How Do You Respond to Atheists?

[April_Rose]

2) If the atheist is a functioning human being, he/she has faith too. You have to listen to them to find out what their faith is in, but if they're saying stupid stuff like they go by facts not faith, they're setting themselves up for being disproven when faith is defined and they are proven to have faith in whatever ideas they believe in.

Now that I think of it they say it's true because of something that they discovered in a history book or science textbook,.. so I guess that's sort of like their Bible to them and it isn't any different to where we receive our knowledge.

Ask questions.

Like what?

 

[Lost4words]

Who question you on how you base your beliefs on faith and not actual facts? Cause I'm having that problem in another topic and I feel like I'm not a strong Christian when they tell me that I'm basing my faith on a bunch of lies and I can go to the library and find out they're right and my faith feels so weak. I love Jesus and I want to have strong faith in Him,.. but it's making me question and doubt myself of the possibility that they might be right and I'm scared of losing my salvation again.

To be truthful, i think that anyone who joins this forum should either be a Christian or, one that is seeking to become one.

We have too many atheists who like to attack our beliefs etc. They seem to be on here only to 'have a go'.

Just be strong and trust in Jesus. Nothing can shake our faith, belief and love of God!

Viva Cristo Rey

God bless you

 

[April_Rose]

To be truthful, i think that anyone who joins this forum should either be a Christian or, one that is seeking to become one.

We have too many atheists who like to attack our beliefs etc. They seem to be on here only to 'have a go'.

Just be strong and trust in Jesus. Nothing can shake our faith, belief and love of God!

Viva Cristo Rey

God bless you

Thanks God bless you as well but some of them aren't so bad. I think all beliefs are allowed here because you typically know that a Christian forum is a family friendly safe forum,.. and yes I do love Jesus and believe He is who He said He is,.. but still my faith feels shaken sometimes. Especially from the opposition.

 

[Dave G.]

Basically I don't unless the Spirit has set up a divine appointment. You can't convince them of anything God unless their ears and heart have been prepared to hear and receive. Otherwise they are shut off. Ok, so if prepared, then speak truth. Personal testimonies can be good.

 

[Redwingfan9]

Who question you on how you base your beliefs on faith and not actual facts? Cause I'm having that problem in another topic and I feel like I'm not a strong Christian when they tell me that I'm basing my faith on a bunch of lies and I can go to the library and find out they're right and my faith feels so weak. I love Jesus and I want to have strong faith in Him,.. but it's making me question and doubt myself of the possibility that they might be right and I'm scared of losing my salvation again.

What lies? If an atheist is going to assert that scripture is a lie let them peove their assertion. Until they can prove their case, they have no reason not to believe (other than their totally depraved heart).

 

[ViaCrucis]

To be truthful, i think that anyone who joins this forum should either be a Christian or, one that is seeking to become one.

We have too many atheists who like to attack our beliefs etc. They seem to be on here only to 'have a go'.

Just be strong and trust in Jesus. Nothing can shake our faith, belief and love of God!

Viva Cristo Rey

God bless you

I generally see things slightly differently, I view it as an opportunity to actually put my faith in action. I often find that many who are the most hostile are probably people who have had really bad experiences, and thus their views of Christianity have been disfigured by some form of toxic religion--by bad theology, bad religious practice, or just good old fashioned terrible people behaving terribly.

If I can confess the Gospel in that context, if I can present an alternative to the disfigured view of Christianity which they harbor, then I consider that a good thing--even if they still remain hostile or un-budged.

Additionally, I think it's important that as Christians we don't allow ourselves to live exclusively in our little bubbles, being unchallenged by the world.

While I don't recommend brand new baby Christians to put themselves in harm's way, as it were--I think our growth as Christians is, in part, going to be shaped by living here in the real world. And that means people who disagree with us, or are even antagonistic. We also shouldn't be afraid to learn, to learn from others who aren't Christian.

It's about empathy too, loving our neighbor means caring for others and for their experiences.

This is the world in which we live, and this world has real people, with their own pasts, their own experiences, and their own views. Being a Christian in the real world means that this is our world too.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[April_Rose]

While I don't recommend brand new baby Christians to put themselves in harm's way, as it were--I think our growth as Christians is, in part, going to be shaped by living here in the real world. And that means people who disagree with us, or are even antagonistic. We also shouldn't be afraid to learn, to learn from others who aren't Christian.



