an atheist by the grace of God

An oxymoron you say? I am not so sure. I recently heard someone use Paul's contextualization on steriods (be all things to all people in order to win some) to become a nihilist for the nihilists and godless for the godless. One person suggested that the entire language of the Church has become meaningless and so he said that he had become "an atheist by the grace of God."

Now as a person who has always need much grace in my life, I can sympathize with anyone needing grace. But God giving grace to a person in order that they can believe that no god exists? Some would argue that if the world is the area of God's activity, that would certainly include religious viewpoints other than Christianity. In the end it seems that one would just end up arguing for the Buddhist to be a better buddhist and the Mormon a better mormon if this position goes to its logical end.

Is this what Paul meant? I think the view above is too extreme a reaction away from the clear meaning of the passage. On the other hand, the radical effects of the conservative evangelical perspective that the world is evil, contact should be avoided with the world entirely when possible, I mean our citizenship is in heaven not here on earth -- creates a huge disconnect with life. Isolationism and insulated lives result. There seems to be no balance on either side . . ..

Generally I like extremes . . . some would even argue that I personally am really extreme! On the other hand it seems imperative to understand/admit that God has left us in this world. We evangelicals seem to be focused a great deal on the glorious future when the saved individuals are with God in heaven. But what about today? Really? If the world is essentially evil, which means our environment is essentially evil, how does one remain unstained by the world, much less become all things to all people so that some might be saved? And isn't salvation more than just getting more souls into the Kingdom in the future? What about today? Would not the redeemed directly address the injustices of this world? So what should I do about the lady picking food out of the garbage dumpster on my street? The beggar who grabbed my leg this morning and wanted money for food? The lady in our church who lives in one room, with no water or toilet? The girl begging at the street corner who can't read or write and doesn't want to . . . she only wants to get married (she is 13)? What about homosexuals, pollution, war, refugees, hunger, human trafficking, and ethnic hatred? And these are the problems just in my neighborhood!

I guess being an atheist by the grace of God is no stranger than a salvation that doesn't change the world, only the final destiny of an individual.