Reaching out to atheists: what mistakes do Christians make?

Chamdar · Dec 18, 2008

I think a great many Christians do a terrible job at trying to bring atheists to Christ, and that's because they tend to make sweeping generalizations about them. Once you do things like ridiculously label them all as, say, communists, you just end up pushing people away even further. When I was an atheist, I was never a "communist" nor did I have any desire to deny Christians or anyone else their religious freedom (in fact, I had no problem with voluntary school prayer).

People lose faith in God for various reasons and it's absurd to paint all of them as Madalyn Murray O'Hair clones.

I'm not sure if this area of Christian Forums was the right place to put this, but I'm putting it here because I couldn't seem to find another forum where it would fit.

Armistead · Dec 19, 2008

There is an atheist group that meets in our neighborhood. As a christian, they let me attend and we have many discussions.

Like any belief, it is a decision made on faith. Atheist often say there is no God, but true atheist say they still, like all humans have doubt about it. No one can prove God to them, nor can they prove there is no God. Atheist, like christians operate on faith. They believe what they do based on faith and make a decision not to believe.

Atheist hate religion and rightly so. They see all the evil it has done on earth. You must show them a Christ without religion. Most will agree that Christ lived and love his teachings.

Most atheist are very moral. To treat them as evil, they have no respect for you. Those that follow atheism as a belief system are some of the most moral people I know. They understand and believe in what Christ taught...that we can keep all the law by loving others and doing them no harm..That is one teaching of Christ athesit can connect with. The law of Christ is the actual goal of true atheist...that if everyone lived not to harm others, the world would be near perfect.

You'll never get to atheist with hellfire and damnation. To them a God that would create humanity to throw it in hell and torture the mass of it is not loving. They would rather suffer than serve a God like that. Atheist respond well to the message of UR.

The best way is to connect with them that we all operate on faith. I will tell them when I look at all of God's creation, the billions of perfect functions that take place every second, there must be a God. I tell them
they actually have more faith than I do. If they can believe all that exist just happened and existed from nothing...that requires a lot of faith.

Zaac · Dec 19, 2008

Chamdar, this is a Christian only section of the forums. You may want to check with the moderators and see if they can direct you to the area in which everyone is allowed to post.

Armistead said:
There is an atheist group that meets in our neighborhood. As a christian, they let me attend and we have many discussions.

Ohhh boy.

Like any belief, it is a decision made on faith. Atheist often say there is no God, but true atheist say they still, like all humans have doubt about it.

And here we go. I pray to GOD that you're not showing up to an atheist meeting purporting to represent Christ and then saying that all humans have a doubt about God's existence.

No one can prove God to them, nor can they prove there is no God. Atheist, like christians operate on faith. They believe what they do based on faith and make a decision not to believe.

There's a difference between faith and foolishness. I hope you're not leading them to believe that their foolishness is the equivalent of faith when it is the very absence of faith that causes them to say what they do.

Atheist hate religion and rightly so. They see all the evil it has done on earth. You must show them a Christ without religion. Most will agree that Christ lived and love his teachings.

You could interview the devil and he'd probably admit the same.

Most atheist are very moral. To treat them as evil, they have no respect for you.

Why would we be treating them as evil? They are lost just as we all once were. But their foolishness is to be pointed out as such.

Those that follow atheism as a belief system are some of the most moral people I know.

Sounds like a religion.

They understand and believe in what Christ taught...that we can keep all the law by loving others and doing them no harm..That is one teaching of Christ athesit can connect with. The law of Christ is the actual goal of true atheist...that if everyone lived not to harm others, the world would be near perfect.

So that's where you got that notion from in the other thread a while back. Dude, rather than salting, you're being salted.

You'll never get to atheist with hellfire and damnation. To them a God that would create humanity to throw it in hell and torture the mass of it is not loving. They would rather suffer than serve a God like that. Atheist respond well to the message of UR.

Again, this is foolishness. Ain't nobody who loves Christ and who loves his neighbor as himself gonna sit around and tell folks that God loves them all day without explaining that God also has a wrath that He takes out against those who unrepentently, uncovered in the blood of Christ,sin against Him.

You seem to really be about making folks feel good, and thinking their attempt at morality is in line with that of a Holy God.

The best way is to connect with them that we all operate on faith. I will tell them when I look at all of God's creation, the billions of perfect functions that take place every second, there must be a God. I tell them
they actually have more faith than I do. If they can believe all that exist just happened and existed from nothing...that requires a lot of faith.

