Apologetics: witnessing to atheists

[GWH]

The PP may be compared to Paul's reasoning with the Athenians in Acts 17:24-34:

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."

 

[Hakawaka]

It’s not a mystery.
It’s free will , which can sometimes be understood by the rest of us as a result of a past event such as a bad upbringing, a tragedy , addictions etc.

But no one can will their way to be born into a good family and good circumstances.

 

[GWH]

But no one can will their way to be born into a good family and good circumstances.

True, and everyone is born to die, so the existential need and desire for eternal life and ultimate justice (the duo of desirables or DOD) make it logical for truthseekers to have a propensity to hope and believe a God who provides the DOD exists, to determine the most credible revelation of God’s requirement for attaining heaven, and to cooperate with His revealed will. IOW, it seems logical--given the existential facts of death and imperfect justice--that an unbiased truthseeker would have a propensity to hope the Christian view is correct, because there is no better (more credible and desirable) way of attaining the DOD than NT theism.

Why would anyone choose to believe otherwise? Only God knows why people choose atheism. It is a mystery stated by Isaiah, which is cited by Jesus (in MT 13:14-15): “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused.” Apparently, this callous attitude demands God to nullify faith/MFW and thereby abrogate the essence of humanness by performing miracles in order to prove He exists (MT 12:39, 24:24, JN 20:29 & 1CR 1:22). In other words, atheists presume to know better than God; they want to usurp divine authority to determine what is best or good, but they may one day (at the eschaton per RV 20:15) wish they had admitted the possibility that God has ordained this mortal life on earth for the purpose of people proving to Him who is worthy of (qualified for) eternal life in heaven (cf. RM 2:5-8 & 2CR 13:5; heart/mind: hard or open?).

 

[homwardbound]

The PP may be compared to Paul's reasoning with the Athenians in Acts 17:24-34:

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."

Yes, a million times over
yet, please remember to not put Paul or Apollo's or anyone else above God Father and Son as Won for you too, thank you
Paul, I, you and others are nothing more than messengers of God's love and mercy for us all, given to us all by Son for us all in Father, Daddy's PaPa's Approval
Built the Faith given us in trust to Father and Son a sWon the only way, truth and new life offered is in risen Son for me at least

 

[homwardbound]

But no one can will their way to be born into a good family and good circumstances.

Anyone can try, the same as many are trying to do and then come to the cross road of


Authorized (King James) Version

1 Cor 13:1-3

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

To see they need

Authorized (King James) Version

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

And truthfully only Father can impute this true love of himself to us each personally, thanks

So, believe God, receive from God and see new in God for you too, thank you
Love of God in mercy and truth is for everyone to edify one another and stop condemning at least to me thank you

 

[GWH]

Yes, a million times over
yet, please remember to not put Paul or Apollo's or anyone else above God Father and Son as Won for you too, thank you
Paul, I, you and others are nothing more than messengers of God's love and mercy for us all, given to us all by Son for us all in Father, Daddy's PaPa's Approval
Built the Faith given us in trust to Father and Son a sWon the only way, truth and new life offered is in risen Son for me at least

Yes, no one is above God, but we would know much less about God
if the NT did not contain the gospels and epistles of the apostles,
so they are above the rest of us messengers.

 

[homwardbound]

Yes, no one is above God, but we would know much less about God
if the NT did not contain the gospels and epistles of the apostles,
so they are above the rest of us messengers.

they were vessels used by God. they had to be willing first, before God would use them. God does not force anyone into belief. Choose to be or not to be is the freedom given us all.
Yes, God has chosen many, but not all, do accordingly to the will of god for them, the same went on in the Old Testament too. They killed God's prophets and listened to the gain slayers, the flesh nature wanting to be in charge, and even got Son killed =who only helped in love to all. So, thank you you see God above it all
Psalm 82 has much to say about us the people in flesh natures , first birth
I needed, and see all need the second birth in God's spirit to lead them personally new and be new in love and mercy to all, thank you
Also read Ezekiel 18, much said there too, I am accountable to me between God and me, the same with everyone else too, is what I see as is best form me as in Jeremiah 29 thanks

 

