Simon Birch is a 1998 movie based on a novel entitled A Prayer for Owen Meany. The story revolves around two young boys, age 12. Joe is a bastard (I mean that as it is actually intended, not as we have come to use it.) and a good part of the movie revolves around Joe and his friend, Simon, trying to figure out who his father is. Simon, played by Ian Michael Smith, is Joe's best friend. He suffers from severely stunted growth, making him the target of much junior high ridicule, but the children love him. And Simon has an unshakable belief that God has made him that way for a very special purpose.
In a particularly difficult scene, Simon is sitting in the office of Reverend Russell. He is in trouble (again). He has, according to Reverend Russell, just created the first "full contact Nativity scene". The pastor has told him he has to stay away for awhile, and Simon counters with Scriptures that urge mercy. Finally, exasperated, Reverend Russell says, "What do you want from me, Simon?" Simon answers, "I want to know that God has a plan for each one of us. I used to be sure, but now I have questions." It's a simple question, pastor. A junior high kid is questioning the sovereignty, omnipotence, and omniscience of God. The answer is brilliantly simple. "Yes!" Yes, God has a plan for each one of us. Yes, what God plans comes to pass. Yes, you are right to believe that God has a plan for you. Yes, Simon, yes! The good reverend, however, collapses into practical atheism. He doesn't know. He can't say. Simon totters off depressed and shaken.
It's a movie. I get that. But I would suggest that practical atheism is the most common belief on the planet. While atheism resides way down at the less than 10% mark, practical atheism is the norm. The practical atheist knows the right answer to the question, "Is there a God?" Indeed, many practical atheists are regular church goers. ("Regular" here may be defined as "every Christmas and Easter".) Indeed, our Reverend Russell is a prime example of a regular church goer as well as a practical atheist. In other words, you will find them everywhere ... even in the pulpit. They claim to believe in God. Some claim to be Christians. So what is a practical atheist?
A practical atheist is one who claims to be a theist while denying in practice theism. They will claim to believe in a divine power, all the while denying His authority or existence by who they live. No right-minded person claims to believe in a Just God while ignoring all of His commands. This is a denial of simple reason. God cannot both exist and not exist. Yet, people routinely seem to hold this position.
Theism is often defined as the belief that god exists, but this is a short version. Other beliefs, such as deism, polytheism, and pantheism also claim a belief in god or gods, so there is another distinguishing characteristic that sets theism apart. Theism generally includes the belief in an "immanent" god. Deism holds that there is a god, but that this god doesn't actually interact with its creation. Theism, on the other hand, believes in a god who interacts with human beings. Christian theism takes this a step further and holds that this God is personal, transcendent, and intimately involved in everything that occurs. Christian theism holds to a God that is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. This God actually accomplishes everything He plans to accomplish. This God leaves nothing to chance. He allows and uses human choice, but doesn't rely on it. He maintains a delicate balance between so-called "free will" versus His own unassailable Sovereignty. Without a doubt, this God of Christian theism has a plan for every single human being on the planet.
One of the lines from Simon Burch has Joe's mother shouting, "That boy has more faith than you'll ever have." It's a movie, but in the movie it's true. This young kid with an overactive libido and parents who hate him has more faith than the pastor who teaches him. It's a movie that reflects the too often truth of churches today. We live in a world of practical atheists who sometimes hold positions of leadership in the church. It is these who will stand before God someday and say, "Lord, Lord, look what we've done for you" and hear in response, "Depart from Me; I never knew you." My prayer is that it won't be any of you.
(Completely unrelated, I need to shout out a "Happy Birthday!" to my son, David, who turns 26 today. I love you, son.)
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