Why Atheists Always Seem To Win Debates With Christians

I hate running across “debates” between avowed atheists and Christians. Lately, I am finding them everywhere! They read like two people from different countries arguing in languages that the other one has no comprehension of. Faith and Proof are not able to coexist with one another, for the moment, at least.

First let me say this. I have very good friends that are atheists, and I am a Christian, so this is not an “All Athiests Are Schmucks” post. It’s more like a reminder to my fellow Christians about this sort of thing. So, before all the atheists start pointing out they do not like things I am saying, please let me point out that this post is for active, practicing Christians using the words used in the Bible. It just is what it is, whether you agree or not. The Bible is what I accept as the truth.

The only thing atheists are guilty of in God’s eyes is not accepting the gift He offered of salvation. And I am of the opinion that this problem is one that is between God and them. He doesn’t need me (or you) to force-feed, manipulate, terrify, or bribe anyone into saying a rote prayer as some safety net for death. People who are looking for God, find Him. People who aren’t can say the Lord’s Prayer and go to church every time the door is open, give alms to the poor, and fast 40 days every year all they want to. It means absolutely nothing…salvation is a condition of the heart, not a technical formula to be forced on those who do not feel lost. I have seen people lured in to becoming saved based on peer pressure, fear, and promises of wealth, and they always leave the religion angry, disillusioned, and generally disappointed because the reasons they became “saved” were not because they realized they were hopeless, lost, and unable to save themselves. Christianity is both easy and yet hard for those of us who really believe. Can you imagine what it must be like for those who don’t truly understand their fallen condition?

I was on Quora tonight, and on the home page, there are several heated arguments between theists… almost all of them Christian..and the atheists.

As a Christian, I want to point some things out about this rather common internet occurrence. Atheists are bound by nothing, but we Christians are. If atheists want to argue this all day long, forever, that is their business, and it is probably not them actually reaching out looking for God. I know this because it is the same people over and over in these arguments, and there is never any progress. They are not looking for God. They like arguing with people they consider of inferior intellect as them, with the added bonus of a large like-minded audience to applaud them. We Christians have no such luck, mainly because, we were told not to do this!!!

Let’s see what the rule book says about arguing with the atheists about faith (which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen). Faith can not exist in unity with proof. Proof removes the need to have faith.

I know there is a God. I can not prove it. If someone is really interested in knowing there is a God, they will have to go straight to Him. He made this system; He can answer those calls for proof. He gave us nothing to use as substantial, acceptable scientific proof to offer the world. And the real newsflash here is, it would not matter if we had that proof. People who do not want to believe, will not. For every evidence you might offer in support of the existence of God, the opposing side will have a reason to reject it.

What does the Bible call atheists?

Psalm 53:1  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

According to the Bible, we are born with a knowledge of God and the eternal existence of our soul, and if someone does not possess that, God considers them foolish. This does not mean Christians should look down their noses at anyone, including atheists. We may have gotten the God’s existence thing right, but that is probably the only part of our religion we can say we’ve got in the bag.

Now, let’s see what we are instructed to do about those in our lives who are biblically categorized as a “fool”:

Proverbs 18:2  A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Check out Quora, and you’ll find this true.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Christians are the one’s doing something wrong when they are not quietly holding back their opinions.

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

There is no good reason to argue with a person about God when they despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 18:6  A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

Fools like to argue, annoy, and irritate. I really do not have a good reason why, but evidentially this behavior has been around since biblical times.

Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Christians always lose these arguments because they got lured into(or, even worse, started)  a “discussion” that has only one outcome — atheists will decide they are right and you are not; you will either get your feelings hurt, your ego bruised, or something else equally not fun. You might even console yourself with the thoughts of the bully burning in hell for all eternity. Of course, none of these things accomplish the righteousness of God. Instead, they tend to always make Christians look like a bunch of hypocrites, and that hurts all of us.

