Faith United Methodist Church, Newark, Ohio

Sometimes as you prepare the monthly newsletter, it is not always easy to come up with an article for the Faith Flyer. As Ministry Coordinator of Faith Church, I try to keep people abreast on the various ministries of the church and what we’re doing.

As I was struggling with the so-called writers block one day, I was on the Internet, looking at the Fox News website, when I saw a video link about the latest “Loch Ness Monster” sighting. I went to that video and watched it, but at the same time, another video entry caught my attention. It was an interview with a man who authored a book called “God is Not Great”. Naturally curious about this one, I viewed the video which was an interview done on Fox News.

The author was Christopher Hitchens, an atheist who basically says the world would be a better place without religion and that we would all be better off if there were to be a mass outbreak of secularism. Of course, Hitchens spouts the atheist view that religion is man made and that we should “out grow” it.

“Religion came from early in our civilization when we didn’t know anything”, he told the interviewer. “It’s the first and worst explanation for things and we’re stuck with it.”, (religion), he added. Not unusual he particularly scoffs at a literal interpretation of the Bible and the notion of a virgin birth. He also questioned why people with religion (he meant those of all faiths), don’t go running to a faith healer when they’re sick.

I’m sure God doesn’t need Neil Snelling to defend him, but I did ponder Mr. Hitchen’s statement that the world would be better off without religion. Naturally, he blamed religion for much of the world’s ills today including the sectarian violence between those of the Muslim faith in Iraq . But, if he thinks secularism is the cure-all for everything, he’s sadly mistaken. I can’t speak or write for all religions, but I do know that many of the hospitals used to treat people, including atheists, were built by those who are especially of the Christian and Jewish faiths. Many secular relief organizations consistently pound forth the theme of helping our fellow man. Gee, that’s what a man called Jesus taught some 2,000 years ago. Christians around the world contribute time, energy and money into missionary organizations on the basis of wanting to help people they don’t even know and the list goes on.

Think of Mr. Hitchens’ comment about the world being better off without religion. If that were so, there would be no need for Faith Church and millions of other churches. We might as well sit around and just waste time because there would be no purpose or direction in our lives. But, we don’t. We know that God is God and He is real.

We should pray for Christopher Hitchens as there have been many cases of atheistic conversions to Christianity. But, we could also listen to his words and take them as a challenge as Christ challenged the disciples before his ascension that they go out into all the world, spreading the Gospel.

Near the end of the interview, Mr. Hitchens stated that people who believe in religion, need to keep their faith to themselves. The response that came to my mind was Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees as he entered Jerusalem for the final time and they wanted him to keep his disciples quiet. “Luke 19:40 says, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” NIV.

As a church, we should not keep quiet. As Christians, we are today’s disciples for Christ. We have a mission to reach this community for Christ. Please pray about what you can do to further ministry work at Faith Church and beyond.

Neil Snelling, Ministry Coordinator