I have a friend who calls himself a "spiritual atheist" and he recently sent me an article to share with me what it is that he believes in, in his words this article "encapsulates my thinking".
Our friendship is an interesting one in that he does not believe in God (or so he says) and I think he is lost but we both show eachother immense respect. Talking to him over the years has pushed me to think more about my beliefs and what it means to be a Christ-follower. This has been vital in allowing me the opportunity to say, as the Apostle Paul first did in his letter to the Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek".
I am also grateful for a spiritual home where the unadulterated Word of God is taught. Practical Christian living has been a reality for me because of the teachings that I've received and because of the hunger that I have to know more of what it means to follow Christ.
Christian... Believer, know your story. Know why you believe in God and in Jesus Christ. I'm not saying you should entertain every argument and fight about religion (because I believe these are hardly about God anyway!) but KNOW WHY YOU BELIEVE. Know what it is that you received at salvation. You are regenerated. You carry a divine nature. It's not just about "being good". Did deep in your faith. Let us grow up and stop being shallow in the faith.
Again Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:12, "... Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.".
I exhort you, as Paul did to his disciple Timothy, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."
Let (allow) Love to Reign (take over, rule, have eminence) in you and through you.
