puddleglum
Well-known member
I have spent a lot of time on internet forums debating atheists and trying to convince them that God exists and the Bible is true. I usually tried to show them that the existence of God is the only logical explanation for the existence of the universe and I pointed out scientific evidence that shows that the theory of evolution can’t be true. However I have come to believe that I was going about this in the wrong way. This conclusion is based on hearing two former atheists tell how they became Christians.
The first is someone I know personally. He had a long conversation with a pastor which ended with the pastor explaining to him how to be saved. He said he was an atheist and didn’t believe in God, and that ended the conversation.
Over the next few days thoughts about God kept entering his mind and he came to the conclusion that there really was a God. Since the pastor had told him how to become a Christian he knew what he needed to do and so was saved.
Later I read an online account by a former atheist who told how she became a Christian.
Neither of these people was convinced of the existence of God because of a logical argument. In both cases someone simply explained the gospel to them and they came to believe it.
There is one more factor that isn’t mentioned. I personally knew the pastor involved in the first case and I am certain that after his conversation he spent time praying about it. I don’t know any of the people involved in the second case but I think it is very likely that the pastor involved prayed too.
Most of the time I have spent debating atheists has been wasted because I failed to take one fact into consideration.
Those who reject the truth do so because Satan, the god of this world, has blinded them. You can’t give sight to a blind person by reasoning with him or debating him. Only God can enable such a person to see the truth. Here is how the Bible says we should approach such people.
I was relying on my own knowledge and wisdom to try to convince atheists of the truth but it is only the power of the Holy Spirit that can convert people. The first step to converting an atheist or any other unbeliever is to give him all the information that he needs. Sometimes this includes pointing out the scientific evidence that supports the Bible but we only need to give him the information and not get into a debate about whether or not it is true. After that we should pray that God will open his eyes so he will believe the truth.
There is a saying: “When all else fails go back and read the instructions.” This is very good advice, especially when the instructions are found in the Bible.
The first is someone I know personally. He had a long conversation with a pastor which ended with the pastor explaining to him how to be saved. He said he was an atheist and didn’t believe in God, and that ended the conversation.
Over the next few days thoughts about God kept entering his mind and he came to the conclusion that there really was a God. Since the pastor had told him how to become a Christian he knew what he needed to do and so was saved.
Later I read an online account by a former atheist who told how she became a Christian.
Neither of these people was convinced of the existence of God because of a logical argument. In both cases someone simply explained the gospel to them and they came to believe it.
There is one more factor that isn’t mentioned. I personally knew the pastor involved in the first case and I am certain that after his conversation he spent time praying about it. I don’t know any of the people involved in the second case but I think it is very likely that the pastor involved prayed too.
Most of the time I have spent debating atheists has been wasted because I failed to take one fact into consideration.
Those who reject the truth do so because Satan, the god of this world, has blinded them. You can’t give sight to a blind person by reasoning with him or debating him. Only God can enable such a person to see the truth. Here is how the Bible says we should approach such people.
I was relying on my own knowledge and wisdom to try to convince atheists of the truth but it is only the power of the Holy Spirit that can convert people. The first step to converting an atheist or any other unbeliever is to give him all the information that he needs. Sometimes this includes pointing out the scientific evidence that supports the Bible but we only need to give him the information and not get into a debate about whether or not it is true. After that we should pray that God will open his eyes so he will believe the truth.
There is a saying: “When all else fails go back and read the instructions.” This is very good advice, especially when the instructions are found in the Bible.
