Best Way to Approach an Atheist
I was recently on the radio sharing my faith story from Atheist to Christian. During the interview, the host asked a question I wasn’t completely prepared for. She said “Given that you were an atheist, how do you suggest Christians should approach an atheist”?
Now, I knew how NOT too…but how to? I thought for a second and answered… you simply much SHOW God’s love to them. You can’t quote scripture (they don’t believe in the Book), you can’t say “I’ll pray for you” because that’s like telling an Atheist you are from Mars and your name is Shraaaak-neebo-alkkksitar”. It just doesn’t resonate with them. So, the only way to truly win them over is to show them genuine Christianity. The kind where you actually DO love your neighbor in words and actions. The kind where you don’t look and act like every other person in the world.
In my words, you show them the true FACE of christianity….the kind they can’t resist.
So, a quick topic to discuss as a group. What REAL, practical, do-able, genuine acts of Christian Love are you doing for Christians and non-christians alike? Share your best tips!!!
Filed under: Changing the Face of Christianity, General
I think the major point of this post has biblical warrant because it applies to Christian testimony to all non-Christians, but perhaps it is particularly applicable among atheists in the west (at least) at present because of the substantial cultural influence of postmodernism.
Postmodernists dogmatically assert dogmatism is intolerable, partly because truth certainly cannot be known with certainty. The postmodernist is left with truth for me and truth for you; if your truth in competition with my truth bests mine, chalk one up for your truth.
Here by “your truth” I mean the sort of loving words and actions you note in your post in a distinctly Christian context. In this case, the words and actions must be in accord in particular with the identity of Jesus as Messiah and with what He accomplished on the cross.
Of course the words and actions lovingly conveyed to the atheist may not get that far; only he who has an ear to hear will hear. Most atheists are more interested in their own “truth” that in “true truth.” The Christian is not the Holy Spirit.
But God has many devices of grace, and some will hear. I was once an atheist myself.
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Wow Great replies! I’m grateful for this.
I have a friend who believes there is a God, but doesn’t believe in the Bible. My way of approaching her with her curiosities about Jesus is to speak of what stood out to me about the history of Jesus & my personal life changed when i made the decision to accept him for who he said he is and follow his example.
Also, my minister was once an Atheist married to his wife who years into their marriage, became a Christian. He would mock her & tease as she would pray. His initial mission was to disprove the Bible. After searching through historical texts & studying & looking through the Bible himself he began to realize its validity. But what really stood out to him was the transformation he saw in his wife’s life. She went from a radical feminist to a loving, compassionate servant. He, in turn became a follower of Christ.
What I take from his testimony is that you can say whatever you want & try to prove people right or wrong, but nothing speaks louder than a life changed.
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