What are 3 things that you can say to or ask an atheist? What things could you think to add?
What do you do with your Guilt?
The atheist might say that they don’t believe in God but the Bible says that they actually suppress this knowledge. Paul writes in Romans 1:18 that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” The Greek word for suppress is “katechō” which means “to hold back, to detain” or “to restrain” so it is an intentional act of suppressing what they know to be true but what does the atheist do with his or her guilt? Good question.
Where did the Universe Come From?
I read about an astrophysicist who said that anywhere from 10 to 15 billion years ago the universe exploded into being but if it didn’t exist before the explosion, then what was it that exploded? Can something that does not exist begin to exist and if it didn’t exist at one time and then did, how can that be so? If would have had to exist prior to exploding into being, right? Then where did the material universe come from? What in the universe had not beginning? The law of causality is so fundamental to science and logic that if I said that the chair you are sitting in, which must have had a beginning, just popped into existence without any cause, you might justifiably think I need a psychiatric assessment and you‘d be right! If at one time there was absolutely nothing that existed, then nothing would exist today. The psalmist knew that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1) and God’s “eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Rom 1:20).
Can you prove there is no God?
Of course the answer to this must be no. The atheist, technically doesn’t exist because it is impossible for them to prove that God doesn’t exist. That takes a great deal of faith. What scientific evidence can they provide that God doesn’t exist? How can they be 100% sure that there is no God? If there is no God, then is it fair that Hitler and Stalin have no justice served for all their crimes against humanity? Are there moral absolutes? If not, then aren’t they making an absolute statement that there are no absolutes?
Conclusion
No one was ever argued into heaven. Pray for them, try to reason with them but leave their conversion up to God and “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” for (I Peter 3:15). I emphasize doing so in gentleness and respect. Don’t debate, don’t argue. You can win an argument and lose a soul. I would rather lose an argument and win a soul for Christ any day.