How Do You Respond to Atheists?

[johneb]

This has been a great mystery to the Jews and the gentiles that have not accepted that Jesus is lord, Paul the Apostle - Wikipedia
April, wait on the Lord. It is not your task to change someones heart, it is the work of the Holy spirit to do that. Remember the Apostle Paul and study him in the word for he is a mystery to the unbelievers, just as Isaiah chapter 53 is a stumbling block to the Jew.
I was inspired by this testimony from John Milinde,John Mulinde at IHOP KC 3-1-11 (Full Version) - YouTube

 

[April_Rose]

Blind faith is the weakest kind. The atheist cannot punch holes in one's faith if that faith is built upon logic. A logical faith need never fear a logical attack.

This is the part that I don't really understand.

 

[Rodan6]

The doors to heaven are wide open to the "honest doubter". What matters is their sincere desire for the truth. This great principle should guide us as we engage in debate with non-believers. On the one hand, we should not waste too much time with those who are intractable to the extreme. But, we should be patient--especially with those who are sincere and show signs that they are in fact willing "truth-seekers". Those seeking truth possess a "spirit-in-motion" and deserve our encouragement accordingly.

 

[coffee4u]

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.

For the most part I don't. Honestly, it is a waste of time.
I would not engage unless your faith is strong.

I hate to say it, but "Don't cast your pearl before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matt 7:6
I believe this is a warning to us that they may trample our faith.

 

[Rodan6]

This is the part that I don't really understand.

Ask yourself, Who is God? Is God the angry tyrant that destroyed every man, woman and child in a great flood? Is God the one who demanded the stoning of man because he collected wood on the Sabbath? OR did Jesus come to earth to reveal the truth of a loving Father in heaven? What did Jesus say or do that makes you believe that God did such things? The worshiper with his or her nose too close to the pages of their book seeks to compromise...to blend the powerful teachings of Jesus with the older and more primitive understandings featured in the Old Testament. The TRUTH is that primitive peoples in those days could not yet understand or respect the God of love that Jesus revealed. I love my Bible and have read it a number of times, and parts of it many, many times. I have found that the greatest truths to be found in this wonderful resource were not revealed to me until I first sought to sort out the truth from the fiction.

 

[coffee4u]

Blind faith is the weakest kind. The atheist cannot punch holes in one's faith if that faith is built upon logic. A logical faith need never fear a logical attack. Those of us with a logical faith rejoice at every new discovery. Each new discovery=a new thing about God's wonderful universe. Debate with atheists or agnostics (who you will probably find more responsive) as you see fit, and don't be afraid of what you will find or learn. Many modern atheists today have shut out the possibility of God's existence because they have been exposed to Christians unwilling to consider that the Bible might contain any errors. Accordingly, they dismiss ALL Christians thinking that if there is one error, it must all be false. Of course, all Christians are NOT alike and one error proves little, but it's clear to see that while the atheist professes logical reasoning, their logic comes quite short in this judgement.

I disagree. There is nothing logical about miracles. Nothing logical about God coming down to die for us. Faith must be based because God draws us to him and brings our spirit to life. faith is not based on feelings or logic. feelings can fail and logic can fail. Man thinks he is so logical, so knowledgable, man knows less than nothing.

 

[Rodan6]

The so-called "errors" contained in the Bible actually prove that the Bible really does include the opinions and viewpoints of the men who wrote it colored by the age in which they lived. Remembering that the Bible was assembled by Jewish priests about 500 BC and the accounts they record are of events occurring thousands of years earlier. Is it rational to expect perfection from accounts that were handed down orally over so many years. The accounts of Jesus happened so close to the time they were recorded and therefore it is logical that they should be the most accurate.

 

[April_Rose]

 

[sunshineforJesus]

I respond by telling them I will pray for them.

 

[Rodan6]

Those that put the teachings of Christ FIRST, and then apply His revelation to the writings found in the Old Testament, will never look at this wonderful book in the same way again.

It is time for bed here. May God bless you in your journey.

 

[coffee4u]

The so-called "errors" contained in the Bible actually prove that the Bible really does include the opinions and viewpoints of the men who wrote it colored by the age in which they lived. Remembering that the Bible was assembled by Jewish priests about 500 BC and the accounts they record are of events occurring thousands of years earlier. Is it rational to expect perfection from accounts that were handed down orally over so many years. The accounts of Jesus happened so close to the time they were recorded and therefore it is logical that they should be the most accurate.

Any opinions or viewpoints included in scripture are there because God wanted them in there.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

[johneb]

View attachment 284230

You must go back and listen, you cannot hear when you are talking so much.

 

[coffee4u]

You must go back and listen, you cannot hear when you are talking so much.

I believe she is responding to Rodan6

 

[April_Rose]

Those that put the teachings of Christ FIRST, and then apply His revelation to the writings found in the Old Testament, will never look at this wonderful book in the same way again.

It is time for bed here. May God bless you in your journey.

Thank you even though I still don't have a clue what you're talking about.

 

[April_Rose]

I believe she is responding to Rodan6

Yeah, I don't even think you know what they're talking about.

 

[Sketcher]

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.

Again, it depends on the atheist. For the closest things that come to religious thinking to them, it's not history or science, but philosophy. And they will take various philosophical tenets from wherever they like. Many will say a lot about science, but it's really the philosophy of how to handle science that they are talking about. Science is not hostile to Christianity, but certain philosophies that claim to highly value science can be.

 

[SamanthaAnastasia]

I just say I need it or I would die. Literally and metaphorically.
I would have committed suicide or other horrible, terrible things.
That usually gets them even the militant atheists to stop.
God bless you.

 

[Dave G.]

This is the part that I don't really understand.

Ya, I mean what's logical faith right ? Faith is illogical by nature, you believe in something not seen, yet it's working in your life more and more. Illogical ! But ya know what, given enough time you do begin to see things, course those are intangible, still beyond logic. Logic just isn't an approach I'd take regarding faith. It's really not explainable but experienced. And we don't need to prove it to anyone else. When they take their own leap it likely will be different from our own anyway.

 

[Dave G.]

Blind faith is the weakest kind. The atheist cannot punch holes in one's faith if that faith is built upon logic. A logical faith need never fear a logical attack.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. That's the description of faith from Hebrews 11:1. Totally illogical. Doctor Spock comes to mind right now, the Star Trek figure who needed an explanation for everything. But Faith is so illogical that it makes no sense to either believe or to not believe !! It's what happens because we took a leap anyway. To the believer faith proves itself. To the non believer it's illogical and it can't be proven otherwise or it wouldn't be faith.

If someone asked me to prove my faith, I'd say you can't prove faith. And they would say but you believe in God. Answer: yes. They would say that makes no sense. And I would say right, non at all. But God works in my life, the result is positive. The longer I live in it the more it proves itself and the more it's revealed. To believe is a choice, it happens in faith. I'm taking this step into the substance of something hoped for with the evidence of seeing nothing. What's the hope then ? That it will grow. Illogical. But very very real !!!!!!!!!!!!! And very very Amazing !

 

[Dave L]

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.

If you experience Christ in the New Birth, you have proof nobody can cheat you out of.