Dude, you're a CHRISTIAN. Get an understanding of what faith is. What you described is a lack of faith so why on earth are you telling these folks they have faith when it's obvious that they don't?

Lord Jesus help us if you are the only Christian sharing with them. Where is this group?We need to send some people cause you just ain't up to the work.

Nadiine · Dec 19, 2008

I found this post regarding Atheists in another section
& thought I'd post it becuz I share the same view.

------------
Broad stroking any group of people is never a really good idea IMHO.

Most of the atheists I know personally don’t have a problem with people who believe in God.

Most Christians I know don’t have a problem with atheists but have the same heart for them that we do for anyone who rejects God.

And just because we are compelled to share the gospel of Christ Jesus, doesn’t mean all people of faith go about preaching “at” people…there is that whole sharing the truth in love thingy in the heart of many Christians.

I think it’s important to understand the distinction between those who simply believe there is no God and those who are active, militant atheists….seeking with a vengeance to discredit, denounce and remove God from our society. And I personally do find that very annoying...which is putting it quite mildly.

------------

Nadiine · Dec 19, 2008

Originally Posted by Armistead

You'll never get to atheist with hellfire and damnation. To them a God that would create humanity to throw it in hell and torture the mass of it is not loving. They would rather suffer than serve a God like that.
Atheist respond well to the message of UR.

Sure they do! Thankfully for them in Universalism doctrine, they all get to heaven in the end anyways. lol

If that doctrine were true (which it is not), I imagine it wouldn't matter what a Christian tells them or how badly they witness

Zaac · Dec 19, 2008

Nadiine said:
[/INDENT]

Sure they do! Thankfully for them in Universalism doctrine, they all get to heaven in the end anyways. lol

If that doctrine were true (which it is not), I imagine it wouldn't matter what a Christian tells them or how badly they witness

I wonder how the UR people reconcile that with the atheist? Something like:

"It's okay . You don't have to believe in God. The God you don't believe in is gonna, in the end, save you anyway."

Nadiine · Dec 19, 2008

Zaac said:
I wonder how the UR people reconcile that with the atheist? Something like:

"It's okay . You don't have to believe in God. The God you don't believe in is gonna, in the end, save you anyway."

lol
Well of course! That's what we define mercy & love to mean despite all the opposing teachings regarding God's justice, wrath & Holiness.
(and despite what the gospel message teaches which is "you must be Born Again" to recieve salvation)

I just KNEW UR would weasel its way into this thread - sure enough,
it didn't take long. What was that, 1 post in?

Is it any shock that they'de claim Atheists really Love their message?
What would Atheists care? Either way they get the best of both worlds in the end.
Live for self and then get the best of the next life.
Wow, what a travel package!
It's such a relief to know that no matter how I live & no matter
what I say, do or believe it won't keep me out of those pearly gates

Zaac · Dec 19, 2008

Nadiine said:
lol
Well of course! That's what we define mercy & love to mean despite all the opposing teachings regarding God's justice, wrath & Holiness.
(and despite what the gospel message teaches which is "you must be Born Again" to recieve salvation)

I just KNEW UR would weasel its way into this thread - sure enough,
it didn't take long. What was that, 1 post in?

Is it any shock that they'de claim Atheists really Love their message?
What would Atheists care? Either way they get the best of both worlds in the end.
Live for self and then get the best of the next life.
Wow, what a travel package!
It's such a relief to know that no matter how I live & no matter
what I say, do or believe it won't keep me out of those pearly gates

Ain't that some mess? Let's just forget that God is a HOLY God. It's more important that we appease everybody and make them feel good.

It's okay that they reject the Son that God sent to the Cross because even though He did what He did, they can continue to reject Him and be saved in the end. That whole Cross thing really wasn't a biggy.

Straight foolishness. The more I listen to some of the quackery on here, the more I understand why God's Word says in James 3:1
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Chamdar · Dec 24, 2008

Zaac said:
Chamdar, this is a Christian only section of the forums. You may want to check with the moderators and see if they can direct you to the area in which everyone is allowed to post.

Thanks for the advice, although I should note that I am a Christian, just a non-denominational one.

