There is power in prayer and Christian unity, and Reverend Franklin Graham suspects this is the reason why an atheist group is doing whatever it can to dissuade people from attending church.
On his Facebook page, Graham shared a post concerning the efforts made by a group called American Atheists. The group has put up several billboards featuring Santa Claus with a text that reads: "Go ahead and skip church. Just be good for goodness' sake. Happy holidays!"
Graham believes that the group is wrong on all accounts, and says the people who put up the billboards did it just to get attention. "These people must be absolutely afraid of Christians going to church. I find that extremely interesting —they must know that there is power in God's people gathering together to worship Him!" he says.
This is why Graham is encouraging more people to attend church, even the atheists who put up the signs. "I would like to invite the atheists to come and join us this Sunday — you would be welcome in God's house. It's not about being good; it's about being saved and knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. This is what we celebrate— 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:11)," he says.
Meanwhile, another atheist group called the Freedom from Religion Foundation recently complained about the setting up of an annual nativity scene in Belen, New Mexico, and called for its removal or relocation. But they were surprised to find out that the townspeople there were no pushovers, Graham shares.
"The mayor said the town's iconic nativity wasn't going anywhere, and local churches put together a huge 'Follow the Star to Bethlehem' event last Saturday. One pastor said, 'People are concerned about their freedom of religion and so in response we're trying to stand up and say we're not going to go in a corner and hide any more, we're going to stand up and proclaim what we believe,'" the evangelist writes.
It's about time Christians get "riled up" about their religious freedoms, and stand up for everything concerning Jesus Christ and God's Word, he adds.
