T
TheIndianGirl
Guest
How do you respond to an atheist who says they do not need God and their life is already great as it is?
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Claiming that is a double negative. If you have never had God in your life, how do you know that you don't need God in your life? It is no different to a mother who has put her child in childcare from six months on saying that it doesn't hurt him to be there. How does she know unless she hasn't put her child in child care?
Most of the time atheists say whatever they want things to be, not as they are. The do not say that which is provable. So what they say they are saying to convince themselves not others. One of their favourites is God does not exist. They say that because they do not want God to exist because if he does, they are up the creek without a paddle because if he exists, then they have to ask themselves some very pertinent questions which they rather avoid.
Most claims by atheists can be dealt with by a simple question. "What is your evidence." Most of the time they do not have any. It is just a personal opinion because they don't want God in their life because if he is that means someone else is in control and that is anathema to an atheist.
Most of the time atheists say whatever they want things to be, not as they are. The do not say that which is provable. So what they say they are saying to convince themselves not others. One of their favourites is God does not exist. They say that because they do not want God to exist because if he does, they are up the creek without a paddle because if he exists, then they have to ask themselves some very pertinent questions which they rather avoid.
Most claims by atheists can be dealt with by a simple question. "What is your evidence." Most of the time they do not have any. It is just a personal opinion because they don't want God in their life because if he is that means someone else is in control and that is anathema to an atheist.
This question reminds me of what Jesus said
Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
All we can do , is be the light on the hill , speak our truth , and if they ask a question and we do not know the answer , we can say " I do not know , but will find out for you "
We just plant seeds that God gives us , and pray that the evil one does not come and take them seeds that we plant , it is God alone who does the growing...
...xox...
Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
All we can do , is be the light on the hill , speak our truth , and if they ask a question and we do not know the answer , we can say " I do not know , but will find out for you "
We just plant seeds that God gives us , and pray that the evil one does not come and take them seeds that we plant , it is God alone who does the growing...
...xox...
Their rationale needs to be identified first. Most have different reasons. Many use a thought reason to justify their position.
Here are some thought reasons answers;
They don't know the greatness difference without experience.
Adam's Gene conclusion.
No basis...
etc.
I wish i had the answer... I have a few ways of trapping atheists in debates but adamant atheists are almost impossible to convince...
I was an atheist and refused to entertain any concept of a God.
Then i became agnostic which just means i don't know, before coming back.
i think that is the best way. Nudge them from thinking "God doesn't exist" to "Its possible God does exists"
Ask him/her if its possible that there might be a God.
If they say no then ask them if they know everything about the universe. (no one knows everything about the universe)
So how can you be sure that God doesn't exist within the vast unknown
I was an atheist and refused to entertain any concept of a God.
Then i became agnostic which just means i don't know, before coming back.
i think that is the best way. Nudge them from thinking "God doesn't exist" to "Its possible God does exists"
Ask him/her if its possible that there might be a God.
If they say no then ask them if they know everything about the universe. (no one knows everything about the universe)
So how can you be sure that God doesn't exist within the vast unknown
It’s not this life we are worried about. If you want to be happy in this life, then Christianity isn’t always the answer. There are many not Christians who seem to be enjoying life more than the Church. They are on their third marriage, three times a charm. Their years of devoting countless hours to their business is paying off. Maybe after a couple of shady deals they finally get to retire around 50 yrs of age. Lots of time for skiing, and yachting with the grandkids. Meanwhile there is some lady praying that her husband quits watching porn and children turn out fine in spite of their financial issues.
The argument isn’t about the now. It’s about what’s next and our purpose for even being here. Mark 12: 1-12 is a good illustration. God didn’t create us to serve ourselves for our comfort. He is the rightful owner of this planet and possesses intellectual property rights for everything there in. When the Owner returns at the end of the age, looking for His return on investment, we better have more than a flimsy excuse for Him.
L
Live4Him
Guest
Hebrews chapter 2
[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
[15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Although atheists (or anybody else) might not admit it, they, like everybody else, have a fear of death.
I use this reality to my advantage whenever attempting to witness to anyone, atheist or not, who is hostile to or uninterested in hearing the gospel. Basically, I tell them the reason why we die ("the wages of sin is death" - Rom. 6:23), and then preach Christ to them as the only cure for both sin and death. After that, I just pray for God to give the increase.
Tell them the main reason for God is not to improve their life experience in this world..
And then you might tell them about the eternal destinations that humans are destined to exist in..
The ask questions about their transgressions against the laws of God.. Like stealing or lusting or any other the other ones that most people have broken either in actual physical or in thoughts.. That is convincing them of their problem with God..
Then reveal the gospel message that Jesus came and paid the penalty for their sins on the cross if they accept Jesus as LORD and trust in the payment He made to save them..
