One atheist's view of God!

In today's notes from a Prayer Diary that I use - the International Daily Prayer Bulletin, poduced by Revival Prayer Ministry, Eastbourne - is the following: "A recent article in The Times of London shows that not all atheists are anti-God. Matthew Parris, a former conservative member of the British Parliament, recently argued in his column that Africa needs not only aid, but God. "Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts.", writes Parris, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. "These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good." Parris observes that Africans who are conberted to Protestant Christianity are able to break the shackles that tied them to their ancestral dominant hierarchies, so that they are free to be truly themselves, and develop as human beings. He remarks that you can tell a Christian by his demeanour - "he stands up straight."" The full article may be read at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece?Submitted=true

It is, of course, encouraging to read this secular acknowledgement of the inner change and freedom that the new life in Christ brings. And it's good to know that not every professed atheist is as antagonistic as Richard Dawkins! However, it is also useful to remember that what Matthew Parris has written about his recent experience should not apply only to the African continent. Later in the article he makes this profound statement concerning devout Christians (is there really any other kind??!) whom he met: "It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were." Should not this be true of everyone who bears the name of the Christ?!