If
you had only 30 seconds, how would you explain your faith to an atheist?
It's
a popular notion – sometimes seemingly true in internet comment threads – that
Christians and atheists are at war. Are they locked in conflict, and must they
be? Can good dialogue happen, and is conversion possible, or are the warring
camps too pervasively entrenched?
Journalist
and broadcaster Justin Brierley is well acquainted with atheist and Christian
dialogue through his popular radio show and podcast Unbelievable?, which regularly features
prominent atheist and Christian thinkers debating philosophy, theology and the
evidence for God. Justin has himself interviewed renowned skeptics such as
Richard Dawkins and Derren Brown.
At
the Christian festival Spring Harvest 2017 in Somerset, England, Brierley shared some reflections on how
Christians can better share their faith with those apparently opposed to it.
'It's
like we inhabit different worlds', said Brierley, musing on the distance that
can seem to pervade between the two groups. It can be hard to imagine people
ever crossing the apparently vast chasm of beliefs.
Brierley
notes that an experiential aspect of understanding faith is essential: 'You have
to step into the faith to really understand what it's about'. Nonetheless, he
says that even if dialogue with atheists might not convince them to convert on
the spot, you can still try and get 'on the same page'.
'There
are no magic answers. It's really about starting a conversation,' he said.
Justin
gave four broad pointers for evangelising well, based on 1 Peter 3.15, where
Peter gives his famous advice for sharing one's faith:
'But
in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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...'
Gentleness and respect
'The
way we say things matter just as much as what we say,' Justin said. Too often,
Christian 'debate' with unbelievers can be motivated by an arrogant desire to
correct the fact that 'someone is wrong on the internet'. Justin challenged the
audience to ask themselves: 'Would spend as long praying for your atheist
friends as you do debating them?' The answer may betray one's true
priorities.
In
clashes that can often become vitriolic and offensive, Christians 'must be the
first to extend grace and love', just as Jesus did when he faced abuse.
Conflict
may be challenging, and sometimes it may seem impossible that a convicted
atheist might ever turn to Christ. Justin encouraged people to be positive and
courageous. 'I've met many people who are a million miles away from faith, you'd
be surprised at what can happen,' he said.
Reasons for hope
Secondly,
Brierley emphasised the importance of giving good reasons for why Christian
faith explains the world in a meaningful way. Particularly in the UK, we inhabit
a post-Christian, increasingly biblically illiterate society, and as Brierley
says, "It says so in the Bible" isn't going to get you very far'.
He
highlighted his best two reasons for faith. Firstly, God makes sense of human
existence. The universe is so finely tuned, against all the odds Justin said,
that the best conclusion is that an intelligent mind created it. He explains
this argument in a video that can be watched below, where Justin explains How a Dice
can show that God exists.
Secondly,
he said, God makes sense of human value. In a purely godless, materialistic
world, it's difficult to make a case for meaning and human value that isn't
entirely subjective. A God who made human beings in his image, however, gives a
profound reason for saying that human rights exist, that people have objective
value – which is grounded outside of ourselves.
The
point is not to give knock-down arguments that prove the entirety of Christian
doctrine to be true, but rather to seek 'the best explanation' for our world and
ourselves. Atheism, just like theism, is an attempt at such explanation. The
question then ceases to be 'can I prove that the virgin birth happened?', but
instead, 'what belief provides the best explanation for the universe'?
Why do you believe?
Justin
invited Christians to turn the tables somewhat, and ask their atheist friends –
in a non-combative sense: 'Why do you believe what you believe?' Atheism itself
is a belief system, Justin said, and requires significant faith. It
involves trust that one reality is the case rather than
another – and the realities in question have considerable stakes.
Another
question to ask is simply: 'What is the point of life?' Justin says that many
respond that life's purpose is to 'make your own meaning', but Justin asked, are
some meanings better than others? If there is nothing transcendent that could
tell you how meaning and value can be found – then how can you know?
Revere Christ as Lord
Justin
closed by emphasising Peter's reminder, to 'revere Jesus Christ as Lord'. Such
an approach reminds us that 'it's not about us' or our clever arguments.
Conversion is a drama of both the head and the heart, and Christians cannot
'argue people into the Kingdom'. Rather they can simply, and mercifully, allow
themselves to be used by God in his grace.
Not
everyone will have time to engage their friends in the deep debates that Justin
hosts on Unbelievable?. Nonetheless, as Justin's show
makes clear: good, healthy dialogue alongside disagreement is possible, and can
change lives. It simply starts with a little conversation. Christian Today.
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