Leonard Ravenhill an atheist's challenge

An atheist's challenge.

"Were I a religionist, did I truly, firmly, consistently believe, as millions SAY they do, that the knowledge and the practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion should be to me EVERYTHING. I would cast aside earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as less than vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image when sleep sank me in unconsciousness. I would labor in her cause alone. I would not labor for the meat that perisheth, nor for treasures on earth, but only for a crown of glory in heavenly regions where treasures and happiness are alike beyond the reach of time and chance. I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone. I WOULD ESTEEM ONE SOUL GAINED FOR HEAVEN WORTH A LIFE OF SUFFERING. There should be neither worldly prudence nor calculating circumspection in my engrossing zeal. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand nor seal my lips. I would speak to the imagination, awaken the feelings, stir up the passions, arouse the fancy. Earth, its joys and its grief, should occupy no moment of my thoughts; for these are but the affairs of a portion of eternity--so small that no language can express its comparatively infinite littleness. "I would strive to look but on eternity and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly miserable or everlastingly happy. I would deem all who thought only of this world, merely seeking to increase temporal happiness and laboring to obtain temporal goods--I would deem all such pure madmen. I would go forth to the world and preach to it, in season and out of season; and my text should be: 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.'"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• eternity
• Leonard
• ravenhill
• revival
• atheist
• challenge
• track
• true
• christianity
• gain
• world
• lose
• soul

[WilliamTyndale1]

@rdvqc I think the only thing for you to do then is get out there and put your words into action. See how many people you can change, see how many people you can "better" without the Holy Spirit involved. It will be the only way to open your eyes to the greater Truth of this life. God loves you. I will pray for you, even though I don't even know your name...God does.

[rdvqc]

I am not wasting what's left of this short life on religion - either by participation in it or fighting it - in the remote chance that something that comes after may be impacted by my ignoring the praise and ritual.

I would rather spend time helping people than praying for them.

I would like to make this world better - at least we know we have this one.

I HAVE read the bible - it really did inspire me - to stop wasting time.

[berniebay]

@EXALTEDDIRT

LOL

[EXALTEDDIRT]

@berniebay Dawkins, your idol?! 1st Corinthians chapter 6v9 says; "No idolater will inherit the kingdom of GOD"

Repent and believe the gospel...

[ipeklofijs]

@berniebay You used one of the sillyest arguments of Dawkins. Well, but your cult exchanges examples anyway. Sad that you don't recognize that atheism is in itself a religion, often actually submitting to some other religious notion, not called "god" per se, but rather worshiping creation. Otherwise you'd just be plain suicidal-nihilistic. But that takes consistency and some courage.

And, sure, you "don't buy" God, as I don't buy sin. I know sin exists, but I don't value it worthy to submit to.

[berniebay]

@ipeklofijs

Dawkins is my idol? What the hell are you talking about? I've never even read one of his books.

If you're going to stand by the idea that all atheists actually do believe, but just want to sin, then I'm done here. You're clearly not willing to change your mind and realize that some people just don't buy these claims.

[ipeklofijs]

@berniebay It is actually quite sad that Dawkins is your idol :(

It is no use going into a philosophical debate as God is real, not conceptual. But I just want to point three things out: first, reducing something to an aspect of it's manifestation doesn't in it's reality limit it to that (e.g., you're not your shadow). Second, God is aboslute (not created). Third, you're just trying to justify your sin (and death). That's it.

[berniebay]

@ipeklofijs

We can measure brain waves. Logic is merely a label we put on a process of the brain. Imagination, love, all concepts are parts of the brain. And the brain is measurable. Minds are a property of the brain.

No, I don't know god exists. Besides, which of the thousands of gods are you talking about? Everything you said so far can apply for every single god that ever existed. Thor, Wotan, Zeus, Baal, Yahweh, Jesus, Vishnu, Rama, the Great Green Arkleseizure, Brahma. Take your pick.

[ipeklofijs]

@berniebay WOW, you don't mean to say that you seriously think that only measurable things exist !? Does logic exist? Does imagination? Does love? Or persons - real persons, not just bio-chemical robots, manifested strictly bodily?

Please, don't fool yourself! God is real, and you DO know Him like you know that there is a beggar next to you on the street begging for money, yet you ignore Him. So God is pleading with your conscience to love and forsake sin - yet you choose to ignore His call.

[berniebay]

@ipeklofijs

You're personal experience is not justification for me. I'd need to have one and as of yet, I haven't had one.

Sure there is. I can interact with my surroundings. I can be measured. I can be weighed, I manifest in reality. The laws of physics act upon my. That's what evidence is. A measurement of how something manifests in reality.

If it doesn't manifest in reality then it doesn't exist in reality. If it does manifest but can't be measured, how can we know it actually manifests?