Atheists Welcome

I have not subscribed to a newspaper in years. A few weeks ago I said,"Why not?" and took a short subscription. I have enjoyed it for the most part. I like to read the letters to the editor, half-heartedly work the crossword puzzles, check the obituaries for the passing of anyone I might have known, and read the local happenings. I never read the horoscopes. I rarely read the advice column, but recently I did. Since I missed the actual letter that all the responses were concerning, I am going strictly on responses themselves. Response from the columnist. Responses from other readers. All about that one letter.

Apparently it was regarding a mixed marriage. No, not racial but religious. One spouse is religious and wants them both to attend church and the other is an atheist. I don't know if these were their feelings before they married or if they occurred after. What confused me were the responses to the situation. I realize being "religious" means nothing to God. It is the state of the heart and the relationship with Christ that matters. I would say the responses were an attempt to be politically correct, but I think they were totally sincere in their advice. So you are probably wondering what the advice was.

Almost all suggested that the couple attend another church where the atheist spouse would feel comfortable. There was talk about a church that would preach living a good life, spiritual enlightenment, etc. You get the idea I am sure. I don't know why I was surprised, but I found it mind-boggling that not one letter suggested that the "religious" spouse earnestly petition God in prayer for the "atheist" spouse. That is not to say that none were sent, but none were printed.

I have many friends whose spouses will not attend church with them. They still love each other. However, in the cases of my friends, the believers pray earnestly and request prayers from others for the unbelieving spouses. God hears our prayers. The answers may not come in a time period we would like, but we continue to pray.

So should Bible preaching churches welcome the atheist? I think our churches should encourage attendance by all. They are not just places for Christ followers to recharge and find fellowship. They are places where the lost hear the Gospel, the Holy Spirit can deal with hearts, and church members can serve God and others. At least that is what they are suppose to be. We ARE to show love to the lost and not beat them with the Gospel. This does not mean we avoid the Truth of Scripture. It must be taught and preached in It's entirety. We are not to excuse or condone sin, but we are to love the sinner. For what are we, but sinners forgiven through the blood of Christ? Some may enter our churches with the intent to disrupt. That has certainly happened many times in many churches. However, while there they might be drawn by the Holy Spirit to accept the Truth and be unbelieving no more.