[GWH]

they were vessels used by God. they had to be willing first, before God would use them. God does not force anyone into belief. Choose to be or not to be is the freedom given us all.
Yes, God has chosen many, but not all, do accordingly to the will of god for them, the same went on in the Old Testament too. They killed God's prophets and listened to the gain slayers, the flesh nature wanting to be in charge, and even got Son killed =who only helped in love to all. So, thank you you see God above it all
Psalm 82 has much to say about us the people in flesh natures , first birth
I needed, and see all need the second birth in God's spirit to lead them personally new and be new in love and mercy to all, thank you
Also read Ezekiel 18, much said there too, I am accountable to me between God and me, the same with everyone else too, is what I see as is best form me as in Jeremiah 29 thanks

Well, Paul had to be struck down by a light from heaven before he would believe,
but his was a special case because God had a unique anointing for him
to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, cowrite the NT, and cofound Christ's church.
Our vesselship or commission does not rise to that level,
and so our insights must conform to inspired Scripture.

 

[homwardbound]

Well, Paul had to be struck down by a light from heaven before he would believe,
but his was a special case because God had a unique anointing for him
to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, cowrite the NT, and cofound Christ's church.
Our vesselship or commission does not rise to that level,
and so our insights must conform to inspired Scripture.

How about to God direct from within self?
God will reveal scripture to each as Father, Daddy, PaPa sees fit you think?
Read the Bible to know God personally. For me no other way to read it, for me at least
I see any other motive leads to people in I am right and others are wrong, which to me for me is not good for me my Soul God saves through risen Son, thanks it is done now risen where this new life of love to all for all is a gift given to stand in

 

[homwardbound]

Well, Paul had to be struck down by a light from heaven before he would believe,
but his was a special case because God had a unique anointing for him
to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, cowrite the NT, and cofound Christ's church.
Our vesselship or commission does not rise to that level,
and so our insights must conform to inspired Scripture.

Yes, as God saw Saul doing what Saul believed as right righteously and in Saul he was right as he states in Phil 3, and gave that up to win christ. Also God made Saul new in ''Saul's willingness to see new, out of due time Paul got taught truth to share to us all in being willing to God not others anymore God alone the Father of the risen Son.
Paul, I think replaced Judas from Daddy's view point for us all to see, it is the risen Jesus plus nothing else to do but believe and not quit as Job would not quit in the book of Job.
All of Paul's Epistles I see in context, continue to state this truth Seeing only Son as risen where new life is given from From Father, Daddy, PaPa to us to see new and be new in trust for daddy's lead, for me, still learning this truth daily securely from Father, PaPa in risen Son for us all seeing this love for all over the few I see I used to do and was of this world, not anymore
now in, not of this world, does by God=, not by me at all
Thanks

 

[GWH]

How about to God direct from within self?
God will reveal scripture to each as Father, Daddy, PaPa sees fit you think?
Read the Bible to know God personally. For me no other way to read it, for me at least
I see any other motive leads to people in I am right and others are wrong, which to me for me is not good for me my Soul God saves through risen Son, thanks it is done now risen where this new life of love to all for all is a gift given to stand in

Yes, but Jesus indicated that it is God the HS's role to teach GW,
and Paul taught that Daddy indwells believers as the HS.

 

[homwardbound]

Well, Paul had to be struck down by a light from heaven before he would believe,
but his was a special case because God had a unique anointing for him
to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, cowrite the NT, and cofound Christ's church.
Our vesselship or commission does not rise to that level,
and so our insights must conform to inspired Scripture.

Wow, Struck Down!
Was, Revealed the risen Son Jesus, which shocked him. to choose to believe, he did and willing to fly got trained new by God, not people. telling us to do the same to put God first.
Do you think God forces?
God, has never forced me, God does not force anyone, assuredly not me, yet evil does!
If it were forced by God, then it would be over, and all would have to believe as religion teaches or else attitudes, which is the first born flesh nature of evil chosen to lead, by a person(s) wanting the control of others and is evil!

