Then the Pharisees went out and held a counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him. Matthew 12:14
An organization called Creation Studies Institute has a new approach to dealing with those who deny the existence of God and the truth of the Bible. The institute, which promotes the teaching of true science, has launched an ‘Adopt an Atheist’ prayer movement. The institute has compiled a list of the most prominent people among the promoters of atheism, including Bill Nye, the host of a Disney/PBS science program for children, Mark Zuckerberg, the multi-billionaire owner of Facebook, psychologist Stephen Pinker, theoretical physicist Stephen Weinberg, Sam Harris, who is described as the poster boy for the ‘science is God’ movement, vitriolic anti-God campaigner Richard Dawkins, Hollywood actor George Clooney, and Dave Silverman, the current president of the American Atheists Association. The Institute urges Christians to pray – not for these enemies of God and His Christ to be destroyed – but that they might be saved. How much more noble is the Christian’s approach to enemies than the approach of enemies to Christians!
The names on the Creation Studies Institute’s Adopt an Atheist prayer list are all enemies of the Gospel. They are doing their utmost to destroy the influence of the Bible and God on this world. Like the Pharisees in our text, destruction is their goal. And like the Pharisees, their campaign is doomed to defeat. The Creation Studies Institute knows this, and in love to the atheists’ souls prays for their salvation. Would it not make more sense for them to pray for the atheists’ efforts to be confounded? Did Jesus pray for the Pharisees to be confounded in their efforts? Of course not, He knew they could not destroy Him or divert Him from His purpose to purchase our salvation at Calvary. And we know that the atheists can never destroy the Word of God or the testimony of those who believe its message.
The Pharisees held a counsel against Jesus. Eventually, they would form a confederacy with other opponents of Jesus, including the Sadducees, the scribes, and even the Herodians. Their efforts resulted in the eventual capture of Jesus in Gethsemane, His torture at Gabbatha, and His crucifixion at Golgotha. But they did not – could not – destroy Him. His death on the cross was a great victory, and His resurrection three days later was His glorious vindication. He Who was dead and is alive evermore completed His great mission in the midst of the worst that His enemies could go. Our enemies today should learn from that.
We might consider the Institute’s suggestion that we pray specifically for the salvation of the world’s most prominent atheists. They are going to lose their anti-God campaigns, what a pity if they should also lose their souls! -Jim MacIntosh