Comments on: Best Way to Approach an Atheist http://www.deeperbiblestudies.com/blog/general/best-way-to-approach-an-atheist Life Changing, Life Application Wed, 26 May 2010 17:08:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: ptrubel http://www.deeperbiblestudies.com/blog/general/best-way-to-approach-an-atheist/comment-page-1#comment-17 ptrubel Wed, 26 May 2010 17:08:56 +0000 http://www.deeperbiblestudies.com/blog/?p=74#comment-17 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. 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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