-CryptoLutheran

To be honest it feels like I'm being tested. Both by Jesus and by Satan in different ways. Jesus because He wants to know (even though He actually already does in truth) how loyal I am to Him and how strong my faith is,.. and by Satan to see whether or not if I'm going to hold onto it or lose it. I want to be able to pass the test but I don't know the answers yet which is why I created this topic so I can study for it and be more prepared.

 

[chilehed]

Who question you on how you base your beliefs on faith and not actual facts?

One thing I do is point out that facts and faith are complimentary, not incompatible. They seem to have a poor understanding of what the word faith means, likely due to the influence of people like Bertrand Russel.

 

[mama2one]

follow

 

[April_Rose]

my best friend in HS was an atheist
I met her attending Catholic HS
she went there because it was a better school than public

Ah I see,.. well that doesn't really answer my question though. :/

 

[mama2one]

I remained her friend & hoped by my example she might come to know Jesus

 

[ViaCrucis]

At the end of the day all we can do is love people. And continue to love them even if they don't reciprocate it. And when we fail to love them, to repent, pray, and try again.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[April_Rose]

it doesn't?

I remained her friend & hoped by my example she might come to know Jesus

Oh I see now and did she?

 

[April_Rose]

At the end of the day all we can do is love people. And continue to love them even if they don't reciprocate it.
-CryptoLutheran

And nobody can probably understand this better than Jesus can.

 

[mama2one]

Oh I see now and did she?

sadly, she is a very intellectual person, Mensa member & she is one who needs absolute proof

 

[GraceBro]

Like what?

Whatever it is that is not clear to you.

 

[April_Rose]

sadly, she is a very intellectual person, Mensa member & she is one who needs absolute proof

Ask her to prove the existence of atoms and molecules. (Molecules you might be able to see with a microscope,.. but pretty sure you can't see atoms at all.)

 

[Biltong65]

Who question you on how you base your beliefs on faith and not actual facts? Cause I'm having that problem in another topic and I feel like I'm not a strong Christian when they tell me that I'm basing my faith on a bunch of lies and I can go to the library and find out they're right and my faith feels so weak. I love Jesus and I want to have strong faith in Him,.. but it's making me question and doubt myself of the possibility that they might be right and I'm scared of losing my salvation again.

This is when Calvinism, and anti-missionary Baptist doctrine appeals:

"Perhaps they are lost."

I tend to engage very few people on this. I know my brother won't budge. I love him, he is my brother. But, denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

 

[Lost4words]

If i meet a angry atheist in person i just pee on his leg! Woof!

 

[Dave G.]

To be honest it feels like I'm being tested. Both by Jesus and by Satan in different ways. Jesus because He wants to know (even though He actually already does in truth) how loyal I am to Him and how strong my faith is,.. and by Satan to see whether or not if I'm going to hold onto it or lose it. I want to be able to pass the test but I don't know the answers yet which is why I created this topic so I can study for it and be more prepared.

April, honestly the test may be so you can see you don't have the answer and a couple things could come from that. One, you have the faith yourself anyway and are strengthened in it. You need to see this. But also, we don't win them all, we also don't tackle them all. But we can pray. We can love. Meanwhile you grow in Christ. I witnessed to someone long term one time, things looked great and she turned like a demon, seriously. I felt the pain but the one and only time in my life this pain felt like Jesus' tears for this person. I've never felt like that since and I still hold out hope for this still young lady. I witnessed on and off to someone else and prayed for 40 or more years years for her, someone else led her to the Lord recently and I cried upon hearing the news !! Good job well done, I screamed to God from my heart tears pouring down my face, " Jesus she came to you, oh God" I said it maybe three to four time then settled down all smiles. Wow that was a long one and a wish fulfilled from many moons ago. See, it's Gods glory, glad I could be a part.

Is it God's will that it's you who pursue this person about faith or your will ? Very important ! Sometimes we are seed planters only. Someone else comes along and waters. The Holy Spirit harvests anyway and to God goes the glory. If we are called to an individual, we have done our part when we spoke to them. If we spoke the gospel we are covered, their sin is theirs but it's off of us. If we are called to someone and don't speak that's another matter. We need to respond to the Spirit's will not ours. Don't go winging it on your own, know the Spirit is in it.