Atheists (Part 1)

My reflections this week led me across two quotes I feel compelled to share.
They are both found in a book by Eugene H. Peterson "Earth and Altar"

"The atheist is not always the enemy. Atheists can be among a Christian's best friends. Atheists, for instance, whose atheism develops out of protest: angry about what is wrong with the world, they are roused to passionate defiance. That a good God permits the birth of crippled children, that a loving God allows rape and torture, that a sovereign God stands aside while the murderous regime of a Genghis Khan or an Adolf Hitler runs its course - such outrageous paradoxes simply cannot be countenanced. So God is eliminated. The removal of God does not reduce the suffering, but it does wipe out the paradox. Such atheism is not the result of logical (or illogical) thought: it is sheer protest. Anger over the suffering and unfairness in the world becomes anger against the God who permits it. Defiance is expressed by denial. Such atheism is commonly full of compassion. It suffers and rages. It is deeply spiritual, in touch with the human condition and eternal values."

In both this post and the next post, my mind immediately jumps to the words or Tierra Nueva director Bob Ekblad in a talk I once had the privilege of taking in: "You do not know how close to the kingdom of God you are."
Looking at the injustice in the world, the suffering of humanity, it is not unreasonable for society to quickly jump to the conclusion: there is no God. Ironically, those same people quickly jumping to those conclusions echo the heart of compassion of God. They enter into the same part of themselves that is shaped in Christ's image and take a few steps to the cross themselves in saying, "this should not be, I want it to end." The crucified Jesus couldn't agree more.
This isn't a post to try and explain suffering, or perseverance, or the hope of the Kingdom of God coming, or why bad things happen to anyone. I merely want to state that the heart that many people have towards these evil things display a shadow of the feelings of the creator. While atheists may shudder at my ignorance using their beliefs to further establish my own beliefs in a God that cares, I hope I speak for all christians in thanking you for caring, as we should.