The Price of Hatred

I am a regular participant in the atheist forum "Atheist Republic"*. I enjoy meeting new people and conversing with those I wouldn't be able to share the Gospel with otherwise. I've learned a lot.

But one thing I've noticed is the hatred some (not all) atheists have for God. They mock and ridicule religion in general. They spew vitriol towards anything spiritual.

I'm often quick to point my finger at these people and say, "Wow, they're hopeless." I dismiss them and judge them as intolerant and not worth the time.

But God always reminds me of the wrongs we "Christians" (whether true followers or not) have done towards those that don't agree with us. I'm convicted by those who unfortunately represent Christ by calling themselves Christians and then pouring hatred everywhere. These are the Westboro Baptists and certain white or black supremacists of the world.

You see, while atheistic communist countries have been terrible when it comes to protecting human rights, religious countries haven't been a whole lot better. ISIS has done terrible things in the name of religion. Christian nations have been responsible for the witch trials and Inquisitions. Countless Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other religious adherents have killed and been killed in wars that had at least a little do with religion.

So going back to the hateful atheists I come across on the forum, I have to understand them. They are wrong to be so intolerant of religious views, but can I blame them? There are many anger-filled believers out there.

The price of hatred is very high. It leaves scars that last for centuries and aren't easily forgiven. We are still dealing with the consequences of slavery. We are still having to cope with the holocaust. Terrorists are wreaking havoc in the Middle East. People from all ideologies have done wrong.

It makes it hard for both sides to listen to each other. We have to understand that ultimately it's not the belief system that causes humans to do the atrocities we do. It's our sinful, messed-up nature.

We don't murder because of atheism or Christianity. We murder because of anger. We don't steal because of atheism or Christianity. We steal because of selfishness. Etc.

When I evangelize, I have to deal with all the resentment that has built up through the millennia. In general, this is the price of religious adherents doing hurtful things. In specific, it's the result of Christians not representing Christ as they should.

The cost of hatred is high, and I've seen the results of that as I've tried to share the Gospel.

*If you want to see some of what I do, this is the forum I am currently active in. My username is "Ilovequestions".

#Atheism #AQCFaith