In a recent USA Today edition someone wrote in and asked “How does atheism inspire good works?” They concluded their letter by saying….
How could not believing in a power above ourselves inspire us to do good for other people?
Then in today’s USA Today someone responded to that person’s question in a letter titled “Non-believers accept responsibility”. Their simple answer to the question was….
As a believer, I had assumed that God was ultimately responsible for the world, but as a non-believer I accept some of that responsibility.
I think that the responder has a valid point that I think a lot of Christians miss out on. Far too many Christians sit in their pews praying and asking God to change things in the world and I believe God is saying, “Okay, get off of your rear a do it.” It is up to us Christ-followers to get out their and be the answer to that prayer.
Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says “Jesus is the answer”? Whenever I see that I like to say, “Well, what is the question?” It is so easy to say that Jesus is the answer, but the reality is that people’s questions need more than some bumper sticker slogan. They need Christ-followers to be that answer. After all, aren’t we supposed to be his witnesses here on earth?
But the reality is that, yes, atheist can do good works. It is up to all of us humans to accept some of the responsibility to bring good into this world, but Christ-followers should shoulder the majority of that burden because we should know better. It is up to us to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and not just sit by waiting for it to come.
So what do you think? Can atheists do good works?
My brother-in-law recently decided (although I get lectured every time I use the word “decided” when talking about it) that he is an atheist. He’d be very happy to “debate” (argue) that he is more moral now than ever before. I, however, think it’s because morality is just more loosely defined without God in the equation.
I think that anyone can do good works. Compassion and sympathy come through an individual’s own suffering, so the desire to help someone/some cause doesn’t necessarily have to come from God (directly). However, I believe that MORE good can come from believers because they can enlist the Holy Spirit. Does that make sense?
Just look at all the non-God subscribing organizations out there. I don’t know much about the specifics of them, but do the Peace Corps have an affiliation? What about Brangelina and all their efforts to save New Orleans? I don’t mean to assume anything about their beliefs, but they don’t do all this work in the name of the Father.
I think that one of the bigger issues here is that Christianity gets a bum rap in the media so much that we end up looking like idiots. I believe it’s our duty as Christians every day to be the body of Christ (to use a Christianese). I also believe that we aren’t necessarily supposed to demand recognition for this, and so much of what we do to further the kingdom doesn’t get counted in the Census.
LB, I love your point about how Christ-followers can do more good, because we can list the help of the Holy Spirit. That is exactly the difference. It is not that atheists can not do any good it is just that Christ-followers should do more good, because they have a deeper insight into things due to that relationship we have with God.
As Christ-followers doing good should be as natural as breathing to us and we don’t bring attention to the fact that we breath how ever many times we do in a minute. Nope, we just do it and keep on doing it.
Excellent thoughts, LB!
i serve in many community agencies and there are more non-christians serving in them then christians