The Not-So-Bright Atheist

David Heckart and I dropped by the Octemberfest shindig around the courthouse in downtown Marshalltown this evening. We were passing out gospel tracts, and hoping for gospel conversations. One encounter with a couple of teenagers went like this:

Me: "Hello, ladies: did you get your tickets?"
Young Woman: "What is it?"
Me: "It is a Ticket to Heaven, or  a Ticket to Hell." (This tract from Gospel Tract Planet is printed on both sides, the one side reads "Ticket to Heaven", the other, "Ticket to Hell.")
YW: "Oh, I'm sorry I cannot take that. I am an atheist."
Me: "Why is that? Let me ask you something: what is the most compelling evidence you've found for the non-existence of God?"
YW: Stares, and says nothing
Other YW: Seeing the predicament, grabs YW by the shoulders and they beat a hasty retreat.

Marshalltown Octemberfest 2013

So I have to say, have we not been sold a bill of goods by Dawkins & Co., that these are the intellectuals, the "brights"? Not so, my friend. David, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Psalm 14:1 states:

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

As J. Vernon McGee puts it, this use of "fool" holds the meaning of insanity. Indeed it is an insane person who sees clearly the hand of an all-powerful, all-wise Creator all around them, and the witness of his moral law and conscience within, and holding all that truth in unrighteousness, denies his existence. See Romans 1:18-20.

I pray that God continues to put his people in this young woman's path, and that she would stop running away, but deal with reality. The Bible has the answers, so may we who know our God reach out and challenge those who are stumbling towards Judgment and Hell. And may this precious soul listen to the gospel, and in repentance believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, while there is time.