How Do You Answer Skeptics?

Christsoldier · #1 10th January 2002, 10:14 PM

Are there every really good responses? In the other forum I go into, you can offer thoughtful answers, you can answer from your heart, you can cite evidence and they keep coming up with different posers!

I have repeatedly told someone there that we set out to 'find' what we 'want' to find. In other words, I truly believe that there are things, whether it be other people or situations, that cause one to deny God's existence. That there is something in one's life that one does not want to change, but would have to in order to become more Christ-like.

Am I so far off base???

While I feel certain tricky questions should be answered as fully as humanly possible, I also know that none of us can know the specifics of what God has planned. For instance, why did God harden Pharoah's heart? I feel it's because it wasn't just Pharoah God had to convince. I think there might have been some hard nosed Israelites, too. Another thing I've been asked is why did God command His people to go into the people they have conquered and pillage, rape and destroy? My answer: They were heathens who did not recognize God and God judged them.

You know what? Those responses don't fly. Am I too simplistic? Or am I wasting my time?

rkbo · #2 10th January 2002, 11:34 PM

Dont be discouraged. You have the right heart and keep on keepin on. You see there are many different ways that God uses to reach people.
John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(KJV)

The Father will draw them by some means he has planned. Still it is up to us to be ready to be used as a tool. Do the best you can and God will use you, in his time.

I read a book where the man that orchestrated the Apallo moon mission was brought to the Lord by an assistant that worked with him. They debated for around 3 yrs. Something they discovered in science finally tipped him to reading the Bible with an honest heart and he became a believer.

I read another book about how a man and his wife came to the Lord because of their thumbs.....That 's right, their thumbs. You see they were painters in Russia. They started talking about their thumbs and how great it was designed. It led them to looking at other handiworks of God. One thing led to another and they decided there was indeed a God. They went to the first Church they found and the pastor led them to the Lord.

So you never know. Just keep planting those seeds and trust in God.

Christsoldier · #3 11th January 2002, 05:28 PM

I have to admit it gets very tiring in the other forum. IM4HIM has been in there and strongly urges me to leave and recommended I come here. And I enjoy it here. It's much more soothing.

But, there are people there I'm just not ready to give up on yet and, of course, there are others I would like to shake until their teeth rattled!

I just have to remember I'm planting seeds! And that it's not in my time, but His!

Thanks for your thoughts.

rollinTHUNDER · #4 11th January 2002, 10:25 PM

Hello Christsoldier,
Welcome to the forum.
Ya know, I used to hate computers, because I knew that someday the Anti-Christ would use it to trap the whole world into receiving his Mark of the Beast. That is until one of my Christian brothers at church told me I should check out Hal Lindseys web site. I'm just now learning how to use these stupid contraptions, and I believe the Lord wants me on here, so I can spread his truth around. The funny thing is, I can only type with one finger. Why would he call me to do this work? And believe me, it is work to me. What some people can type in two minutes takes me at least 20 minutes. I have run across the type of sceptic you speak of too. Some of these people have a lot of pride and they won't even bend after you have proven them wrong with scripture even. These are the ones that also like to argue their point. When it reaches this point, sometimes it can get nasty. Thats when I back off, and focus my attention elsewhere. It turns into a dead end anyway and at least we can take some satisfaction in being the one who was mature enough to see the dead end coming. I hope this helps you brother...rollinTHUNDER

Yauming · #5 11th January 2002, 11:43 PM

Excuse me if I was wrong but was Hal Lindsay a pastor at La Trobe University, Australia at one stage?

A good pastor by that same name was there for some time, then he returned back to the States. Is it the same person?

Hishandmaiden · #6 11th January 2002, 11:57 PM

Christsoldier,
I agreed with you. I had been to lots of others' forums, and there are many people who are against Christ there. I get ery tiring and sad when I go there, because of my interest. Like games, writing stories, etc. And especially some of the RPG games forums. Sometimes, they combined to attack Christian verse and scriptures and I, along with only one or two others are the only one defending Christ in the forum. And sometimes, I admit I can get discouraged by them. That is why I am glad I found here, where majority of the people believe in Christ as much as, or more than I do. I thank God that I found this forum.
I used to be very negative about internet, as I think it is used to spread lots of evil stuffs. But now, I see the good side of it as well.

Christsoldier · #7 12th January 2002, 12:31 AM

RollinThunder,

Just now realized I missed this vital bit of info in my profile. I am a sister, not a brother.

Haven't figured out how to change it on my profile yet!

Christsoldier · #8 12th January 2002, 12:35 AM

rpggal,

It does get discouraging esp. when you are challenged prove it, prove it, prove it and you can't use the Bible to prove it, acc. to their standards.

Sadly, some of them I just reply whatever!

But I will probably keep on for awhile longer anyhow! :p

Hishandmaiden · #9 12th January 2002, 09:55 AM

Yup, I sincerely agree, my sister in Christ. I was so angry, sometimes.

Kristen · #10 13th January 2002, 05:54 PM

That is something I need to work on. I get so mad, then blow my witness. Non-believers love that. I joined a Christian forum looking for fellowship and found a guy named Satanslittlehelper. He is the worst! I finally stopped argueing with him. I believe you have to be spiritually strong and really know your stuff to take on most Non-believers. I am not that strong yet but working on it. If you want to take him on along with few others heres the link.

http://www.faithforum.org/