Atheists

[barnhart]

My colleague at work is an atheist. Anyone have suggestions how to converse about God? I feel like I am casting my pearls before swine. He's stunned that I am a creationist, believe in an afterlife, don't swear, etc.. and anyone who believes in God is using him as their crutch. To believe in God is to be lazy and simple minded.

Pray, don't be lazy or simpleminded. Ask God for questions to share with him. Wait expectantly.

[joshuabgood]

Be friendly and nice. Most atheists will conversely nicely...and even be open to real convo about theism if they are treated as image bearers of God.

[NedFlanders]

Prove to them otherwise by your personal conduct. Answer when asked but there isn’t any reason to challenge them unless they are actually looking. Don’t beat at walls, wait till they open the gate.

I have one man I know who went from atheist to a believer and he told me one day, “What’s weird about you, is that you never once told me I was wrong.”

Sharing the Gospel is about telling the good news but it won’t be told unless it is lived out.

[Sudsy]

I came from more of an evangelical background so my approach is not so much to wait until someone shows an interest in the Gospel but rather to get them to consider the Gospel by asking them for permission to share what the Gospel, good news, is really about. Salvation is about being saved from the penalty of sin (eternal death), the power of sin (ability to live as God wants us to) and the presence of sin (someday in heaven live from the very presence of sin). I like the Romans Road series of scripture verses as that is what was used when I became a believer.

As was mentioned pray that they will have ears to hear and their spiritual eyes be opened to understanding the Gospel. Salvation is through the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us that we are sinners and we need a Saviour from the effects of sin on us.

The soul winners (those who have success at leading people to Christ), in my experience, have been those who are eager and ready to share their faith and look for every opportunity to do so. My father was an example of such. I have attended various 'soul winning' courses during my life and some were very confrontational. For instance, 'The Way of the Master' approach we used in door-to-door evangelism promoted by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. I tried this approach and although I don't follow the whole method, the initial question either opened the door to more conversation or, at times, got the door shut in our face and we moved on.

But ask God to lead you to have the best way to share the Gospel as He alone knows the hindrances to those we speak to.

Although I agree our lives are a testimony of what God can do in and through us, I have witnessed new converts (with many imperfections) leading people to Christ. Some people are afraid that their failings as Christians are too much to share the Gospel. Their focus is then too much on themselves and not the only perfect one, Jesus. Our learning to live like Jesus is a life journey of learning and being born again is just the beginning of this journey. Satan tries to hinder us by reminding us of our shortcomings as perfect Christ followers. One of his tricks to keep us quiet about the Gospel.

Don't be lead astray by those who promote living the life without words as Romans 10:13 says that words are necessary. How many of us here know that we have led anyone to Christ just by our life without words ?

Anyway, my 2 cents worth.

[NedFlanders]

Sudsy, please, do a study of the word Gospel without anything but scripture as a reference. Try to give up any ideas of what the Gospel is and only believe what the scripture says.

The only answer in Scripture is that Christ only ever referred to the kingdom of God when mentioning the Gospel.

The save me Gospel you preach is the worst way to ever share with an atheist!!!!

[Ernie]

Lots of good comments so far...

My goal is to help an atheist become an agnostic.
Then from agnostic to ietsist.
From ietsist to theist.
From theist to monotheist.
From monotheist to a believer in the God of the Bible.
From believer of God to devout Christian.
From devout Christian to someone who embraces Jesus' teachings.

Some people go quickly from one step to another. Others may skip a few steps. But the goal is to look for progress along the way and not expect the person to swallow everything at once.

[AndersonD]

I came from more of an evangelical background so my approach is not so much to wait until someone shows an interest in the Gospel but rather to get them to consider the Gospel by asking them for permission to share what the Gospel, good news, is really about. Salvation is about being saved from the penalty of sin (eternal death), the power of sin (ability to live as God wants us to) and the presence of sin (someday in heaven live from the very presence of sin). I like the Romans Road series of scripture verses as that is what was used when I became a believer.

As was mentioned pray that they will have ears to hear and their spiritual eyes be opened to understanding the Gospel. Salvation is through the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us that we are sinners and we need a Saviour from the effects of sin on us.

The soul winners (those who have success at leading people to Christ), in my experience, have been those who are eager and ready to share their faith and look for every opportunity to do so. My father was an example of such. I have attended various 'soul winning' courses during my life and some were very confrontational. For instance, 'The Way of the Master' approach we used in door-to-door evangelism promoted by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. I tried this approach and although I don't follow the whole method, the initial question either opened the door to more conversation or, at times, got the door shut in our face and we moved on.

But ask God to lead you to have the best way to share the Gospel as He alone knows the hindrances to those we speak to.

Although I agree our lives are a testimony of what God can do in and through us, I have witnessed new converts (with many imperfections) leading people to Christ. Some people are afraid that their failings as Christians are too much to share the Gospel. Their focus is then too much on themselves and not the only perfect one, Jesus. Our learning to live like Jesus is a life journey of learning and being born again is just the beginning of this journey. Satan tries to hinder us by reminding us of our shortcomings as perfect Christ followers. One of his tricks to keep us quiet about the Gospel.

Don't be lead astray by those who promote living the life without words as Romans 10:13 says that words are necessary. How many of us here know that we have led anyone to Christ just by our life without words ?

Anyway, my 2 cents worth.

Your dad had a profound effect on your life. Anyway, I didn't grow up in a home that believed in "witnessing to the lost" verbally. So passing out tracts or putting up signs is taboo and something I don't envision myself doing. Instead, my context is inviting the marginalized including those in the church for dinners or supporting monetarily. I also am uncomfortable using the term "soul winner". If a person chooses Christianity that is the work of the Spirit.

[AndersonD]

Lots of good comments so far...

My goal is to help an atheist become an agnostic.
Then from agnostic to ietsist.
From ietsist to theist.
From theist to monotheist.
From monotheist to a believer in the God of the Bible.
From believer of God to devout Christian.
From devout Christian to someone who embraces Jesus' teachings.

Some people go quickly from one step to another. Others may skip a few steps. But the goal is to look for progress along the way and not expect the person to swallow everything at once.

I asked my colleague if he socializes w other atheists by attending a Meetup, etc. "Oh, no, that's way too edgey."

Currently his stated goal is changing me to believe in evolution. But I don't find debating origins productive and I try to redirect to our commonalities e.g. opposition to war.

Maybe I will bow out on further dialogue w him.

[NedFlanders]

Evolution is a great topic. Ask him to provide any evidence for evolution. There is none - so it takes faith to believe it. The look on atheists faces that I have said that to is priceless because they are so convinced they need proof when evolution doesn’t have any.
When I was an atheist and evolutionist and first found out there is no proof for evolution it totally shook me and lead me to consider God.

[AndersonD]

Evolution is a great topic. Ask him to provide any evidence for evolution. There is none - so it takes faith to believe it. The look on atheists faces that I have said that to is priceless because they are so convinced they need proof when evolution doesn’t have any.
When I was an atheist and evolutionist and first found out there is no proof for evolution it totally shook me and lead me to consider God.

Our discussions mostly center around evolution but he usually turns the tables and ask me where God is. No one has ever seen him...I referenced the wind...we see the effects, but not the wind. That was a very laughable idea!

More statements: Morality is determined by society, e.g. happiest day of his life was when he lost his virginity at 18, marriage is antiquated, what is wrong w pornography, go ahead and use expletives. I am a simple minded Christian...just like his Catholic mom. And remember, all of love has a selfish motive.