No one commits suicide over intellectual battles. If anyone has ever ended their life about not being able to figure out whether his distant cousin was a single-celled Amoeba, it would be a rarity to a millionth degree. People end up killing themselves because of emotional turmoil. Dealing with atheist younglings (dunno how old they are but they sounded young in thought) has brought to the forefront that even though they keep claiming to their position that the lack of belief in God is caused by what they find to be an “intellectual” inconsistency, the truth of the matter is that it always circles back to emotion – all. the. time. You can also see the same pattern with Richard Dawkins, who asserts God is a delusion but goes right to calling into question ‘non-existent’ God’s character, suddenly morphing from an atheist to an agnostic.
Even the most adept apologist or theologian could present an atheist evidence, but since the atheist carries a clouded emotional premise that God cannot possibly be a God of love because He does not interfere in every single instance that evil strikes, as you read their diatribes about God and towards people of faith, they always without fail, position themselves to be “objective” interrogators feigning to look for answers they have already decided in their hearts to reject.
You can try talking to them without having to quote bible verses and make them substantiate their spontaneous assertions but most (not all) cannot get past their preconception that you are mentally deficient and incapable of thinking since you believe in God. There is no need to address someone who already starts out calling God names because well, you already have a clue what their heart is full of even though they claim to be more moral than God, but His infinite mercy is such that He still sends His laborers to talk to stiff-necked people. We can gain insight on this from the passage below. The rich man may not have been an atheist but he was certainly one who paid no mind to righteous living.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Luke 16:19-31
Notice how in verse 27, the man who had no regard for God now thirsts for righteousness? He continues to plead that someone reach his brothers to warn them at all cost not to go where he is in verse 30. Verse 31 shows us that NOT EVEN someone who resurrected from the dead will be able to convince them. This shows us a clear picture of Jesus talking about the reality that not all will be convinced of His resurrection and this can also be applicable to anything else you are trying to show the atheist about God.
This is not a post to discourage those involved in Apologetics to reach out to atheists. Rather, it is a caution that it is not by the power of your persuasive argumentation that you can get an assent. It is ONLY through the power of the Holy Spirit changing the heart of the person who is being dealt with and this will happen during its appointed time.
Very thought provoking!!
Try going over to their site and you will be provoked for sure (burning indignation).
I try not to! It’s very disheartening!
I hear you! Sometimes God will send you to someone you don’t feel like dealing with especially when you already know how it’s going to end.
It’s not up to us whether they receive it or not, we just have to share what He gives!
Amen bro, amen 100%!
“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:6-8
Thanks for the much needed encouragement brother! I really appreciate it!
Thanking the Lord for giving me the words to share with you! Our Daddy knows just what we need, when we need it, and how to get it to us!
“Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul…Ezekiel 3:16-19
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like [h]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen….Romans 1:18-25
Here’s a passage to share whenever the Lord may lead you that way!!
[…] There are two people with this name specifically mentioned by Jesus. The first one is Lazarus, the one whose sores were licked by the dogs. If you’re interested on this guy, you can go to this old post entitled On Agony & Intellect. […]