Effectively Dialogue With Skeptics: Part 2

“Prove Your God Exists!”

Last week, in Part 1 of this topic, we talked about the importance of our having a right attitude when interacting with skeptics.

I reminded you to let go of the “fight” mentality when challenged on your beliefs; to instead view these encounters as God-ordained opportunities to demonstrate the truth and love of Christ.

We also talked about the need to identify whether a skeptic is genuinely interested in having a productive conversation with us — or if their intent is to simply derail our faith. (There’s no point, in my mind, for entertaining the latter. Would you try to sell a car to a person who was committed to buying a bike?) 

Lastly, we talked about the important of asking questions, to help identify why the skeptic holds his views. Is their beef really with God…or humans?

In this post, Part 2, let’s identify some of the questions skeptics tend to ask — which, by the way, you really need to study up on so that you have a thoughtful answer when they are posed to you by skeptics. Then let’s observe two sample conversations between a Christian and a skeptic, to rate the Christian’s overall effectiveness. Role-playing is a great way to learn and prepare for our own “performances.” #itjusttakespractice

~ Common Objections You Should Learn to Answer ~

So what are some of the common objections raised by skeptics? Natasha Crain does a great job of identifying a good number of them in her blog post titled 65 Apologetics Questions Every Christian Parent Needs to Learn to Answer.

Just a sample:

~What key arguments are there for (and against) God’s existence?

~Why would a good God allow evil to exist?

~How can a loving God send people to hell?

~How can Christians say Jesus is the “only” way?

~Am I good enough to go to heaven?

~Is Christianity a less intelligent worldview than atheism?

~What evidence exists outside the Bible that Jesus existed as a historical person?

~How were the books of the Bible selected?

~Does Science disprove God?

~Is Christianity “responsible” for millions of deaths throughout history?

~Why does Christianity say objective truth is the only “real” truth?

Another good place to research questions and answers is in the books and on the websites of today’s top Christian apologists. Start by perusing the weekly blog posts in this “evidence” series, based on Josh and Sean McDowell’s  revised apologetics classic, Evidence That Demands a Verdict. But also learn from apologists Ravi Zacharias, J. Warner Wallace, Frank Turek, Gary Habermas, and Natasha Crain. Nabeel Qureshi, a gifted speaker with many videos on YouTube, also authored several impactful books on witnessing to Muslims that you might find helpful. And you’ll find many short, insightful videos on Sean McDowell’s website, each offering a concrete answer to questions often raised by skeptics.

Again, as you research and become practiced with answering these questions, don’t make it your goal to “win” against skeptics. Rather, make it your goal to help them understand why your belief in Christ isn’t based on mindless, “blind faith,” but substantial, historical evidence.

Always strive to be kind, open, and gracious as you argue chat with skeptics. Prayer will help!