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Finding Common Ground With An Atheist

6/27/2015

2 Comments

 
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For those of you who do not know, I try to make a habit out of talking to atheists and other non-Christians online, at least whenever they aren't hurling insults. I believe that we should discuss our beliefs with those who do not share them. After all, in what other way are we going to spread the Gospel? If we as Christians do not start talking to non-Christians, the spread of the Good News is hindered. Not only that, but we are commanded to give a reason for the hope that is in us. So, if we do not share our beliefs, and why we believe what we believe, we are in violation of one of Scripture's commands. There is one recent incident, though, that sticks out in my mind.

I have been talking to someone on Twitter who calls himself, "NooYawk Atheist," though it seems he is really an agnostic. He initiated a conversation with me when I tweeted a quote by John Lennox, where Professor Lennox discusses the definition of faith. This lead to a new post titled, "Is Faith Blind", since I felt the reply was too lengthy to send on Twitter. We had about a day's worth of dialogue back and forth, with most of it being very productive, although I was quite confused at his last reply, in which he stated,

"So then you're claiming to know that God exists, aren't you? If the evidence is strong enough to warrant the claim, you wouldn't need to employ [blind] faith at all. In which case, share the evidence and accept your Nobel Prize & fame & fortune."

What confuses me is that he seems to assume that anyone who would be able to show the existence of God would have received a Nobel Prize and be rich and famous. However, there are a large number of people who have made amazing discoveries who have not received Nobel Prizes. He also seems to assume that it would be widely accepted, which is not the case. There are still people who honestly believe that the earth is flat. Despite the confusion over this, however, I feel that the conversation was very productive.

As our conversation drew to a close, I started thinking that there is one thing the both he and I could agree on: That whatever we believe, we should not believe it blindly. This became more apparent to me after our conversation, and I think there is a lesson in it. Christians, honest non-believers want us to have a reason for our beliefs. The world is looking for answers, and we have them. We should be ready to give these answers to anyone who asks us for them. There are far too many misconceptions of Christians out there, such as:

"They all just exercise blind faith."
"Science has shown that God is not needed."
and,
"Christianity is the cause of most of the world's problems."

It seems to me that we must be willing to stand up and correct these misconceptions. We must be prepared with an answer. If we aren't, we will lose souls.
2 Comments
Roger link
10/10/2015 07:51:42 pm

I'll stand with you my brother! Thanks for calling us to engage (respectfully) those with different views...because He 👆 first loved us.

Reply
Steve
12/14/2017 11:27:18 pm

Hi. Ok. first on the issue of knowing God exists.
In Jeremiah 24:7, we read that God will give us a heart to know him.
I.e., he provides the wherewithal for us to not just know he exists, but to actually know him. As I'm sure you're already familiar with, Jesus said what is impossible for man with God, all things are possible.
When it comes down to it, it's not really possible for us to know if God exists or not unless he makes himself known to us. Please check out Isaiah 57:15.
God inhabits eternity, but dwells with those who have a humble heart, and a contrite spirit. So, God inhabits eternity...... Where is eternity? Isaiah 40:12 gives us a pointer.
God holds the heavens in the span of his hand. How large are the heavens?
We often hear about 13.5 billion years old, based on the size of the observable universe being 13.5 billion light years (BLY) across.
This is going to get unwieldy, really fast, so if you want to email me, I can give you the entire description. Suffice it to say that according to wikipedia, the actual universe is upwards of 150 BLY. Thus, the idea of God hold it in the span of his hand means he's really humongous, and since we're really small, in comparison, there's no reasonable way we could know, without his insinuating himself into our reality. Enter, the prophets, Jewish history, and Jesus. While you've probably hashed all this out by now, because this article was 2 years ago, I've been talking to atheists online since 2003. It's been quite challenging, and has taught me far more than I ever conceived possible.
So.... God making himself known is the only way we can know if he's real, let alone know him, relationally.
Next, we have the issue of--- how can we relate to God? The bible actually makes this clear-- John 4:24. As PAul said we're spiritually dead, Jesus offers the solution--- 3 distinct items which are required. No negotiation, no debate. We either have these three things, or we're totally excluded. MAtthew 5:18, 18:3, and John 3:3-5.
1- Matt 5:18-- A righteousness which exceeds mere outward morality.
2- Matt 18:3-- become like a little child.
3- the new birth. To be born spiritually.
Jesus made it exceedingly clear--- if you do not have these, you cannot enter God's Kingdom.
So.... how are we to obtain a righteousness which exceeds mere outward morality? Isaiah 54:17. Our righteousness is OF God.
We see this reiterated, though using different wording in 2 Cor. 5:21. He has made Him to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God, in Him. We see it stated differently still in Jeremiah 23:6-7. YHVH IS our Righteousness.
God is our righteousness.
Becoming like a little child. I've yet to find corroborating scripture which make this clear, except if I go back to Numbers 14, where God grew weary of the rebellion of the Israelis, in the wilderness, because they refused to believe him, even though he demonstrated himself faithful to them.
If you're a parent, you know how this works.... a child is trusting, and while they may question, they believe you when you promise them something--- unless you've broken your promises a lot. Then it gets more complicated really fast.
The new birth..... Jesus said unless you are born again, you cannot enter, or see God's Kingdom. To see God's Kingdom, is to perceive it. To understand, and be aware of its reality.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 actually explains what the new birth is, and consists of. Please read it.

These things allow us access to relate with God. Thus, we enter the realm of--- what's next.
The initial exchange--- what does it take to say Hi to God, and for him to respond to us, in a real, powerful, genuine, and true manner?
In Hebrews 4:2, we read that the problem the Israeli's had with God was that they did not mix what they heard/experienced with faith, and that prevented them from gaining the benefit of knowing God.
I.e., they had to take that initial step, and believe God.
As we read in Hebrews 11:6, it's impossible to please God without faith.
Because those who come to God MUST believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.
Right here we have the recipe for success---
1- believe that God is real.
2- diligently seek him.
This picks up the theme from Jeremiah 29, where we read that God will show himself to those who seek him with a whole heart.

Considering that I've been at this for a really long time, and connecting with others who are at it too is rare, I'd really love to chat about our experiences online. It'd help me refine some key issues, and I'd love to encourage you in your endeavors.
Keep following Jesus.

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    Travis Stockelman is the Chapter Director for the Columbus, Indiana chapter of Reasonable Faith. He currently resides in Columbus, Indiana.

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