"The Fool Hath Said In His Heart---"
Reading from a denominational publication, "Christianity Today"; I find that a Professor Thomas J. J. Altizer, employed at Emory University (a Methodist institution) is alleged to have made the statement: "Ours is a time in which God is dead..." Prof. Altizer is also to publish a book in the near future, titled "The Gospel of Christian Atheism'.
The paper further indicates that an Episcopal minister at Temple University named Paul van Buren, and a William Hamilton of Colgate Rochester Divinity School are cohorts of Altizer in his belief and teachings.
It is interesting to note the furor caused by such bold proclamations of Atheism - But it is even more interesting to note that so far as is known, all of these men are still teaching as professors at these universities! From the information given in the publication, these men are teachers of "Christian Theology" - at "Christian" educational institutions - "Seminaries", as they are sometimes called....
Considering the product of the so-called "Seminaries"; "Christian Colleges"; etc. , for the past many years, I am surprised that these men and others before them have not previously let their unbelief be known in wider circles. In observing the actions of many of today's leading churchmen in various denominations, the effect of such atheistic teaching may be observed very readily - for example, many who are in high places in various denominations have caused small stirs in their denominations by such atheistic proclamations as that "the Virgin Birth is a myth"; or "the Garden of Eden story in the Bible is a myth"; and they have boldly denied the deity of Christ - proclaiming that He was only a "good man"!!
One sad part of the story is that even though many eyebrows will be raised, and small voices of protest will be heard from those in the denominations represented, these men will continue to teach, preach and demonstrate their unbelief and godlessness - and their denominations will not be rid of them - unless they voluntarily leave! Because they are too firmly entrenched in powerful positions.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this type when he said: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, ... traitors, ... high-minded... having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof - from such turn away...." (2 Tim. 3:1-5) - Also, "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Of course, these things are not the cause of infidelity - they are the results of it!!!! The denial of God, Christ and the Bible are the inevitable result when men commence with the theory of all denominationalism - that God is pleased with division ---- The infidelity of divisions has caused more atheism, skepticism and agnosticism than all the teachers in colleges combined.
Men and women who would honestly follow God and His Son look around at the divided world of religion, with at least two hundred fifty major divisions; each one claiming to be "the way", each one claiming that to follow their teachings will get one to Heaven, yet with each one teaching a different way -many honest people see no truth; only confusion; and so they honestly reject Christianity; because the "Christianity" that they see makes no sense to them.
The Bible teaches the existence of one church -no more, no less - (Eph.1:22-23; 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13, 20) - and that all of the saved are in that one church! (Acts 2:41, 47; Eph. 5:23) --- When and if men will turn away from denominationalism, division in religion; turn back to the Word of the Living God, and do as God says, there will no longer be a problem of Atheism among those who profess to be Christians!! The Bible clearly teaches the action to be taken when men commence to exhibit unbelief and cause division - (see Romans 16:17-18)
There is only one gospel - (Gal. 1:6-9), and Paul said of any who would preach another - be it man or angel from Heaven; "Let him be accursed!"
Not two hundred fifty gospels - one - one - one-only one! Not two hundred fifty churches - one - one -one - only one! "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap...." (Galatians 6:7) - This "Gospel of Christian Atheism" - preached by men like Altizer, is not the cause of infidelity; it is rather (as before stated) -the result! Denominationalism is reaping the result of its own weakness and lack of truth....
Of those who have identified God as being "dead"; I can only say that they never knew Him in the first place - So how could they identify Him as being deceased? In order to be able to identify a person, one must know that person - and they have never known him! "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father; if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also" (John 8:19) - "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31.)
The God of the Bible; the true and living God, is totally unknown to them - equally as unknown as He was to those in Athens, when Paul passed through and beheld their devotions to their "gods"; and declared the "UNKNOWN GOD" to them as "He that giveth to all life, and breath, and all things...for in Him we live, and move, and have our being..." (Acts 17:23-28).
"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" (Psalm 14:1.).
Will you, Dear Reader, reject the religious division and unbelief of the world and obey the Gospel of Christ, which is the POWER OF GOD TO SAVE YOUR SOUL? (Romans 1:16) - Then if you are faithful, the LIVING GOD promises that you will be saved.... (Revelations 2:10).