Christian Crier
Why do we judge one bad experience from an atheist and presume that they’re all like that, when nothing could be further from the truth.
Blessing Haters
The Bible teaches that unbelievers (like we once were) cannot believe unless God draws them to Himself through Christ (John 6:44), so all of us at one time were dead in our sins (Eph 2:1-8), but we were quickened by His Spirit and could only then see our need for the Savior, so make no mistake about it. We could not have come to Christ without this calling, any more than Lazarus could have raised himself from the dead, and so if we are treat unbelievers harshly, we’re judging them for something they’re not capable of understanding…at least not yet. We can do more harm than good. We’re to be wise as serpents (not deadly though!) and harmless as doves. I’ve never see doves intimidate anyone! Besides, I have a lot of people who I know who are professing atheists and are decent people. We must understand that we are in no way better than they are…only better off positionally before God. But even that was not our doing (Eph 2:8-9), so even though we don’t see eye to eye about God, we can be decent and civil with one another and have genuine concern for one another and their families. I see no conflict in my being kind and polite to unbelievers, any more than I do believers. We don’t let that separate us from being an acquaintance. I don’t cram my religion down their throat (or anyone’s) and neither do they try to force his beliefs upon me. We can be reasonable to one another and agree to disagree, while not being disagreeable. Would we chastise a blind man for running into something? If we berate and attack non-believers, we are essentially doing the same thing. Attacking them for something they are not capable of understanding. Perhaps someday, we pray, they will. Jesus said His disciples will be known for their love for one another (John 13:34-35) and for others, and not for their going back and forth in endless debates about something that only God can reveal. I can’t think of anyone who was ever debated into the kingdom. If anything, it’s not the norm.
Generalizations
I would also say to atheists to not judge all Christians based upon the behavior of a few. That’s typically a small sample size, just as it’s unfair for Christians to judge all atheists as God-haters or Christian-bashers just because of a few encounters they’ve had with some. I don’t think it’s fair to group those who vehemently espouse their atheism and attack believers (like on this webpage), and make sweeping generalizations that all atheists are the same. I could include agnostics in that statement too. It’s just not fair to them. Of course there will always some who use vulgarity and other sophomoric remarks in disparaging God, the Bible, Jesus, and Christians, but from my experience, they’re in the minority. I would also hope that there are only a few Christians who go on the attack against atheists, but I’m not sure that’s true. Our calling is not to win debates or argue with those who don’t believe. Of course we can contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 1:3), but we must stick to biblical facts and not let it escalate into a personal attack.
Blessed Believers
I remember one preacher saying, “Anything we can talk them into, someone else can talk them out of,” and he’s absolutely right. It takes a person of God, using the Word of God, with the Spirit of God, to birth the children God, for the glory of God. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22), so we should never respond with revenge or try to get even with our words. Rather, we should “Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:23). Christians can get just as argumentative as anyone else, and that’s sad, because we’re told, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). Sometimes we hate those who hate us, curse those who curse us, and verbally abuse those who verbally abuse us. If we respond in this way, we are no different from the world. When believers respond with love to our “enemies and pray for those who persecute” us (Matt 5:44), we show God and the world (John 13:34-35) that we are the daughters and the “sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:45).
Blessed for Persecution
I have contacts with dozens of churches in Africa, and many of these members suffer greater persecution than anything we’ve ever see in the States, but when they ask for prayer, they ask for God’s Word to spread, that their family and friends get saved, and that they remain faithful under persecution. Notice that they don’t ask for the persecution to stop. They know it’s normal. The Apostle Paul said, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). He didn’t say “most,” or “many,” but all! These brothers and sisters understand that persecution must come, just as the churches in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other places do. They’ve read Jesus’ reminder that “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20). They’re willing to suffer for keeping His word. They understand that “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Pet 4:14), and they want that. God blesses those who are persecuted for His name’s sake (Matt 5:10-12). That is their cross to bear, but they are willing to bear it, however, they don’t respond in kind. They’re good with the fact that “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Matt 10:25).
Conclusion
If you’ve never been persecuted, surprise! I don’t know of any believers who haven’t endured at least some form of persecution and ridicule of their faith in Christ, so we must expect it, but we must respond in a godly manner. When we are despised, hated, and called vulgar names, we don’t give them what they deserve…we give them what they need. And that is a response that is gentle and kind. It’s easy for me to remember that at one time, I was an ungodly, wicked enemy of God (Rom 5:6-10) (as we all were!), but God didn’t give me what I deserved. He gave me what I needed…and that was His amazing grace (Eph 2:8-9). We are told to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil 2:3), and “others” most certainly includes atheists. It’s fine to respond to a question from someone who doesn’t believe, but when it starts to escalate and get personal, it’s time to end the discussion. We are simply admonished to be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15), and I would say that it must be done “with gentleness and respect,” or it should not be done at all!
Article by Jack Wellman
Jack Wellman is a pastor and prison minister and is a writer at Christian Quotes and also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Christian Crier or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.
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