Apologetics and Atheists

The Great Commission

Go therefore and make disciples 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 things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

The Great Commission requires us to "make disciples of all the nations." That is, to deliver the Word of God to those who do not know it. "and lo, I am with you always." We are expected to educate ourselves with the truth so that we can draw from it, but if we are properly sharing God's Word, then we are acting beyond our means. He will help us, all we have to do is ask.

Our Audience

• Lost Christians.

• "Spiritual" people.

• People blinded by sin.

• People who have concluded that God does not exist, the bible is not true, or that all religions are false (or even are the source of all human suffering).

Each audience requires a different approach. Apologetics can be applied most efficiently to the last audience, as they most often do not believe that the bible provides any real answers. The word "apologetics" comes from the Greek word apologia, which translates to "defense" or "answer."

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 1 Peter 3:15

We are called to defend our faith. It is not blind, so we should be ready to explain why our faith is reasonable. This means studying both the Word of God and the world in which we live.

The Atheist

Many atheists and secularists share one or more of the following attributes:

• Believe Christianity is unreasonable. Know only a limited secular view of Christianity (as portrayed by movies and media)

• Believe Christianity and science are incompatible.

• Believe themselves to be intellectual and above the need for Jesus.

• Have morals rooted in relative philosophy.

• Have never read the bible! Often, they regurgitate what they have heard (over translated, many errors, all metaphors, not scientifically accurate, etc.)

Knowing this, we already know the arguments an atheist might make and the misconceptions they might have before they even state them. Use this as a spring-board and research the answers. It may even be a good idea to seek out some of the more common arguments to which you may find the answers.

The Truth

Start off by explaining that the Bible is the absolute truth. try setting the stage like this:

The entire Bible is the true Word of God. Some like to believe that parts are true and parts are just stories. I challenge you to approach it as if it is all true. What good is a reference book that has errors? If the Bible were 99% truth, then it would be 100% useless. What good is a drug reference book to a pharmacist if it contains errors? If the pharmacist uses the book, it might kill his patients. If we look at the Bible as anything but the complete truth, we open the door for interpretation and end up with the word of man instead of the Word of God.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. Psalm 12:6-7

The bible clearly tells us that it is the preserved Word of God, and we can rely on it. But to an atheist, the Bible holds no authority. We have established the idea that the Bible is the truth, it contains only superficial errors, and that it is to be taken literally. Now we must show that this is a perfectly logical assumption.

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD... Isaiah 1:18

We were created as reasonable and curious beings. God does not expect us to have blind faith, but rather grow to trust him. As God is glorified, we see from experience that we may trust him and have faith in him. Just look at Exodus! Knowing that the bible is the truth, we must simply answer any arguments made otherwise, one at a time.

The Bible and Science Agree!

For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner those who are not your offspring. Genesis 17:12

A newborn baby's blood is unable to clot quickly like an adult's. Vitamin K, which triggers a process that conditions the blood to clot, is not created by the baby's body in full force until the 8th day after birth. In US hospitals, babies are given vitamin K shots immediately after birth for safety reason, allowing circumcisions to be practical just 24 hours later. Thousands of years later, we finally understand why the circumcision took place on the 8th day.

He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. Job 26:7

Job is believed to be the oldest book of the Bible. Here, the Word demonstrates the nature of space in our universe. Amazing considering we wouldn't discover that the stars are distant solar systems for a few thousand more years.

They were driven out from among men, They shouted at them as at a thief. They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks. Job 30:5-6

Modern science has taught us that prehistoric man lived in caves, fashioning basic tools and even leaving cave paintings. Evolutionists would have us believe they were something between monkey and man, but Job explains that they were nothing more than outcasts of society.

"Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword. Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare. Job 40:15-24

Dinosaurs have been a huge argument and used as evidence for evolution. Some Christians even tremble at the thought of defending creation in light of their existence while others outright deny they ever existed! Yet here in Job, we see a description of one of the largest breed of dinosaur. Most likely a brontosaurus.

For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist, Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man. Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy? Job 36:27-29

Here we find a description of hydrology, the process by which water evaporates and creates rain. Hydrology was "discovered" by George Hadley in 1735. 3,500 years after it was described in the book of Job.

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22

The word for "circle" can be more accurately translated as "spherical object." Isaiah was written 300 years before Aristotle suggested the earth was round. No verse of the bible ever claims the earth is flat, though the Roman Catholic church upheld this to be the case for many years.

I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Luke 17:34-35

This description of the rapture shows it to be both night and day at the same time. Something not thought to be possible at the time.

and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Leviticus 11:7

Pork is one of the most dangerous foods when not cooked and handled properly.

whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: Leviticus 11:25

Bacteria was not discovered until the 1800's, yet Leviticus is full of advice that prevents bacterial illness and cross contamination.

The Challenge

• Be confident that the Bible is accurate.

• Don't be afraid of not knowing. You can always find the answer, even if it is at a later date. "I don't know" is not an surrender in debate, it is a postponement.

• Always check your facts! There are lots of biblical urban legends out there. Don't get caught in the trap.

• Be ready to explain your faith to non-believers. "I just know it's true" is not good enough for them.

• Challenge people to approach the bible as if it were true and to consider the impact it would have on them. If the Bible is true, than the Gospel is suddenly important!

• Pray before you share! It is a large task. Too large to go it alone. It is your job to store up knowledge of God's Word. He will retrieve the right parts at the right time if you let Him.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord 2 Timothy 1:8