Understanding Atheism and the reasoning of an atheist can be maddening at times. An atheist’s position is most often rooted deeply in a belief system that is unable to think that they should have to surrender to the will of someone else, mainly some ‘spiritual being’, i.e. God. Let’s face it. At face value, Christianity is a way of life that rips the head off of pride and self-sufficiency, and says, “Die, so that Christ can live in you.” OUCH! Talk about a wake up call for even some professing Christians. No wonder some people find it an easier path to just say there is no god and that we came from primeval ooze billions of years ago.
We all know someone that says they are an atheist. I have several long time friends who profess atheism as their belief system. I even have a sister that is Buddhist that is an atheist – at least to the best of her understanding of what that means to her as a Buddhist. Honestly, she (and those atheist friends that I talk with on ‘spiritual matters’ get confused and angry whenever we discuss the merits of our belief systems – in the case of my sister, mine being Judeo-Christian and hers being Buddhism.
Truth be told, every belief system has some sort of measure of faith that is required in order to believe in it. Oftentimes, it is the only guiding force behind one’s belief. In some minds, it does not matter what the truth is on the subject. They just have the faith to believe what they believe and nothing more can be said about it to them. If you are a Christian, and want to see progress made in sharing your faith with Atheists, my advice is to GET OUT OF THE WAY, and let G-d do it.
Remember that our warfare is not natural, but supernatural when it comes to soul winning. Paul reminds us that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle against UNbelief in God is NOT won through argument or debate. It is won through love, compassion, AND the use of the Living Word of G-d.
When confronted with the antagonism of an Atheist, remember that while they have faith in their belief system, that it is rooted in a faith for what they have heard about Atheism. Holy Scripture tell us that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The faith that Scripture speaks of is faith in God and in the need of a Savior. If you want to be productive for the sake of the Kingdom, do not argue the merits of your faith with someone, but rather share the Word – as much of it as they can hear. The Word is powerful.
In Hebrews 4:12 it says that the “word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” WOW! That is powerful! Just think about it. IF you are willing to share the Living Word of G-d with someone – let’s say an Atheist for example – it will go out of your mouth, into their ears and like a roman battle sword, go deeply into them. Let’s face it. It’s hard to battle the Living Word once it gets in you, even if you are a Christ follower! It will clean you up and set you straight! How much more will it have an affect on someone that does not have it in them.
All arguments aside about how to share your faith with an Atheist (or a non-believer in general), Jesus said that, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,” (John 6:44). This means that our job is simply to get the Word out there and in them, and then Holy Spirit will draw them.
