to Him. If they were to admit there is a God but they just choose to reject Him, it makes them accountable to Him in their own minds.
Atheists have asked me to pray for them when they were in difficulty. I always say I will, and then I pray for their salvation. They don't know that my prayer may bring them rougher stuff than they have now in order for them to see their need for Christ.
I never pray for healing or blessing for the atheist other than the blessing of salvation, that they would confess their sinfulness and trust in Christ. The difficulties they are going through may be the means by which they will see their need for Christ.
My goal as a born-again believer is not to make others feel comforted but it is to make them feel loved. I love them with prayers for their salvation. I may or may not tell them this in this way, but I will show concern about their eternal state.
Christ loved the people He met so much that He told the unvarnished truth. Their feelings were irrelevant, it was the condition of their heart and where they would end up when they died that mattered. Making them feel good about rejecting Christ only delays a decision to trust in Him. Perhaps even enabling them to continue the unsaved sinful lifestyle.
Proverbs 27:5-7 "…5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.…"
We must ask ourselves these questions; "do I love this person more than I worry about being rejected by them?." And, "do I love God more than I love being accepted and appreciated by man?"
Galatians 1:9-11 "…9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! 10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.…"
If we love God more than anything or anyone it will cause us to be bolder about our faith and Christ's provision for salvation. I promise you, nothing is more important than a person's destination after they leave this life.
