Approaching a person as an atheist is probably not the best idea.
Why not try caring for them instead of arguing them into the kingdom? The biggest compliment I can receive from anyone outside of Christianity is, “com’mon you can’t really be a Christian! You don’t sound like any Christian I have ever met before”. When I hear this I know I have slipped pasted their stereotype of what a Christian is – then the long process of witnessing can really begin as the relationship deeps over time.
Handing someone a track and presenting some wooden, but will rehearsed arguing points does nothing to promote your relationship with Christ. Only a real relationship, without expectations can show a person what Christianity is all about.
It's important to remember that most self-professed atheists know at least a little about what they're rejecting.
They certainly carry around stereotypes of what a Christian is, and it usually consists of ideas like, judgmental, close-minded, only caring about crossing another soul off their list, hypocritical, ignorant about the culture (movies, internet, clubs, politics), willfully ignorant about secular studies (science, theater, education), concerned about details that appear unimportant to them, not concerned at all about national social problems (homelessness, poverty, universal medical care), republican, etc. Agnostic usually could care less about what Christians believe about their religion, they are more concerned about the culture of Christianity – and how weird Christians seem to them.
Atheists usually do have a fair to excellent understanding of Christianity and are often educated in many different religions. Because they rely on reason more than the average Christian, and they are not restricted to the Bible for their information, they often back uneducated Christians in a corner.
Some atheists know more about the technical aspects of Christianity than its practitioners. Giving them another presentation of the same ideas they've heard repeatedly will probably only more deeply reinforce reflex reactions.
Because atheism is dependent on religion, atheists usually understand what they are opposing. I think of them as professionals, compared to their agnostic lay-brothers and sisters. Agnostics usually are most concerned about feeling labeled, defined, or put in a box; atheists want to convert.
In other words, an atheist is never more an atheist than when she's being preached to (or worse, preached at).
Many enjoy confrontation and look forward to exposing what they consider to be ignorance and superstition within a believer.
By approaching a person as an atheist, you've jumped into those deep grooves of habit and will have trouble getting out of them. You'll both be reading from scripts. Don't approach with a script!
Hah – good advice. Don’t approach anyone with the sole purpose of converting them; approach people with the intention of serving them – God will take care of the rest.
I agree with the advice above - go with the Spirit. Otherwise, if you have something planned, you're going in under your own power and wit which, with apologies, will end in frustration unless God decides to use you in spite of yourself.
Approach with love and without expectations. Also, learn to laugh at yourself – atheist love to get your goat – simply let them keep it. Laugh at the truth of their statements about your faith and culture – often times, atheists are painfully accurate in the assessment of us. What does it matter if they know more than you or look down on you – realize that they tend to revel in pointing out that the Emperor has no clothes – I usually agree with them – if their statement hurt – realize it is your pride that needs to be put in check.
Now, concerning the rest, the practical atheists who profess a belief in God yet simply don't believe…..
[FONT="]Realize their dilemma for what it is – hurt. They need a trusting relationship with a Christian before they can get past their aversion to the religion.[/FONT]
