UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), is an updated version of his blog first posted on March 24, 2013.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Amazing ‘Faith’ of Atheists”
Hebrews 11:6b
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Many years ago, I met a university professor at his home— quite drunken at the time— at the urge of his student who attended my church; she was concerned about his mental health. Distraught by loneliness (living alone after the divorce) and backstabbing at work, he was quite despondent.
As we spoke, I quickly learned that his father was a pastor of the same denomination where I received my ordination and that he grew up adhering to the Christian faith. Somewhere along the way however, this doctor of music lost faith in the Bible because he was convinced that science had disproved it as nothing more than myth. For instance, he insisted the Big Bang proved that the creation story was not true. In response, I asked him, “Where did the very ‘stuff’ (e.g., ‘singularity’, ‘infinite density’ or ‘physical laws’) within which the implosion of Big Bang occurred come from? How did inorganic matters suddenly become self-replicating molecules?” The professor responded, “That’s one problem that science hasn’t solved.” I retorted, “That’s one problem it will never resolve.” Then he muttered to himself, “But we all have to be honest with ourselves and to our intellect even though what we believe may lead to despair. I must believe it because it is the truth.” The Bible says the truth will set you free (Jn. 8:32) but the “truth” of Nietzsche and this professor led to insanity and despondency.
We humans are created in such a way that without hope and purpose, life loses its meaning. The Christian belief that the infinite-personal God individually made us imbues such hope and purpose in us! Christians and atheists/scientific rationalists do have one thing in common: faith in something to begin their inquiry.
In the movie Beautiful Mind, John Nash, the brilliant mathematician who won the Nobel prize in economy, is about to propose to his girl friend Alicia. Presumably, because of Nash’s scientific orientation, he asks her for some evidence or proof for love. Therefore, she asks him, “How big is the universe,” to which Nash answers, “Infinite.” Then, when Alicia asks him, “How do you know that,” Nash confidently responds, “Because all the verifiable data indicate it.” However, when Alicia asks, “Have you seen it with your own eyes,” Nash, after a brief pause, admits, “No, I simply believe it.”
Like Nash in the movie, Christians readily admit that their starting point is faith, in God’s existence, which is backed by plausible evidence (Ps. 19:1-4). What atheists do not want to admit is that statements such as, “God does not exist” and “the universe has no beginning,” are founded upon faith as well! Given those choices, I personally will choose the one that gives me hope and purpose instead of the other choice that guarantees misery and despondency. Celebrate this knowledge today; worship the Lord with more passion; be more caring of others in his honor.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of faith. Thank You that You have enabled me to believe that which the so-called “smart” people of the world find it beneath their intellect. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matt. 11:25). Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 1-2
Jesus once taught that a man cannot serve two masters. While he was referring to God and money, the principle is relevant here as well. Paul was facing great opposition from false teachers who taught things contrary to what Paul had taught, spreading their message by discrediting Paul. Because Paul’s gospel message did not require Gentiles to convert to Judaism (a religion enmeshed in ethnic identity), only to believe in the person and work of Christ (a spiritual identity), some Jewish Christians charged him with people-pleasing (that is, telling the Gentiles only what they wanted to hear to be more popular among them).
Over the years, I have found that there are two kinds of faith. The first is an active faith that responds obediently to the Lord’s commands.
One of the constant challenges of doing ministry in an urban setting is discerning those who genuinely have a need, from those who are just lazy and are trying to take advantage of the church. Our church leadership had a policy of not handing out money, especially to strangers who would ask for assistance, but we would invariably offer to buy groceries; some people gladly take them, while others suddenly no longer feel very hungry.
Do you ever feel like an endangered species?
Have you ever pleaded desperately with the Lord? 
Peter, astounded that his master Jesus was about to wash his dirty feet, said to him, “
Hunger and desire Biblical wisdom.
Recently, my mother was cheated out of some money. She signed up for a tour group, which was very cheap and provided good hotel accommodations and food. In the process of traveling, the guide took her to a shopping mall which sold some luxury goods at a discounted price, so she quickly bought the luxury goods. However, when she got home, she found out that she bought fake goods. When I heard my mother complain to me, I realized how easy it was for us to be deceived when we relax our awareness.
The COVID-19 pandemic