Hitchens

I was sad to learn late this week that Christopher Hitchens passed away.  His battle with Esophageal cancer ended on December 15th.  My wife read a Tweet about his passing and informed me as I was getting dressed for work.  I am sad to report that this was the first time I was emotionally moved by the passing of someone who chose not to accept Christ's offer of salvation.  I realize that this admission is rather telling of my character as a Christian but I think its important to share things like this.

Christopher is well known for his scathing critiques of the Abrahamic religions authoring such books as "God is not Great" and condemning Christian figures like Mother Teresa in "The Missionary Position".  Christopher was named along side the likes of Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Richard Dawkins as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism.

Despite his life long efforts to blaspheme the name of God (my Father who I love deeply) I feel a real sadness for him.  A friend at lunch this week described God's reaching his hands towards Christopher through out his life offering forgiveness and salvation over and over again.  This must of course be true, Christopher heard more arguments for existence and goodness of God than almost anyone through his debates with Christians.

I am reminded today of a passage from Ezekiel 18:













God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked but is pleased when they repent and turn.  God wept today for Christopher and the decision he ultimately made wishing he could be reconciled to him.  The stakes are so high people!

To his credit he was certainly the toughest atheist to debate.  He did not make science his god or claim it to be more than it was like Dawkins, or whine incessantly about the world like Harris, he simply promoted the idea that God, if he did exist, was bad and gave a list of examples albeit out of context, lacking spiritual discernment, and without a hint of reverence for the holiness of God.

Christopher passed on an opportunity to know the vastness of God's love and to be forgiven.  This didn't have to happen.  Why couldn't he understand the truth?  Why couldn't he see the goodness and love of God?

I thought I would conclude by posting my favorite Hitchens debate.  Hosted at Biola University in California Christopher is seen here debating Dr. William Lane Craig.  I highly recommend watching this debate.  Dr. Craig constructs the most organized and compelling argument for the existence of God and leaves Hitchens with little response.  Enjoy!