Christian questions?

Question

when someone comes up to u and asks u to "debate with them about God" what should you do? i thought about it after a recent experience and concluded that it is not a Christian's responsibility to debate with people. (for those are just wishing to prove their so called "superior intellect" over people so foolish as to believe in a God, and have no intention of ever seeking God) we only have the responsibility of answering to the best of our ability the questions of people truly curious about God. or am i wrong? plz answer my brothers and sisters...

Answer 1

You are correct. God prepares people to receive the gospel...those who are open to the truth are his sheep.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

intelligent peaceful discussion is encouraged to share the gospel though...but not pointless arguing or contention...avoid that!

3Nephi11:29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

Just bear your testimony and tell people what you know to be true...let them accept it or not.

Answer 2

If debate is not an area you're gifted in, then you certainly have no obligation to get involved in debates, and anyone who tries to force you is being a jerk. You ought to be able to just say you're not good at debating, and they should leave it at that.

But to say that anyone who wants to debate must just trying to prove a superior intellect--I think that's a bit out of line. Do you really know what another person's motives are? Did it occur to you that maybe it's some people's way of learning? Don't people have different personalities and different gifts? Give 'em a break.....

Answer 3

Hiya -- Good question.

First before answering it though there should be a clarification on the word debate.
Talking back and forth about ones viewpoint without any intention on listening to each other is a pointless exercise.
The Bible says that Christians need not involve themselves in such things.

However , the Bible also says that we should always be ready to explain to others why we believe in the Christ and his father Jehovah Gods promises.

In Philippians 1:15, 16 the apostle Paul says--
''True, some are preaching the Christ through envy and rivalry, but others also through goodwill. The latter are publicizing the Christ out of love, for they know I am set here for the defense of the good news-''

So Christians do not need to debate man to man , but we do need to defend the good news and represent it well.
This is primarily done by using the scriptures , not to debate , but in reasoning with another person.

For what purpose ?..
To help correct faulty understanding and pass on the truth about Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ.


For more Bible based information please feel free to email me.

Answer 4

ok, definately not a 'brother or sister' in your sense of the word. i'm in no way , shape, or form christian... closest term i have is 'agnostic neo-pagan'... anyway. the responsibility of a spiritual person isn't necessarily to defend their religion. let's face it, it is *impossible* to scientifically debate supporting the side of religion. Debates are based on fact and religion has no true proveable fact to back it up, it can't be done. now if someone's genuinely curious then you can help them out... but if someone wants to argue it's not your responsibility to do so. They're just looking to make themselves look smarter, now that's not to say you can go about spouting religion and when someone challenges it you c an jsut say you don't need to justify it. if you wanna preach to people and someone wants to debate it THEN , well you'd look mighty foolish if you didn't back it up, so my advice is don't whirl your religion around like a club, religion is a private thing, not something to be flaunted and used as a 'weapon'.


Don't engage in a debate withsomeone openly attacking your religion unless you were flaunting it in peoples faces... if you're doing that you're not following your religion anyway and deserve to be smacked down. As a practicer of any peaceful religion you *should* be content to let people keep their own opinion, you're no better than them because you believe in a god and they don't just as they're no better than you for 'scientificlaly knowing there is no such thing.' neither can be definitively proven so arguing is pointless.

Answer 5

I am a Christian and I do not debate to validate my belief or to prove my intellect. I debate to keep pace with what I should know. If I cannot answer a question I want to know why and debate gives me a place to find out where my faith or knowledge is weak and needs some looking into.

Answer 6

You are right people need to open there eyes and start leaning to god every day pray and listen to his words (Bible) just take 15 mins a day to tell him how u feel and what you should do to make a differnce REmember ETERNATY IS FOREVER every time i do something wrong that hits me hard so do what you think god would think is right. And if any1 every says there is no god say you cant prove this isnt 1 and if they say you cant prove there is 1 just say i have faith. Debating about ur faith is something i would say something that doesnt need to be done but every1 does it (Almost) so speak your mind and spread the word of god. Amen God bless you all. (Remeber this is from a 14 year old)

Answer 7

I observed that recent question and theory it become form of wierd by way of fact why wouldnt somebody have self assurance something the excellent option in front of their eyes if it become rapidly out shown. yet then what's the definition of shown? i'm getting why everyone seems to be atheists. I dont get why everyone seems to be anti faith. i think of maximum atheists are atheists by way of fact they simply cant have self assurance in something like a God while there is not any actual data of a God and each historic references to faith and God after time has a tendency to sound somewhat antiquated and primitive. i think of maximum anti faith atheists have merely had some undesirable reviews with some religious human beings or a faith and have a chip on their shoulder. i think of surely very few have died exceptionally by way of faith that wouldnt have died had faith never existed. each warfare and persecution committed via a team or a rustic had each thing to do with greed and capacity and little or no to do with faith. Had faith never existed, all of the wars nonetheless would have occured, imo. they simply would have been fought under a diff banner. human beings continually want to declare how many undesirable issues have been performed via religious human beings, yet then additionally they decrease value all of the stable, too. faith has performed plenty to assist humanity besides. Non christian gvts, like communism, that exceptionally made specific faith become ousted from the rustic, have killed a methods plenty greater human beings interior the historic past of the international then so called religious wars and persecution.

Answer 8

I think your assumption is generally correct. Some people just want to argue and it does not matter how well you make your point or out debate them you will still be a "stupid Christian" or "Condescending." Knock the dust off your feet and move on bro.

Answer 9

I also agree, however you might also ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in those situations. You never know what He might say, I have had some pretty awesome experiences just listening and the simply repeating what He tells me!!
Call unto me, and I WILL ANSWER THEE, and show you great and mighty things that thou knowest not!! JER. 33:3
May The God of Eternity bless you for and in your seeking brother!!

Answer 10

It is not up for debate, I just wouldn't go there. Speak the truth, they can accept it or not. The foolish things are there to confound the wise.

Answer 11

Somewhere in the bible, it talks about throwing pearls to the swine.
If you believe you are a kind person with compassion for others, maybe you are a person who can serve God as an everyday person. Perhaps you are even destined to be a minister, priest etc
God may have given you the ability to give pearls of Godly wisdom to others........but the bible warns not to throw your pearls to the swines...because not only will you not help them, they will rend you
I encourage you to listen to the song dueling banjos...its essentially a challenge or duel between two people playing musical instruments...and it deals with a duel of musical talent and not anything else
When I hear people debating bible verses just to show who is smarter or has studied the bible more, I think of the song dueling banjos
There are too many people out their who argue religion, not because they love God or love others, but only because they are on an ego trip to show how smart they are
A prophet is defined as someone who speaks for others
A prophet in a religious sense is someone who speaks for God
Prophets, I believe, are not only the ones we think of in the bible but also the everyday people God uses to convey love and wisdom to the people of the earth
Perhaps God is using you to minister to others and perhaps at times you are an instrument of God
So, don't be deterred in helping others, but before you speak out, search your heart and ask yourself, is someone wanting to discuss the bible with you because they sincerely seek help or wisdom, or are they on an ego trip to show you how smart they are.
Just walk away from these people, just as you would not throw pearls to the swine
As for yourself, grow in your knowledge of the bible, but do it so you can be of service to God....don't let your "encyclopedia" of bible knowledge go to your head and develop a big ego and think you're better than others, remember, humility is the mother of all virtues