Christians - how can we get more respect from atheists?

Question

The answer is simple!!! Some of us need to stop the preaching, the holier-than-thou crap and stop quoting mega scripture. Atheists don't believe in our bible anyway so what good does it do to copy and paste mega scripture. We need to walk our talk. We need to love like Jesus loved. Our words need to be "Jesus inspired". Jesus wouldn't want us arguing with others about him. He wants us to love and be patient with others. Remember that love is patient.

Definition of Patient: Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness, tolerance and understating.

Answer 1

I love you. Thank you for saying this.

Answer 2

Hate to break it to you Kaliko, but there will always be impostor Christians that will preach and condemn atheists. The problem is, true Christians know who the impostors are by their lack of love and tact. But the atheist, looking for validation, will consider them as "representational" and hence can label all Christians as hate-mongers, lemmings, or complete idiots.

Wrathpuppet, here on Yahoo, used to think that way because he never encountered a true, thinking Christian. In an article written about me, he was quoted as saying, "The truth is that my interactions with [Schneb] have opened up a whole new dimension to my worldview, Most of the Christians I have known have been (forgive them) rather lukewarm. I had never met a dedicated Bible scholar of [his] level. I'm pleased to report that the prejudices I once held (that I wasn't even really aware of) have been washed away by healthy debate."

This is a rare occurrence, because Wrathpuppet was an exception. I found this atheist wanting to know why we think the way we do, rather than wanting to self-justify his own position.

Answer 3

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast our your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:22,26

I do agree that we should walk our talk and love like Jesus loved....to all. For the atheist still searching...that may bring respect. For the atheist with a final decision made....it will bring hatred.

Answer 4

We will never recieve love and respect from atheist, no matter what we do, unless they repent and turn to the Lord. THey dont want truth or conviction , and will always hate us as we bring truth to the dark world. I never know what it means when ppl say dont preach. When they talk, its talking, when we talk, its called preached. We are told to live the truth and speak it and thats what we do. Preaching? nor sure they know the difference,as I find it unclear too. Did Jesus preach or teach? Whatever, HE walked the earth telling the truth and was so hated that they wanted Him to die . IF we are doing as we are called to do, they will hate us too. If we worry if they ahte it, we wont speak truth. we will fear theywont like us or be mad at us. Thats not how Jesus taught. He just spoke it and lived it . some came and many rejected, just like they will with us. IF all the world love sus,we are doing something wrong. As truth and light always tap to the darkness and bring rebuke and they hate it. ALl are called to God but only a few will come. WE need to use loving words and be humble as Jesus was, but we dont try to color the truth to get them to accept it Jesus didnt preach seeker friendly. He didnt say I would like to preach on homosexuality today but Icant as one could be here. HE spoke truth. lived it and let the chips fall where they may. ITs up to the Holy Spirit to led to conviction, but they still all have choice. As long as I know God is happy with me, thats all I need. I am not there to make friends, but when we do, its awesome. I am there to bring the boldness of the gospel, as we are commanded to do. If Jesus worried if ppl would be mad or accept, He wouldnt have said all HE did. He is our example.
LEt God deal with those that wont hear it. Thank GOds it His job, not ours Yet we are to proceed with humbleness, humility and love but stayin gBOLD. no tiptoeing . no time left to tiptoe with the gospel as Jesus is coming soon.
we are to tolerate and love the sinner, but to hate the sin. Big difference, nor are we to hang with and make friends of worldly ppl. God said it would destroy us.
Knowledge is power, lets find out all Gods says on this and then go for it. we can do it, as God gives the power to do it all.

Answer 5

I post scriptures for those who ask sincere questions, atheist or not. I am not trying to change anyone who refuses to believe God's word, the Bible, because for some people, that can't be done.

As for preaching, I will not stop doing that because that was a commandment from Jesus at Matthew 28:19, 20:

Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

So to discontinue to follow that command would be exactly what Satan wants.

Answer 6

i think most Atheists will agree with me when i say that though you present a good idea of what might make atheists less likely to start an anti bible/god rant, but in reality its a matter of your belief in itself. The belief in God is in my opinion a false belief, but alas it is only my opinion. To truly gain the respect of ATheists(if you really want it) would be to denounce your false beliefs and accept that you can live a moral life without false beliefs in mythical figures.

Answer 7

this is an excellent point. I am not particularly religious (even though i was raised in a baptist family). Most of the Christians i have met have been one or more of the following: judge mental, greedy, vain, self-righteous, vindictive, and closed minded. this has nothing to do with me not believing as they do, just curious to point out

i will say that if the character of the followers actually had anything to do with the reality of a religion, it would have to be, based on my personal experience, Mormons. I have only known 2, but they have been the most kind, generous, and giving people i have ever met.

Answer 8

I agree that we need to show more love and respect to atheists. However, this will not change how they feel about us. Whenever someone speaks truth, it is offensive. Satan is always fighting in the spiritual realm to blind their eyes. Only through the blood of Christ will they respect Christians.

Answer 9

Answering honest questions with honest, informational replies is a good start. Most people come here to share their views, life-long views they are comfortable with. Very few come here to be preached at, converted and 'saved.'

Bless you (if I may) for being a voice of reason.

Answer 10

The truth is that we will never win the respect of the atheists. No matter how many of us are respectful in our answers, they will continue to point to the few that don't.

I don't expect to be respected by the atheists here. As they have stated often, they find anyone who believes in our Lord to be dumb and misled. It isn't important to me to be respected by them - my respect comes from God.

What is important is that I respect them and that I be faithful to the teachings of my Lord. Though I will continue to post little here, I will continue to be respectful and faithful.

Pastor John

Answer 11

I dont care if they respect me or not because i have more evidence to prove that God does exist than they have that says HE doesen't.Just ask a so called astheist where can you learn to be an atheist or which came 1st the chicken or the egg. These people are stupid to think that they have discovered the beginning of life & how it occoured.Thats like saying "i know everything so dont tell me anything"the biggest lair in the universe is the person who will lie to himself and thats what they are doing.it hurts no one but them and show their stupidity.