While being interviewed by the Unitarian “minister” Marilyn Sewell on December 17, 2009, the late renowned atheist, Christopher Hitchens was asked this stupefyingly typical question about Christianity:

Sewell: “Mr. Hitchens, the religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement — that Jesus died for our sins, for example. Do you make a distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?”

Hitchens’ answer possesses more clarity, precision and accuracy about the Christian Gospel and its implications for mankind than most Christians out there touting the faith can articulate.

Hitchens: “Well, I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.”
 

In his response, Hitchens basically asserted that Sewell was misleading herself and others in claiming to be a Christian yet not believing, following, or espousing it’s most basic tenets.

This begs another question: Do we know the Gospel better than an atheist? It’s something to consider especially in a season of the year when people are most likely to be receptive to it.

 

 

 

©2012 Jason Autry.  Originally posted on Dec. 11, 2012 at http://jasonautry.com