Getting the church ready for Richard Dawkins

I got an email today asking me if my church was ready for Richard Dawkins. This caught my attention, mostly because I don't pastor a church. The email really made me laugh....


Dawkins is an evolutionary fundamentalist. He is as extreme and narrow minded about evolution as some of our more 'narrow' Christian brothers. In my mind that takes a lot more faith (albeit misguided...) than what it takes to embrace a Creationist view of the beginning. (If this statement sparks the desire to debate the origins of the earth, feel free to do it with someone else, I don't have the time...)

The email said that churches should be ready to teach against the evils of evolution because Dawkins was going on a tour to mark the 150th anniversary of Darwin's death and that he would be promoting Darwin's theory of evolution. For what it's worth, my first thought is that Darwin knew the truth about evolution and Genesis within a nanosecond of his death. It's too bad we can't get his thoughts on evolution after 150 years of experiencing wherever he finds himself spending eternity. I'm confident that Richard Dawkins would be abandoning evolutionary fundamentalism in a heartbeat if he was able to hear what Darwin had to say today.

My other thought, was 'Richard Dawkins is coming to church?' Wow! That's really amazing! I hope he visits a life giving church where he can encounter God's presence, love and power.  It would be a good thing for him!

I've come to a place in my life where nothing is impossible for God. If he wants to move on the heart of an unbelieving Richard Dawkins and bring him to church on Sunday, my expectation is that Dawkins will leave a believer in the ONE who spoke creation into existence in microseconds. Now that would really shake things up wouldn't it?

I continue to be puzzled by the way we respond to people who disagree with our faith. Why would we warn people about Dawkins and his teaching when the bible tells us that our battle isn't against flesh and blood. Wouldn't it make more sense just to pray that God would do something very Sovereign and powerful that would result in something very profound happening in Dawkins life? That might prove to be far more faith based than whatever it is I'm supposed to do because 'he's coming'.

I hope Dawkins makes it to your church and that when he gets there, he encounters the power and wonder of the living God!! Sort of like Saul on the road to Damascus.... Wouldn't that be interesting???