How to approach atheists

[KWCrazy]

Faith is the belief in things unproven.
Atheists have faith, they just don't call it that and they apply theirs differently.
They have faith that if God was real they'd be able to prove it.
They have faith that if miracles happened they would be common and easily proved.
They have faith that we live in a world governed entirely by physical laws.
They have faith that the earth is millions of years old because scientists have said it must be.

We have faith that God is real; and because of our faith He has revealed Himself to us. We sought and we found; we knocked, and the door was opened for us.
We have seen miracles; felt the presence of God, and have witnessed His glory.
We know that the six day creation is true; not because science proves it but because God said it.

They claim to have knowledge while we only have faith. Yet in the end, we have the knowledge and THEY have faith. The knowledge of God's authority and His abundant love is revealed to us. We come to God in faith, but we KNOW that He is real when we do.

We can't prove God's existence with physical evidence. We have to show He exist with our love. That's hard to do over the internet with nothing but the written word.

 

[LilLamb219]

MOD HAT ON

This thread has undergone a Clean Up.

Please stick to the topic and NO FLAMING!

MOD HAT OFF

 

[jsimms615]

I've had several opportunities to witness to atheists and those who call themselves agnostic. One was when I was younger in the dorms at college. They noticed that my lifestyle was different and wanted to know why. Another time, more recent was at work. I think you can make people curious about your faith without being condemned. By doing what you say, being a person of integrity and being honest about your struggles.
I think when you try to give pat answers that don't really wash it is the atheist or agnostic who senses the untruthfulness or the fact that we haven't truth thought through what we are saying. When we are honest and say, "I don't know" it seems to go a much longer ways.

 

[writtenword]

jsimms, that can definitely be one experience we have with atheists, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with a mindset held by so many different people. Some atheists are still curious while some are not. Some can play nicely with believers while some can't. I have a friend right now who is usually very polite, but as soon as religion comes up in any way, he turns into a hostile militant. He has told me to my face that he views my beliefs on the same level as holocaust deniers.

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Jesus lived the epitome of a different, Godly lifestyle with lots of truthful answers, and still the Pharisees only cared about getting rid of Him. Believers have to pick their battles and be flexible enough to respond to unique opportunities.

 

[jsimms615]

jsimms, that can definitely be one experience we have with atheists, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with a mindset held by so many different people. Some atheists are still curious while some are not. Some can play nicely with believers while some can't. I have a friend right now who is usually very polite, but as soon as religion comes up in any way, he turns into a hostile militant. He has told me to my face that he views my beliefs on the same level as holocaust deniers.

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Jesus lived the epitome of a different, Godly lifestyle with lots of truthful answers, and still the Pharisees only cared about getting rid of Him. Believers have to pick their battles and be flexible enough to respond to unique opportunities.

In the case of someone like that is openly hostile I think you would be wasting your time arguing. I think the best thing to do is pray that God would change the person's heart and make the person ready to hear the gospel. You have to get the soil ready before you plant the seed.

 

[writtenword]

In the case of someone like that is openly hostile I think you would be wasting your time arguing. I think the best thing to do is pray that God would change the person's heart and make the person ready to hear the gospel. You have to get the soil ready before you plant the seed.

This is what I was getting at before. It doesn't always work to assume an atheist is secretly hungry, and it doesn't always work to open their minds through a holy lifestyle. Some people truly don't want to have their minds opened. We don't know the whole story of whom Andersen has dealt with and everything that led to starting this thread. There is no simple answer because there is no one way to witness.

 

[jsimms615]

This is what I was getting at before. It doesn't always work to assume an atheist is secretly hungry, and it doesn't always work to open their minds through a holy lifestyle. Some people truly don't want to have their minds opened. We don't know the whole story of whom Andersen has dealt with and everything that led to starting this thread. There is no simple answer because there is no one way to witness.

I think it is important to remember that if a person is truly converted it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict the person to the point of repentance, not mine.

I knew a guy in school who had a pretty rough lifestyle. We went all through elementary, junior and senior high together. He then came to the college I was at in my junior year. I talked to him and tried to get him into a bible study with no success. He always found a way to avoid me. After a while, I got busy and stopped bothering him. The next time I saw him he told me that he thought I had given up on him. He realized he was lost and pulled his car over to the side of the road and repented. Later, he was the one who took me to a bible study.
My point is that it took the work of the Holy Spirit to break him and bring him to that point. I'm not creative or persuasive enough to do it on my own.

 

[writtenword]

I think it is important to remember that if a person is truly converted it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict the person to the point of repentance, not mine.

This is the key to it all. We must walk in our calling, remain willing/obedient, and give people answers when God speaks them. No other kind of 'strategy' makes a difference.

