How do I convert my friend? Please help.

[ChristLover69]

Hi, I have recently noticed a very good friend of mine has recently started posting very atheistic remarks publically on Facebook.
I saw him posting this today

Missed 10 mins of my lecture after a 20 minute chat with 2 American Christians down by Morrisons. They couldn't quite gather the fact that someone actually stopped and told them how they felt about their so called version of Christianity.. Think I managed to debate quite well.

Mike 1, God 0

I am very worried about my friend, he has only recently become like this, since he went to University. Does anybody have any advice about help to my friend?

God bless.

 

[ChristianT]

Show him love always, be quick to listen and slow to speak. (Of course if he says something biblically unsound, let him know)

 

[bling]

I agree with ChristianT. Be there when tragedy strikes and let him see jesus working through you.

 

[Faulty]

"Mike 1, God 0"

Seems a bit arrogant. He didn't debate God at all.

Not every christian understands all major and minor doctrines to the point of successful debate. Becoming a believer doesn't require such extensive head-knowledge.

The basic gospel is simple in scope, as Paul states, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (1 Cor 15:3-5), but the doctrine in the scriptures are deeper than you could ever go.

It is not a requirement for every christian to be able to logically defend every skeptic of all their concerns. So, just because he "thinks" he did well doesn't actually prove anything at any level.

The real questions are:
Does he know he's a sinner before God?
Does he know he cannot earn his justification before God?
Does he know Jesus came and lived the perfect sinless life before God that your friend could not, then offered that life up as a blameless sacrifice to the Father, taking our sins on Himself?
Does he know this Jesus was then raised from the dead, by the power of God, and now lives?
Does he know the right-standing of Jesus before the Father is offered to him, when he puts his trust in Jesus to forgive and justify him?
And has he done so?

Without knowing all of these things to the affirmative, whatever else he thinks he may know, no matter how many christians he tries to beat up with it, he doesn't know anything that is worthwhile or lasting.

Start there. Start with the gospel, and pray to the Father that he draws your friend to Himself and convicts him of his sin.

 

[ChristianT]

^

 

[Mr Dave]

Hi, I have recently noticed a very good friend of mine has recently started posting very atheistic remarks publically on Facebook.
I saw him posting this today



I am very worried about my friend, he has only recently become like this, since he went to University. Does anybody have any advice about help to my friend?

God bless.

Going to Uni is a changing point for many people, especially with regards to faith. It's his firt chance to really make a decision for himself. Starting uni was when I became a Christian, despite having gone to church all my life. Other people fall away at uni.

You can pray for him, and be the gospel towards him. If you really feel that you need to bring up the topic with him and ask what's going on, then do so, but after prayer and in a tactful way. He's only just got back into his second semester (from what I gather from what you've said?) so is still early on, possibly with mixed thoughts and questions in his head.

 

[razeontherock]

Realize WE don't convert anybody! It is God that gives the increase. This basic humility is a major key ...

 

[OnlyBelieve]

Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray and Bear Good Witness, Live by example, Shine the Light. God will do the rest.

 

[King Enigma]

First of all, you can't do anything that the Holy Spirit has not done first. You can talk to them all you wish, but if as the Bible states, the Holy Spirit does not draw them first, then your efforts will still come up short.

Noble and always good to minister to your loved ones or friends, but again, if the Holy Spirit has not drawn them first and gave them that hunger to know God and have a relationship with him for themselves, then only time will tell if it ever happens at all.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I thought perhaps you could use an atheist's perspective on this one. If your friend is now basing his beliefs on logic and reason, then it will be extremely difficult to change his mind. Apologetics try to use logic and reason to defend Christianity, I suggest starting there. Perhaps with the cosmological argument. A beginning atheist may have a hard time finding the counter arguments to that particular view. If however, your friend is basing his atheism on his emotions, for example, he's angry at god for something, then he won't stay atheist forever. Try to understand the root of his lack of belief, then you may have a chance of winning him back.