I’m a sucker for witty prose. So Sam Harris’ endorsement of atheist Christopher Hitchens’ new book (God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything) caught my attention:
“If God intended reasonable men and women to worship Him without embarrassment, why did He create Christopher Hitchens? It was a fatal miscalculation. In God Is Not Great, Hitchens not only demonstrates that religion is man-made — and made badly — he laughs the whole monstrosity to rubble. This is a profoundly clever book, addressing the most pressing social issue of our time, by one of the finest writers in the land.”
– Sam Harris, Author of the New York Times bestsellers The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation
I know this endorsement was intended to be funny, but it raises interesting questions: Was the creation of Christopher Hitchens a “fatal misconception” by God or is there more to it?
What if God — to declare his power throughout the world — created Christopher Hitchens to consume his mind with Himself? What if Christopher was created by God to shake lethargic God-ignorers into more serious thought? What if God created this atheist for the purpose of one day shocking the world by his repentance and faith in Jesus Christ? Maybe God created Christopher to further evidence the indestructibility of His church? Maybe Christopher was created to help the church sharpen its understanding of God’s Word, spiritual battles and the beautiful marriage of science and faith? Or maybe God created Christopher in order to patiently wait for an opportunity to display His holy power and wrath (Rom. 9:22)?
It’s not possible right now to know exactly why God created Christopher Hitchens. But somehow, at some time, God will reveal His infinite wisdom. Bottom line: God created Christopher Hitchens — and Sam Harris — for His own glory. What infinite wisdom! “For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart’” (1 Cor. 1:19).
Christopher Hitchens was no “fatal miscalculation.” He bears the Potter’s fingerprints as much as anyone.
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Related: See Doug Wilson’s review of God is Not Great.
Tony Reinke 
For whatever God has ultimately prepared Mr. Hitchens (e.g. wrath or glory (Romans 9:22-24)), it is certain that his futile speculations (Romans 3:21-23) at this time do perfectly demonstrate the wisdom of God in which the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. He shall always be pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21). And all we who trust in a crucified Messiah say, “Amen!”
Thank you Travis. Indeed this does highlight teh various responses to the Gospel. And this morning, as I continue to think about and pray for those spreading lies about God, I am freshly reminded of His graciousness over my soul. What do I have that I have not been given from the hands of a Gracious God? Blessings! Tony