Amazing tell you between God and you and ask God if God loves you unconditionally, then see Gods only wants what is best for each person, including you, yet it is your choice, not religion or self. It is to choose, not have to choose.
The having the knowledge of good and evil, can subdue people into selfishness and expectations with fear if I do or do not do attitudes controlling them
Are you free? Has God set you free to see reality of his done work for you to be free in?

Liberty, over the "have to" Law that man imputes on people under them

 

[homwardbound]

Yes, but Jesus indicated that it is God the HS's role to teach GW,
and Paul taught that Daddy indwells believers as the HS.

"But"!, You hear truth and you but it
Thank you, love you, as God Loves us all and none deserve this love given them, at least me I see this and am accountable to a perfect God to trust to hear and do as led , the same as Jesus was when here on earth reconciling us all to himself to believe truthfully or not. sincerely or not. I am content in either way people believe God completely or not
Since God knows what's best, thanks

 

[GWH]

Wow, Struck Down!
Was, Revealed the risen Son Jesus, which shocked him. to choose to believe, he did and willing to fly got trained new by God, not people. telling us to do the same to put God first.
Do you think God forces?
God, has never forced me, God does not force anyone, assuredly not me, yet evil does!
If it were forced by God, then it would be over, and all would have to believe as religion teaches or else attitudes, which is the first born flesh nature of evil chosen to lead, by a person(s) wanting the control of others and is evil!

Amazing tell you between God and you and ask God if God loves you unconditionally, then see Gods only wants what is best for each person, including you, yet it is your choice, not religion or self. It is to choose, not have to choose.
The having the knowledge of good and evil, can subdue people into selfishness and expectations with fear if I do or do not do attitudes controlling them
Are you free? Has God set you free to see reality of his done work for you to be free in?

Liberty, over the "have to" Law that man imputes on people under them

No, I don't think God forces folks so that they are no more than robots, but it does appear that God applied maximum miraculous persuasion both to Moses, whom He wanted to establish the Law and Israel leading to Messiah, and to Paul, whom He wanted to establish the Gospel and Church following Messiah. The rest of us peons God merely persuades via love to cooperate with His HS.

 

[homwardbound]

No, I don't think God forces folks so that they are no more than robots, but it does appear that God applied maximum miraculous persuasion both to Moses, whom He wanted to establish the Law and Israel leading to Messiah, and to Paul, whom He wanted to establish the Gospel and Church following Messiah. The rest of us peons God merely persuades via love to cooperate with His HS.

As Father, our Dad, my PaPa, has no respect of people as flesh nature does!
Chew on that meat and thank you for conversation

 

[GWH]

As Father, our Dad, my PaPa, has no respect of people as flesh nature does!
Chew on that meat and thank you for conversation

My pleasure!

 

[GWH]

Again, the enduring mystery is why anyone would choose to believe atheism. It is stated by Isaiah, which is cited by Jesus (in MT 13:14-15) and by Paul (in ACTS 28:26-27): “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused.”

Apparently, this callous attitude demands God to nullify faith/MFW and thereby abrogate the essence of humanness by performing miracles in order to prove He exists (MT 12:39, 24:24, JN 20:29 & 1CR 1:22). Atheists presume to know better than God, but they may one day (at the eschaton per RV 20:15) wish they had admitted the possibility that God has ordained this mortal life on earth for the purpose of people proving to Him who is worthy of (qualified for) eternal life in heaven (cf. RM 2:5-8 & 2CR 13:5; heart/mind: hard or open?).

Everyone is born to die, so the existential need and desire for heavenly life and ultimate justice (the duo of desirables or DOD) make it logical for truthseekers to have a propensity to hope and believe a God who provides the DOD exists, to determine the most credible revelation of God’s requirement for attaining heaven, and to cooperate with His revealed will.

IOW, it seems logical--given the existential facts of death and imperfect justice--that an unbiased truthseeker would have a propensity to hope the Christian view is correct, because there is no better (more credible and desirable) way of attaining the DOD than NT theism.
Christianity is the best belief!

 

[GWH]

It was interesting seeing Charlie Kirk employ apologetics in his interview on Bill Maher last week.
Perhaps it is available for viewing on the internet somewhere.
Charlie discussed the interview with Megan Kelly yesterday on RAV TV.