Atheism and Witnessing

Over at the National Review Online, Michael Novak pens an interesting article about sympathizing with atheists as being the focus of much ridicule, being a minority among a "Christianized" society.  The base of the article states that some of our witnessing seems to make atheists feel inferior and even belittled.  Novak notes:

"These sturdy atheists taught me some things I had been insufficiently aware of. One said he hated being told by Christians, sometimes standing uninvited at his own door, that his atheism was inadequate, even inferior. Another found the smugness and condescension of believers "insufferable," and told me I should not have used that word of atheists until I had experienced the "insufferable" Christian version myself."

As Christians we need to we aware of the need to witness while also not belittling other people.  Novak notes the command believers have to "go witness" and balancing this with love and rational dialog.

Rather, discussing with atheists their worldview with our own should be done on a rational and gentlemanly basis.  Novak mentions some of the philosophical challenges to the atheistic worldview that some may note is similar to the argument that some in the reformed circles have been using in their challenge to atheism.

Some become extremely sensitive to offending atheists that they fail to witness.  In my mind, there are two ways for you to fail in witnessing.  The first is to not witness at all.  The second is to witness unlovingly. 

Novak is correct in his assessment that some Christians do belittle those who disagree with them.  Here are some thoughts in avoiding such belittling.

1.  Acknowledge that some people who disagree with you are intelligent men/women you respect.  I, for instance, love David Hume and believe him to be one of the greatest philosophical minds produced in the last 300 years.  I, though, disagree with Hume on substantial issues.  

2.  Never call someone names or make someone feel inferior.  The Gospel is controversial enough that it does not need our "help". 

3.  Show love more than just intellectual discourse.  Reach out to people and develop a relationship even if they never come to know the Lord.  Jesus was in the relationship business and we should model this as well.

4.  Be patient.  Surveys I have read say that it takes people at least 5 times to hear the Gospel before they come to know the Lord.  Now, while I doubt this statistic I do not doubt that salvation does not come on one or two discussions about God.

Novak's column ends with this statement:

"In previous generations, Americans have tacitly agreed that pluralism is best protected by remaining silent about profound differences in conviction. Today, pluralism needs a new set of protections: civil, reasoned conversation about much that divides us, so that fears of one another might be diminished, and enduring respect for one another come to flower."

Novak's statement that the best things for society is to have a civil, reasoned conversation about what divides us.  We should not be afraid to witness but we should be afraid of becoming uncivil and unreasoned in our conversation.