{"id":682,"date":"2010-08-11T06:34:01","date_gmt":"2010-08-11T06:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/redletters\/2010\/08\/an-atheist-says-africa-needs-god.html"},"modified":"2010-08-11T06:34:01","modified_gmt":"2010-08-11T06:34:01","slug":"an-atheist-says-africa-needs-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/redletters\/2010\/08\/an-atheist-says-africa-needs-god.html","title":{"rendered":"An Atheist Says Africa Needs God"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Times in the UK posted an excellent article that merits much thought regarding some of our recent conversation about Jesus Christ and the Bible.<\/p>\n

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I’m thankful for all of you who are atheists or agnostics and have chosen to engage in thoughtful matters of faith. This article<\/a> is fascinating to me because although the author is an atheist, he cannot help but be honest about issues of faith, and Christianity as the hope of Africa. Of course as a Christ follower, I agree with him. Christianity not only provides a framework of hope, but other frameworks human beings need to survive such as a moral law. <\/div>\n
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The author, Matthew Parris, returns to Africa after growing up there as a boy. He says that his visit:<\/div>\n
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“Inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God.”<\/p>\n

He makes this incredible statement as an atheist. One that is honest and true to what he sees:<\/p>\n

“Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”<\/span><\/p>\n

There has been much ill cause by Christians in the name of Christianity over the centuries. For that, I am deeply sorry. But none of us can judge a belief by its abuses. Anything inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus is not Christianity: ie, loving your neighbor as yourself, loving your enemy, giving to the poor, caring for the sick, needy, and downtrodden, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

The message of Jesus Christ is still the greatest hope the world has ever known. I’m glad even an atheist like Matthew Parris can admit it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Read the article by clicking here.<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Times in the UK posted an excellent article that merits much thought regarding some of our recent conversation about Jesus Christ and the Bible. I’m thankful for all of you who are atheists or agnostics and have chosen to engage in thoughtful matters of faith. This article is fascinating to me because although the author is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-africa","category-current-affairs"],"yoast_head":"\nAn Atheist Says Africa Needs God - Red Letters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/redletters\/2010\/08\/an-atheist-says-africa-needs-god.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An Atheist Says Africa Needs God - Red Letters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Times in the UK posted an excellent article that merits much thought regarding some of our recent conversation about Jesus Christ and the Bible. 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A tireless advocate for fatherless children, Davis has spent most of his adult life calling U.S. believers to become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the 143 million orphans living around the world. Through those connections, thousands of orphans now have the bright and hopeful future--one that is filled with opportunities and the love of the one true Father. Davis speaks hundreds of times each year at churches and conferences, mobilizing the church to action on behalf of the poor. He is the author of four books. His most recent novel, SCARED is a fictionalized account of his first-hand experiencing living and working with orphans in Swaziland, Africa. Davis' blog is the premier resource for the latest developments in Christian orphan ministry. Davis also currently teaches courses as adjunct professor at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. When not traveling the globe, Davis resides in the mountains of Colorado in the small community of Palmer Lake. 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