Christians I need your advice. Should I keep trying to persuade them? Or should I give up and just pray for th

Question

I started my sojourn through R&S and some other places on the internet where I could find atheists. I really believed that logic, reasoning and a calm attitude of love would eventually make them see the errors of their ways and beliefs. But, while it may have worked on a few (who became agnostics and even theists as a result), I have found that the majority were much more dogmatic and hostile than I expected. Even in the more mature forums where you could find atheists with good brains, I saw traits of stubborness and the kind of immaturity you would only expect to see from the ones on Yahoo Answers. I sometimes feel like giving up but the few whose hearts and minds have changed have given me hope. But I'd like to ask the opinion of other Christians if you think it is worthwhile or if the best thing is to just pray for them and hope that they see the truth someday. Thank you.

Answer 1

Once you have shared truth with a person, it is best to leave the results to God. Your only responsibility is to be faithful in sharing what you know. They cannot be convinced by reason or logic or smooth talking....they must be convinced by the Holy Spirit. So...share the truth and then stand back and let HIM do HIS job...which is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and a coming judgement.

Pray and thank God that He is true to His Word and will give them every opportunity to BELIEVE HIM and be saved. You may be the person who plants the seed, or waters what someone else planted...but it is God who causes the harvest.

He is trustworthy and gives every person FREE WILL. Isn't He awesome....OUR God is an awesome God!!

Answer 2

I believe you are accessing this forum for the wrong reasons. This is an avenue to obtain information, imparting knowledge....once you have given your answer to the question, then move on. It does no good to argue, and it's not up to you to judge whether it's "stubbornness" and "immaturity" or simply not enough information to convince or not the right time in that person's life. As a Christian, you should know what the parables of the sower means....you are just to sow the seed. You are not responsible for the sun, rain or soil condition which brings the harvest....which you are also not responsible for.

By the way, what are you doing on Yahoo Answers if you feel the contributors here are lacking "good brains"? With that attitude, I doubt your prayers for them would do much good, either.

Answer 3

Remember it is the Lord who softens the heart. Our job is to put the word out there. And you really shouldn't be surprised by the hostility. I think the best thing to do is to continue to put it out there and let the Lord work. On the people you feel are now seeking the Lord because you helped bring the Word to them, continue to help them grow in the Lord. That is where you can see the Lord work. You helped bring them to the Lord and someday they may bring someone to the Lord. I think that is what the Lord wants us to do.....Go make disciples...not just "get them saved". Good luck. And remember pray in all things, this shows your faith.

Answer 4

People who put down others because of the frictions in their beliefs betray themselves as fools. When Christ was afoot, assuming the thousand-fold revised book known as the Bible eventuates the actual facts, he was exposed to a small fraction of the 3 million people then on Earth. There are over 100 different belief systems, now, all with the same basic goal. Why in hell do you care which one is dominant? That attitude has resulted in more people warring and dying over whose god is the right god than from any other social interactions. Prove, if you will, with irrefutable facts, that your god is superior to Sol Silverstein's. I'll listen to logic but not fairy tales. And, pray like hell if you like for your soul, but get off the backs of the rest of us who quietly worship in our own ways.

Answer 5

good luck with that. but its pretty much impossible to change the mind of someone who believes in a different truth than you do.

there is just too much information in the world that goes with the views held by strong atheists for atheists to ever change their beliefs.

the logic and reasoning you speak of are what atheists hold in high value and there is a great amount of skepticism that shows when a christian says that they use logic and reasoning in their arguements.

id like to see the evidence you have for the existence of your god. if it holds up after the scrutiny of the majority of atheists, then id be happy to consider the existence of your god, or at least a god.

Answer 6

You can not persuade those who are blinded by Satan, they are willingly ignorant.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “But also if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.” †


2 Peter 3:3-7 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” †

Answer 7

I hear ya brother. I've resigned myself to the belief that a hardened heart can only be softened by the Holy Spirit. That calls for earnest prayer. I do not try to turn the unbeliever into a believer. That's not my job. Not yours either.

I'm here to explain my faith to anyone who seeks answers and comfort those crying out in the wilderness..

Answer 8

Yes, us Buddhists are known for our hostility. I have found such a peace with my beliefs that I do not need to seek out those who differ with me in order to convert them.
I hope you find the same peace someday.
Think of all the people you could help by volunteering at a soup kitchen or collecting clothes for the homeless instead of spending your time witnessing?
If you are serious about praying for me, could you spend that time praying for the monks in Myanmar or the people in Darfur? They truly need it more than me and I would not feel right having someone pray for me when they are suffering so much. Thank you.

Answer 9

sojourn? not sure I know what that is. Christ said he leaves us with a new command... to love one another... that is in all we do... just take a deep breath, step away from the computer for a few minutes... close your eyes, know that God, your Father is listening... and just be honest with him... cry to him about why you feel so desperate to "get thru" to everyone... its your love that God is building in you that cries out for the others to feel... When it is the right time for you to witness, the right moment you'll be, and just precisely the right second... WE ARE THE CLAY...HE is the Potter, remember? If you think your prayers will work anyless for these people than your actual witnessing... your mistaken. Pray for them... pray, pray, pray for them... your heart hurts for them, and you love them... when you are spiritually antagonized remember this... move away and pray... who knows that break you take to the mckey d's may see a restaurant worker in need of a God bless you... so hang in there.

Answer 10

Let's see:

Atheists are illogical, unreasonable, erroneous, dogmatic, hostile, stubborn, immature, stupid and have bad brains.

Yep, that's a good attitude for someone who is trying to convince another of their superior logic, reasonableness and maturity.

Good Luck.