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Debating apologetics is the main way to reach an atheist, right? Wrong! Although a Christian should know why he believes and be ready to answer when asked, it is not the primary way to reach an atheist.
There is one thing that too many Christians are currently doing that is making reaching atheists harder.
For instance, last summer, Pastor Aaron Gardner visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg Kentucky. The twist is--he visited with a group called the Secular Student Alliance (SSN), a group of atheists.
The Creation Museum's purpose is to convince others that God is real and He created the world, and yet, the message fell on deaf ears. Why? The shabby way the atheists were treated by Christians weighed more heavily on them than any ot the exhibits at the museum.
According to Gardner, the Christians' "hateful" looks and rudeness were shocking. The museum staff and visitors treated him and others with the nametag SSN as if they were a disease.
Gardner's experience is revealing. Too often, we believers act like the atheist is the devil.
When asked about how Christians should treat atheists, Colorado Senior Pastor, John Snyder, of Crossroads Community Church, Parker, said, "Jesus was called a 'Friend of sinners.' He gave us, as his followers, these four commands: 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.' (Luke 6:27-28) So why do we call him Lord, and not do what he says?"
In my recent post, Is Faith the enemy? A revealing look at the tenets of New Atheism, it was clear that there is a new breed of atheist and he/she is proactive and passionate to debate and proselytize.
The Christian response to this is commonly to see the atheist as the enemy. But if you want to reach an atheist, don't do the following:
- Make judgmental statements to the atheist
- Shun the atheist
- Argue intellectually with the atheist as your only form of witnessing
The last point is controversial because the New Atheists are proactive and witness actively about their beliefs. However, loving the unbeliever is the most powerful witnessing tool. Intellectual arguments are secondary.
It is God's kindness that leads others to repentance.
As Pastor Snyder said, "Paul gives this challenge to us as Christ’s followers, 'Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s KINDNESS leads you to repentance?' (Romans 2:4)
"So Jesus has sent us to save the people of our world, not condemn them. Even if they seem to be our enemies – we are to love them."
Below is a video interview with atheist Penn Jillette, from the magical duo Penn and Teller, who describes his experience of being moved by a believer's love. He even took the man's Bible!
Comments
I think the fact that the Museum is widely considered a joke by all serious academics probably effected them more than Christians being rude to them. Atheist face rude Christians every time they mention their lack of faith.
The museum is little more than wishful thinking from a man who treats the Flintstones as a documentary.
Great points! Sadly many "Christians" behave in a way that Christ would not have been proud of certainly. I know John Snyder, he's a great guy! Do you live in Parker?
It's amazing that Christ forgave us Christians, then we turn around a treat atheists like we've never been sinners ourselves. Indeed, we're still sinners. Christians who treat atheists "like the devil" have forgotten where they came from.
So true. If only Christians were more like Christ.
Denise,
You are correct in what you say. I think generally our reactions are, for one, in the flesh, and two: they are because we Christians often spend so little time interaction with those who disagree with us...
Here in Philly the Atheist Examiner and I, the Christian Perspectives Examiner have decided to debate one another in our columns, while still asking those on our respective sides to remain civil... I especially ask Christians to interact in LOVE.
Come and visit if you like:
http://www.examiner.com/christian-perspectives-in-philadelphia/five-questions-for-my-atheist-friends
Steve
i think stephen's dialog about the proposed five questions has ended, i believe. it was interesting. i appreciated his thoughtfullness and willingness to think from another perspective.
during that discussion, shawn mathis, another "examiner", chimed in on a couple of people's posts. i think his and my dialog fits with this article. it starts on about page three, half-way down. it's not that two people dialoging can't have ups and downs naturally; it was the attitude is saw that effected me most. i think i made my point with him, didn't go overboard with my response. i hopecorrectly that he did not return to comment more because i both embarrassed him factually and his behavior outrightly.
i wanted to make sure i wasn't imagining things, so i looked up his articles and just picked this one:
http://www.examiner.com/christian-perspectives-in-denver/atheists-i-love
read my comments.
continued...
as it is, i spend a lot of time fighting anti-atheists, showing them that reasonable and logical cases can be made for "god", and that religion has worth. i am also an atheist. i have been quite successful in making christians not seem crazy. i marvel at times when i dialog with christians, why do i care? especially true when i am literally slapped in the face for simply saying i am an atheist. and then, there are articles like shawns.
if your faith is strong, then doubt it. show others you doubt it. explain what draws you back to it. then show what it's value is in action. it counts.
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