 

[thatforumguy77]

I agree with the latter posts. Just something to add: to preach to atheists,

Use the principle of the gentile salvation. That God has extended his call to more than his initial chosen. We do not know the wheat from the weed, so by all means reach out to everyone you can reach. Don't play favorites. Jesus didn't.

Use the principle of discernment. That pearls are not be thrown to swine, nor treasures to dogs, and that you must learn to tell the difference, so that before they bite you because of your testimonies, wisely give way and step aside.

Use the principle of excellence. Reflect God in both action and morality. Let them be in awe of you. Do not be content with a third-rate performance. Suffer yourself to excel beyond your neighbors. Then let them be curious about what makes a Christian tick.

Use the principle of faith and humility. Trust that God will continue the work you began. You cannot always finish what you started, but do not lose faith, it will either bear fruit or it won't - it's simply God's call, not yours.

 

[znr]

Yes, quite easy.

Well it's easy to spot the moment this thread went downhill.

Andersen, if you ever want to talk about dealing with atheists again, I'm available in PM.

 

[znr]

This thread went "downhill" when people started using rules to justify being rude as hell.

 

[znr]

No, it's not hard to show love on the Internet. You want to show love? Don't rudely dismiss an Athiest because the rules give you justification; instead, be kind and patient and don't tell the Athiest to leave because they're, technically, not permitted here. That's how you can show "love".....

Faith is the belief in things unproven.
Atheists have faith, they just don't call it that and they apply theirs differently.
They have faith that if God was real they'd be able to prove it.
They have faith that if miracles happened they would be common and easily proved.
They have faith that we live in a world governed entirely by physical laws.
They have faith that the earth is millions of years old because scientists have said it must be.

We have faith that God is real; and because of our faith He has revealed Himself to us. We sought and we found; we knocked, and the door was opened for us.
We have seen miracles; felt the presence of God, and have witnessed His glory.
We know that the six day creation is true; not because science proves it but because God said it.

They claim to have knowledge while we only have faith. Yet in the end, we have the knowledge and THEY have faith. The knowledge of God's authority and His abundant love is revealed to us. We come to God in faith, but we KNOW that He is real when we do.

We can't prove God's existence with physical evidence. We have to show He exist with our love. That's hard to do over the internet with nothing but the written word.

 

[forGod1]

God works miracles..

 

[Lollerskates]

I can taste the hate in this thread... and it tastes like month old raw oysters

 

[KWCrazy]

I can taste the hate in this thread... and it tastes like month old raw oysters

You should have seen the posts that were deleted.

 

[Lollerskates]

You should have seen the posts that were deleted.

I saw them. Both of ours were deleted (for reasons unknown to me; they weren't offensive.) But Tokyo guy was the king of offense. I think it was a troll account; like I said (in a deleted post to you) his profile pic had "666" and the baphomet (encircled upside down pentagram). I don't know how this thread got so heated.

 

[KWCrazy]

I saw them. Both of ours were deleted (for reasons unknown to me; they weren't offensive.) But Tokyo guy was the king of offense. I think it was a troll account; like I said (in a deleted post to you) his profile pic had "666" and the baphomet (encircled upside down pentagram). I don't know how this thread got so heated.

That's right. Maybe it's because atheists were not invited and some of them seem to think they should be allowed to post on Christian only threads in Christian only forums. The intent of the thread was not to debate atheists but rather to share methods of dealing with them. In this world we fight against principalities. Atheists are the unknowing prophets of evil and discord. They seek to spread their lies at every opportunity. Make no mistake; God is real. if God is real then everything that proceeds from the mouth (or fingertips, literally) of an atheist is a lie. Some, maybe even most post here to engage in stimulation debate. Some, however, have it as their intent to deliberately lead others away from their faith. These people are evil. They are false teachers who serve the purpose of a devil they don't believe in. They are enemies of truth. You can't deal with such people. I just ignore them.

 

[Lollerskates]

I just ignore them.

No bro, with that 666 and inverted pentagram, he reminded me of a True agent of the enemy. And, the language he was spewing - the profanity. I mean, there was no attempt to hide it (using @'s or $#'s, etc.) Given the context of his posts, and his language (plus his profile pic,) I think we were dealing with a true "agent" of the enemy. You are right; both God and the enemy are real.

 

[znr]

KWCrazy:

You ignored my reply post to your complaint about "love" on the internet above. That's very telling. See, I think YOU don't want to love anyone here. You talk a good talk about love though, and claim that it's "hard" to show love on the internet, as if you're an actual moron incapable of figuring out how on earth to do it; you can very clearly form a sentence and write out your thoughts when you feel like it, so obviously you are not a moron. But you do talk talk talk a good talk, that's for sure.

 

[writtenword]

Unfortunately that kind of behavior was what frustrated Andersen and prompted this thread in the first place. No such thing as a civil conversation with people like that and Andersen just had enough of it. Proved his point to a tee.

It is a special battlefield.