The more you argue that your faith is proof that there is a God, the dumber unbelievers try to make you feel. You have to remember, the things of God are foolishness to those who are dying. We would think the same things the atheists do if we did not have the Holy Spirit basically interpreting the Word for us. So, already, you both are arguing completely different things, and since yours is based exclusively on faith, and they can not understand the things of God, this is a no-winner kind of debate.

I think it would be a good thing to remember this: you are not tasked with proving the existence of God to anyone. God is big enough to handle those kinds of human quests, and call me crazy, but I doubt the Quora atheists crowd are truly looking for the truth. The truth was written in all of our hearts, in our earth, skies, oceans, and in each other. It is rather easy to find. It just requires faith, and that is unacceptable to some people. There are no magic words that make people change their beliefs, and careless ones can actually hurt the mission of God instead of help.

 

Proverbs 26:3-12  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

By arguing the existence of God using an unbeliever’s method (folly) of reasoning, we not only do not convince them of anything about God, grace, or salvation, but we actually strengthen their confidence that they are correct, and we are wrong.

The really cool part of being sons and daughters of The King is that we are not expected to carry Him; He can handle Himself just fine in this world He spoke into existence. He came to save us, not vice versa; we will never be His savior. We could not even save ourselves.

We should, however, not cause others to stumble who are honestly our “harvest”. On the internet, your audience is huge, and the moment is never over as long as your words are in writing on a public site.

I do not mean to offend, and I have been guilty of being drawn into foolish debates myself, so I certainly am not judging anyone. I just want to point out something that some people might need to know about this form of “evangelism”.

Always remind yourself — You are not required to prove anything to anyone about your faith, your reasons for that faith, or the decisions you make because of that faith. You are answerable to God, and even if every single human on earth should disagree with you, call you a moron, or laugh in your face, that neither confirms nor disproves the existence of a God who requires us to live by FAITH.

~ Bird

 

More Fool Stuff:

Proverbs 18:7  A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 14:7-9  Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Proverbs 17:28  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

Proverbs 12:16  The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

 

Proverbs 14:16 ESV / 42 helpful votes

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

Proverbs 14:15 ESV / 31 helpful votes

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Proverbs 10:8 ESV / 28 helpful votes

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Proverbs 1:22 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 26:18-19 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 26 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 15:14 ESV / 26 helpful votes

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 25 helpful votes

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 10:14 ESV / 25 helpful votes

The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Ecclesiastes 4:5 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 9:13-17 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV / 23 helpful votes

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Romans 12:2 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Psalm 53:1 ESV / 23 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

James 2:20-24 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Proverbs 23:9 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 22 helpful votes

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Titus 3:3 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Proverbs 17:25 ESV / 21 helpful votes

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

Proverbs 14:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV / 19 helpful votes

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Proverbs 17:24 ESV / 19 helpful votes

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 15:7 ESV / 19 helpful votes

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Proverbs 10:13 ESV / 19 helpful votes

On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Psalm 107:17 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

Luke 12:20 ESV / 18 helpful votes

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Matthew 7:26 ESV / 17 helpful votes

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Luke 12:16-20 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Proverbs 17:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 10:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Proverbs 9:6-8 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 ESV / 14 helpful votes

A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

Romans 8:1-39 ESV / 13 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 ESV / 13 helpful votes

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Ecclesiastes 10:11-15 ESV / 13 helpful votes

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 13 helpful votes

A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Psalm 14:1-4 ESV / 13 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

Proverbs 19:13 ESV / 12 helpful votes

A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

Proverbs 13:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

Proverbs 10:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Proverbs 6:1-35 ESV / 10 helpful votes

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Luke 12:16-21 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Proverbs 26:1-28 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 14:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Psalm 5:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Romans 11:19-22 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Luke 15:21-22 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Luke 10:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Mark 7:21-23 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Proverbs 21:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Proverbs 14:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Matthew 23:17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

Proverbs 15:24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Romans 1:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

Psalm 37:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

James 2:25-26 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Psalm 74:18-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

1 John 4:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 3:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Isaiah 45:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Psalm 5:1-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.