ReformedChapin · Dec 24, 2008

Being a former atheist I think the biggest problem with Christianity I had was the fact that most people take the strictly dogmatic non-intellectual approach. No one challenged my (former) naturalistic pressupositions. No one made it clear that a lot of the scientific methods used for carbon dating were based on some potentially flawed assumptions. But I think the biggest of all challenges I had as an atheist was that I couldn't live consistently with my own world view. The law came over and over again to challenge me. I kept referring to a system of ethics that was non-existent in my own world view, that ultimately tore me apart. We as humans need the LAW, it shows us that we are sinners! But only by grace does God open our eyes and reveals the truth.

Orville · Dec 24, 2008

You will never convert an atheist by quoting chapter and verse. Any atheist I have ever known immediately shuts down, because reciting verses makes you look like a robot in the eyes of a non believer.

Talk about God in general philosophical terms. Engage the atheist in a way that will cause them to come to their own conclusions. Just like with teaching children, if you tell them what to do it's never as effective as showing them how come to the right decision.

pgp_protector · Dec 24, 2008

Let them see Christ in you by how you live, not by what you say.

wannabeadesigirl · Dec 24, 2008

I think the biggest issue with Christians is the tendency to assume things. I can only speak for myself, but growing up in a predominantly Christian culture, surrounded by people who believe in the Messiah never gave me the opportunity to talk to anyone who has worshiped anyone but God.

Then I met some Hindus and I was astounded to find that they believe the same things about Krishna, as we do about Christ essentially that he was a real person, the incarnation of a great god sent to save the world.

I think that when you are in a predominantly Christian culture, surrounded by Christians, listen to Christian music etc you forget that people are just as dogmatic, and faithful to their beliefs as you are. When anyone forgets that, they have the tendency to disregard anothers faith as trivial, which it's not, it's just as much a part of their soul and heart as the precepts of Christianity are to Christians.

Zaac, everyone has doubted God at some point. If you've ever worried about money, food, clothes, you've doubted God's promise to take care of you. If you've ever asked a question, or asked a sign of God then you've doubted any instructions you think he's given you. It is also incredibly foolish to follow without thinking about it first. History has reaffirmed this time and time again, many times religion has been used to commit horrible atrocities in Gods name.

Case in point would be the Holocaust. Hitler used the true, Biblical fact that the Jewish people rejected, and killed the Messiah to his own evil ends. People didn't question this, nor did they back it with logic. Even if they had done a little bit more Biblical searching they would've woken up and stopped the slaughter, but they didn't because they believed what their churches were telling them.

LightSeaker · Dec 24, 2008

Even most atheist have an image of Jesus Christ that they hold. The image they often think of when they think of Jesus Christ is Love and Compassion and putting others first in their lifes. But they don't see that in Christians, who would rather talk Hell and Damnation than be Love and Compassion.

.

Nadiine · Dec 25, 2008

LightSeaker said:
Even most atheist have an image of Jesus Christ that they hold. The image they often think of when they think of Jesus Christ is Love and Compassion and putting others first in their lifes. But they don't see that in Christians, who would rather talk Hell and Damnation than be Love and Compassion.

.

and the reason they HAVE to talk hell & damnation is becuz so many
are acting like neither exist.

It's actually JESUS who taught more of hell & condemnation
than heaven. By contrast, I'd say anyone teaching the same wouldn't
be doing a bad thing.

& according to Jude, different' methods work with different types
of people.
In my rebellious years, "Love of God" did NOTHING to lead me to Him.
The condemnation did becuz I was worried about my future eternity &
where I'd spend it.

So love & peace messages won't reach ALOT of people. Jesus obviously
knew that & preached BOTH love & eternal destruction to give a
properly balanced message from God.

He is love, but He is also wrath & holiness; sin will not be allowed to
continue eternally. & THAT IS A JOY TO KNOW.

ReformedChapin · Dec 25, 2008

Nadiine said:
and the reason they HAVE to talk hell & damnation is becuz so many
are acting like neither exist.

It's actually JESUS who taught more of hell & condemnation
than heaven. By contrast, I'd say anyone teaching the same wouldn't
be doing a bad thing.

& according to Jude, different' methods work with different types
of people.
In my rebellious years, "Love of God" did NOTHING to lead me to Him.
The condemnation did becuz I was worried about my future eternity &
where I'd spend it.

So love & peace messages won't reach ALOT of people. Jesus obviously
knew that & preached BOTH love & eternal destruction to give a
properly balanced message from God.

He is love, but He is also wrath & holiness; sin will not be allowed to
continue eternally. & THAT IS A JOY TO KNOW.

