I read a post from a non-believer who said one of the most pernicious myths among evangelicals is that atheists need something bad to happen to them to “strong-arm them into believing in nonsense for no good reason.”  Those are his words, not mine.

This claim reveals more about myths among anti-theists than it does about Christian belief.  I’ve never heard a preacher say that no one is saved until God “strong-arms” them. While it’s true that some turn to God when tragedy diminishes the distractions once considered important, a bad experience is hardly a requirement.   Anyone who says otherwise presupposes that Christians turn to our Savior only to be saved from some immediate problem.

The book of Ephesians tells us, “…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”  If we are saved by faith, and our faith is a gift from God (given to those who seek Him,) then there is no “strong-arm,” just God calling us to accept a gift.

At the end of the day, there’s no strong-arm; just God offering salvation through the sacrifice His son made on the cross.

Will you accept His gift?