I've been conversing a little bit with one who is agnostic. This fellow used to be a theist, but now follows that there is no God or gods. Part of what has shaped his belief from what he was telling me is the 'evil argument' (how evil can exist if God is good), science disproving God from different vantage points: big bang theory, lack of archaeological evidence (blah blah), etc.
How would you respond to this person?
By radiating the light of Jesus, being in the Word daily, wholly authentic and apostolic!
No amount of debate will change their heart, only God, and God working in you. Pray for that person, but don't respond with anything except God speak it through you, and even then, shun away from any clichés, formulas, etc. Scientific reasoning, etc.
How would you respond to this person?
First, read him/her the Sermon on the Mount. Second, ask him/her if he/she believes in survival of the fittest. Third, ask him/her how human compassion for the diseased, elderly, and handicapped helps the strong survive and pass on genes.
dear kimbahpnam,
the issue with the person you are dealing with is not a evidence issue, IT'S A SPIRITUAL ISSUE.. it's not that there is a lack of evidence for a creator, the person does not want to look and see that they may believe..
i think a lot of times the ultimate issue is not science, evil, etc, but the person does not want to give up their sin.. that person would rather live their life for themself than for God, and that is the true issue..
When witnessing, I've found, that living the holy life Christ called us to is 1st.
Loving God 1st and expressing Love, care, and concern to others 2nd.
If you don't have those as ur foundation, then give up witnessing NOW.
But if you have that down. Find out WHY they believe what they believe. Ask them "why don't you go to church?" 'what is your background with any church denomination?" "what are you views about Christ?"
Find out what they believe and CARE for them. Don't just downcast their beliefs. Jesus NEVER did that to an unbeliever. He 'downcasted' the proud religious people of his day.
If it's 'answers' they want. Ask them 'how many answers is it going to take'. *(The bible says the Gentiles seek after an unquenchable wisdom and Jews after supernatural signs; they both are unable to fill. [1 Cor. 1:22] It's ONLY the Spirit of God who can convert a soul.[John 16:8])*
If they seek a 'sign'. Share with them the Word of God.
Honestly. All that I said could be meaningless. Why? Because God might be leading you otherwise to say something else to person. Follow GOD's Leading not mine.
But, I believe this is very biblical "If your not aiming on keeping the greatest 2 commandments then give up evangelism."
dear lovgrace,
that was some very good guidelines in witnessing. i think that others as well as myself will be blessed by that post.
thank you.
It's only the grace of His Spirit. Honestly, because I've done 'witnessing' all the WRONG ways; forceful, all truth no love, pride, arrogant, etc (unscriptural ways). After time and the mercy of God, He showed me what Scripture really says (the greatest commandments).
Well there is an analogy I really like; that will work if the Holy Ghost anoints it. I'd practice it on your own time and then shoot for it. It goes something like this: How do you know that a building has to have a builder? Because the building exists right? It is the same thing with a painting we know a painting had to have a painter because the painting exists right? It has got to be the same with creation, because we exist there has to be a creator. Then you could go on about creation for a little while if you want. That the plants give us oxygen so that we can breathe and we give them carbon dioxide to that they can breathe, etc. Then you could mention that there are scientific facts in the bible that proves that it is the inspired Word of God. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to find out about a number of scientific facts that are in the bible. You can also explain to him about free-will and say; do you think it would be just if God forced you to love him or obey him? Ofcourse it wouldn't true love must allow free-will, if God did not allow mans free will to reject or love Him then He would not be a God of justice. You could tell him to listen to his conscience that God has given us and that His law is written on our hearts. Also you could tell him that if God were not to punish sin then He would be an unjust God; That God is holy and that He cannot allow sin to be in His eternal presence unless man turns from loving his sin and turns to Christ and comes under the blood of Jesus. If he mentions about hell being unjust if you mention these things, don't get insecure about it but state that God is just and that there must be punishment for those who hate and reject Him. Could you imagine if God were to allow people that hated Him in Heaven for all eternity? Could you imagine what would take place if God allowed that? In my opinion it would be terrible and who knows what kind of stuff would happen because of those unholy people. Man has the choice to rebel against and hate God, and the creater of all will give them there punish of eternal seperation from Himself in hell. They have the choice to turn to God but if they won't then they will pay for there own sins. Alright I'll stop going on and on soon, use that analogy I have seen athiests turn who seemed to be convicted and come to the understanding that there is a God and thank me for talking to them. Believe me it can work when God is empowering the words you are saying and breaks through the darkness that is blinding the person! Go for it! You can do it! God bless
Here's something from Oswald Chambers on the matter...
The Seat of Belief and Unbelief[i]Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
There the distinction is made perfectly clear—the heart must never be agnostic, the head, if you like, may be. Every Christian is an avowed agnostic. Have you ever thought of that? How do I know God? All I know of God I have accepted as a revelation, I did not find it out by my head. “Canst thou by searching find out God?” Next time you meet some agnostic friend, say something like that to him and see if it does not alter the problem for him. We have to keep our minds open about a great many things. The reason people disbelieve God is not because they do not understand with their heads—we understand very few things with our heads, but because they have turned their hearts in another direction. Why was Jesus Christ so stern against disbelief? Because disbelief never springs from the head but from the wrong direction of the heart. Can I have the evil heart of unbelief taken out and a heart of belief put in? Thank God, the answer is “Yes!” “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you . . .” (Ezekiel 36:26). Can I have an impure, defiled heart made pure, so pure that it is pure in God’s sight? The answer is “Yes!” “. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Can I be filled with the Holy Ghost until every nook and cranny is exactly under the control of God? Again the answer is “Yes!” “He that cometh after me is mightier than I, . . . He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor . . .” (Matthew 3:11-12).
-Chambers, Oswald. Biblical Psychology : A Treasure Chest for Christian Counselors. London: Simpkin Marshall., 1996.
Perhaps sometihing different altogther;
Maybe print off some excerpts ...
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