I agree with you partially the God loves you method doesn't work. And the reason why it doesn't work is the same reason why the you are going to hell reason doesn't work either. Because unbelievers are blind because of their unrighteousness. If you tell an atheist he is going to hell he will laugh in your face. I suggest you speak to them more in something that they can relate to and that's to the law. All people consider themselves good, but if you challenge them with the law that will allow room for God to open their eyes because it brings conflict to them and their inner being.

Nadiine · Dec 25, 2008

ReformedChapin said:
I agree with you partially the God loves you method doesn't work. And the reason why it doesn't work is the same reason why the you are going to hell reason doesn't work either. Because unbelievers are blind because of their unrigthousness. If you tell an atheist he is going to hell he will laugh in your face. I suggest you speak to them more in something that they can relate to and that's to the law. All people consider themselves good, but if you challenege them with the law that will allow room for God to open their eyes because it brings conflit to them and their inner being.

Neither will work on a hard heart.

The love stuff is taken for wimpy passivity and you're right, they laugh
at any condemnation. (However, that doesn't mean that they're guilty
conscience doesn't eat away at them even tho they mock & reject).

That Ray Comfort guy talks about the law & how to witness using that.
I don't walk up to any atheist & just start prattling away,
but sometimes they ask questions or show interest & that's where we
can strive to make some inroads & talk sensibly to them; using
all kinds of topics & methods evenly & rationally.

LightSeaker · Dec 25, 2008

Nadiine said:
and the reason they HAVE to talk hell & damnation is becuz so many
are acting like neither exist.

And at that point, they will stop listening.

In my rebellious years, "Love of God" did NOTHING to lead me to Him.
The condemnation did becuz I was worried about my future eternity &
where I'd spend it.

Would "Love of Human Beings" that you experienced from Christians, would that have worked for you?

So love & peace messages won't reach ALOT of people.

Yet Love and Peace reaches a lot of other people. That's the draw for a lot of New Agers. I still feel that the image atheist have for a "true" believer of Jesus Christ will be Love and Compassion. The reason being is that their image of Jesus Christ is Love and Compassion.

HollandScotts · Jan 10, 2009

Arrogance, like Zaac's, is probably is biggest problem Christians have when trying to bring the Gospel to others.

When I was a non-Christian, when someone told me I'ld go to hell for not believing, I told them to go to hell, and rightfully so. If you're going to be an idiot, you need to be told where to go.

Live for self and then get the best of the next life.

Another ignorant assumption, that atheists are henodistic, selfish people. They have families, friends, and their own morality that actually surpasses the supposed morals of many Christians.

Because unbelievers are blind because of their unrighteousness.

They are more righteous than many Christians on this forum.

The Lady Kate · Jan 12, 2009

Zaac said:
And here we go. I pray to GOD that you're not showing up to an atheist meeting purporting to represent Christ and then saying that all humans have a doubt about God's existence.

I would say the honest ones do.

Think about this... we live in faith, not in facts. We walk a Christian path not because we "know" it's the correct one, but because we "believe" it's the correct one... see the difference? It's an important one.

Besides, humilty is a virtue, and that must necessarily include the humility to admit to ourselves, when we don't have all the facts, that we just might be wrong.

There's a difference between faith and foolishness. I hope you're not leading them to believe that their foolishness is the equivalent of faith when it is the very absence of faith that causes them to say what they do.

Not necessarily an absence of faith, but simply a faith directed elsewhere.

Why would we be treating them as evil? They are lost just as we all once were. But their foolishness is to be pointed out as such.

Most people don't react well to being called fools... not even fools themselves.

Sounds like a religion.

Depends on how you define religion, I suppose.

Again, this is foolishness. Ain't nobody who loves Christ and who loves his neighbor as himself gonna sit around and tell folks that God loves them all day without explaining that God also has a wrath that He takes out against those who unrepentently, uncovered in the blood of Christ,sin against Him.

I seem to do all right focusing on God's love as opposed to His wrath.

You seem to really be about making folks feel good, and thinking their attempt at morality is in line with that of a Holy God.

It's foolishness to attempt to so glibly read his mind like that.

Dude, you're a CHRISTIAN. Get an understanding of what faith is. What you described is a lack of faith so why on earth are you telling these folks they have faith when it's obvious that they don't?

I sincerely doubt he's going to get an understanding of faith from you. There are other things besides God for a person to have faith in, you know...

Lord Jesus help us if you are the only Christian sharing with them. Where is this group?We need to send some people cause you just ain't up to the work.

So long as you don't go yourself.

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