One thing I hope we can take away from Sam’s insights last Sunday is his encouragement about sharing our faith with someone who is an atheist. We don’t need to have all the answers or be experts in apologetics. Instead, we can be willing to listen, ask questions, share our own story and point people to Jesus.
First, know what you believe. Before we can explain our faith to others, we need to be convinced of it first. Ask questions and think deeply about why you believe what you believe. It can also be helpful to investigate some of the common arguments people have against Christianity and explore how Christians have responded. We don’t need to be experts, but we should be people who are willing to take our faith seriously. I genuinely believe there are good reasons for what Christians believe, and we shouldn’t be afraid to explore them.
Second, don’t assume you know why someone doesn’t believe. Commonly we might assume Atheists hate Christianity or God and that is their reason for dismissing faith. But this certainly isn’t always the case. We don’t know someone’s story until we ask. Rather than making assumptions, try asking, “What do you believe?” or “Why do you believe that?”
Third, don’t be afraid of questions. When someone asks a difficult question about Christianity, we don’t need to have an answer for everything. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll look into that with you.” We don’t have to win every argument. Instead, be willing to talk about the big questions of life: Where does morality come from? What gives life meaning? What happens when we die? These conversations can open opportunities to talk about of spiritual things.
Fourth, share your own story. Sharing what Jesus has done in your life can be a sort of evidence to an Atheist. You can simply say, “This is why I believe.” Tell people how you came to know Jesus, how he has changed you, what you have learned about God and why you continue to trust him. Your testimony isn’t a substitute for the gospel, but it can open the door to a conversation about Jesus and help someone move past the intellect and see Christianity as a relationship with a real person.
Finally, invite them to investigate Jesus for themselves. Ultimately, we hope for people to encounter Jesus, not simply hear our arguments for Christianity. Invite a friend to read one of the Gospels with you. Invite them to church. Keep the conversation going. And most importantly, pray for them. We can listen, explain, answer questions and share our stories, but we cannot change someone’s heart. God does that.
Ash
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