#8 – How to Talk about God – with atheists

Hi,

How can you help atheists?

In Asia and India, atheists might be described as people who do not believe in the existence of one supreme God, creator of all.

In Western Europe, atheists will likely appear totally apathetic about God.

In the U.S., many atheists are clearly on the offensive. They get a real kick out of being arrogant and demeaning. It’s nearly become a competitive sport. “Read my blog today…see what I did to those stupid Christians.”

But, there is a lot going on in their hearts and minds that they are not telling you…

I remember debating my Christian friend when I was an atheist. She didn’t know this. But after winning the argument, I’d walk away thinking,

“She believes everything she was saying. And I’m not sure that I believe anything I just said. I just wanted to win the argument.”

Christians have a real edge — authenticity.

Now, to be fair, many atheists actually want to believe in God, if they had good reasons to do so. They just don’t want to be fooled into believing something that’s not true.

So how do we share Christ with an atheist? Matthew 10:16 is very fitting. Jesus said, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Be innocent. (Be loving and respectful.) And also be wise as serpents. Some versions say be “shrewd.”

Here’s the challenge. Who has time to become proficient in atheistic debate? Do you? Do you have time to research and grapple with the kinds of questions atheists love to throw at Christians?

If you had just 5 or 10 minutes to reply, what persuasive concepts can you bring up?

You might know several websites you could use. Unfortunately, many of them are written to Christians, explaining what to say perhaps.

EveryStudent.com writes directly to the unbeliever. There are several articles and videos primarily for atheists:

• Is There a God? (gives 6 reasons to believe in God)
  https://www.everystudent.com/features/is-there-a-god.html

• Is God Real? (why DNA convinced atheist, Antony Flew)
  https://www.everystudent.com/wires/is-god-real.html

• How an atheist found God. (from yours truly)
  https://www.everystudent.com/wires/atheist.html

• Video – God’s Existence
  https://www.everystudent.com/videos/existence.html

• Video – Is God good? (answers Q about suffering & evil)
  https://www.everystudent.com/videos/isGodgood.html

• Video – Francis Collins – design of the universe
  https://www.everystudent.com/videos/collins.html

Ok, so you see there’a s LOT there. And, articles on Jesus’ deity, the Bible’s reliability, etc.

When an atheist asks, “How can you believe in God?” You can say a few things in the minutes you have. And then encourage them to go to EveryStudent.com.

OR…possibly even MORE fun, MORE useful to them…

pull out your heavy artillery…

Encourage your friend to sign up for “The Spiritual Adventure Pack.”

It is a 7-email series, specifically written for atheists and those who wonder about God. It slowly walks an atheist through a logical progression. Tackles doubt, certainty vs. probability, shows why faith is less of an experience and more of a decision, based on reasons. (You’re welcome to sign up for it yourself.)

It’s available on www.EveryStudent.com, in the right-hand margin. (Look for the icon.)

Or, just email them this link: https://www.everystudent.com/reasons-to-believe.html

Bottom line…atheists love to play stump-the-Christian. They’ll put you on the defensive for weeks, months, years. (Just ask my Christian friend who had to deal with me!!)

You now have the offensive. You have messages written, produced just for them, that will challenge them, and hopefully an opportunity for God to speak to them and draw them to himself.

Thanks for your time! Next newsletter we’re going to talk about events on a campus or in your city.

Marilyn Adamson
director of EveryStudent.com
and StartingwithGod.com