First of all, change the wording and topic to Jesus, rather than God. Everyone needs Jesus because we all are sinners. When they know you are the same as them and not holy and righteous, there is much more chance of them accepting HIM
B
Blackpowderduelist
Guest
B
Blackpowderduelist
Guest
B
Blackpowderduelist
Guest
Material wealth, health, and mental/emotional security are not yardsticks of the need for God. So if someone is an atheist and they have a "great life" then that doesn't mean they don't need God.
People from all walks of life, including Christians can have great lives. The other thing that can happen is people won't have a great life.
Spiritual things like faith, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life are immaterial. They cannot be seen, but someone saying they don't need God just shows ignorance of spiritual things. This is not uncommon, there are a lot of unspiritual people.
They will need to reach a point on their own where they are seeking God with all of their heart. Regardless of what they say or what arguments they use, you can still give them the gospel of Christ and maybe some compelling logical arguments for the existence of God.
It may take years for the gospel to mean anything to them, but they'll always have awareness of it. Atheists can and do become Christians eventually. Give it time and pray for them. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is more potent and capable than anything we can muster and He will strive to reach unbelievers to lead them to repentance and faith.
Bonus: if they are open to it ask them to reach out to Jesus in prayer. I mean, what can it hurt right?
T
TheIndianGirl
Guest
What does that verse mean? That Jesus only came down for people who are are humble enough to know they are sinners? Not stubborn people who "think" they are righteous?
Yes...
When Jesus said " Blessed are the poor in spirit , for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven "
He was saying that those who realise that they are sinful , bankrupt in spirit , worthless , like the tax collector , these ones will receive mercy...
People who puff up their chests like the Pharisee will receive nothing , they think they are fine without God...
...xox...
Interesting.
If someone who says they do not need God then are they truly an atheist?
Afteall by definition is not an atheist someone who believes that there is actually no God and we just came from a big bang.
I spoke to a young man to whom I am a partenal uncle.
He used to go to our church then stopped going.
We were having a chat one day (side note I never ever pushed God, just loved him as a nephew and just spent time with him, whether it be with a beer or when he popped round to see my son)
He told me that he was an atheist and didn't believe there was or God of any religion.
I asked him why and how he came to that conclusion (I won't into why because I think for him his family who were Christian was very disfunctional)
He just said science proves that no God exists. We came from a big bang and evolved.
Interesting I said (I'm not a scientist but do have a limited understanding of laws of science)
So I just said to him that the big bang is basically where two atoms collided and evolution started and now we are here.
He said yes.
Ok I said so in that case we have two atoms, that being the case they must have come from somewhere. They cannot have always existed and if that's the case then they must have been created.
Something that exists must have come from somewhere or something. If that's the case then it must have been created, if that is the case then there must have been a creator?
He then said "those atoms are my God"
Ah in that case there is a God.
His are the atoms.
The point for me is that a true atheist will never entertain a God exists.
Many revered scientists are true atheists and many are not and are Christian.
Richard Dawkins who is a staunch atheist and hates religion with a passion has many conversations with revered scientists who are Christian and yet rejects all that say.
Having read some of defence of evolution and why we don't see it now is beyond belief.
We could spout the Bible all we want and generally they will not listen.
I'm not saying we should not but if we do need to back it up.
By this I mean being like Jesus and loving them.
I was able to bring and atheist to Jesus just by doing that.
Most ardent atheists tend to look at the Bible and talk about a schizophrenic God.
The God of the OT and the NT.
Unless one is skilled in Christian Apologetics then it's a difficult task to prove our God is the only who actually loves them.
Hence why I say. Yes engage but always love them.
They struggle and hurt just like we. They suffer the same as we do.
Hurt, pain, addiction and so on.
Yet we have a great God who is with us and always will be.
We should be the same.
If they are friends stay with them, get to know them accept them as they are.
Don't condemn them.
Just like Jesus does with us.
It isn't hard to make atheism a very difficult or impossible position to defend.
Every debate I've engaged in with an atheist quickly pivots from their inability to prove there is no God to ranting about perceived Biblical contradictions. Once that's over they move to attacking the competency of theists, often portraying them as unstable or mentally deficient. After that they often move to examples of church members who did bad things or were hypocrites.
Long story short, the goal posts of scoring debate points shift wildly, but they never can disprove God.
Many atheists, I find, have been hurt in someway by their experience in church and carry resentment. Some of them may be apostates, too. They cling to an impossible to defend atheist position as a result.
People who are honest will eventually cede that they just don't know and privately admit agnosticism to themselves. It can't be minimized how important of a shift from atheist to agnostic is on the track to Christian. Since people are curious and want to know if God is real, they'll probably eventually explore who Jesus is at some point, but maybe not before experimenting with various other religions or spiritualities.
totally agree.
I have some stuff concerning atheist who went out to disprove God and became Christian.
Sadly have a couple who were Christian and became atheist.
Lee Stroble was an atheist and became a Christian.
His book case for Christ is a good read.