We Must Reach Them Where They Are

If you Google “confrontational evangelism” you’re going to come up with a lot of results. I want to share with you my definition of confrontational evangelism. It would probably be more in line with apologetics, which is defending the Christian faith. Most Americans, including those who call themselves Christian, are very confused biblically.

There are too many reasons to explain the Biblical confusion in America, but it can be narrowed down to secular humanism which spreads itself through the teaching of evolution, human supremacy, political correctness, and socialism. In a word, they’ve been lied to, primarily through our public education system and the mainstream media.

Another culprit in deceiving the masses is ecumenism, which is basically trying to find the good in all religions. One of the most famous document this movement has produced is the recent Manhattan Declaration. I refused to sign this document at the great protests of many of my readers, so I explained my reasons why in a blog post.

All this is by way of introducing the method I use when confronting the lies about Christianity many people hold. Many people do not even believe in God or at least doubt it. How would you confront someone who denies or doubts the existence of God? Should we even try?

In his book, Hard Case Witnessing: Winning “Impossibles For Christ, James R. Spencer writes:

    If we are to reach American secularists, we will have to confront their doubts about the very existence of God. It is pointless to talk to them about Jesus, the Son of a God they don’t believe in. How interested can they be in exploring Bible verses if they do not believe in a God who spoke through the prophets? We must reach them where they are. If secularists are to be reached with the message of Christ, they must first become convinced that God exists and that He expects something of them. We will reach the secularist when we confront him or her logically about the evidence for God’s existence.

By now you may be frustrated or intimidated because you know that you are ill-equipped to confront the atheist or agnostic. Of course you know that there are many great resources to help you, but how about if I start you out with the Bible first?

First understand that God will allow someone to reject knowledge of Him so that they will not embrace the Truth:

    “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting…” (Romans 1:28)

Second, we must understand that many people today do not even care to think about God. They believe in themselves, so why would they need God?

    “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

Third, there are those, known as atheists, who boldly proclaim that there is no God:

    “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1)

The Bible calls the atheist a fool! You must keep that in mind without actually sharing that with an atheist, at least not in the beginning.

Fourth, before someone can see his or her need for a Savior, he or she must fear judgment for their sin:

    “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil.” (Psalm 36:1-4)

WOW! That passage packs a punch, too much to cover right now, but it lets you see what you are facing with the atheist.

Finally, and the point we most fear, is that most non-believers revel in mocking our beliefs, especially when we suffer:

    “As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me, while they say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:10)

Just a couple of more verses that deal with those who scoff at our faith. First, understand that they come with the territory:

    “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts…” (2 Peter 3:3)

If you don’t wrap your brain around the truth from the Apostle Peter, you’re going to be knocked out of the ring with this sucker punch. Most Christians can’t take this first punch and walk away bloodied and beaten, all the while the Bible warned them it was coming.

First of all, do not try to convince the scoffer or get into a debate. It never ends up good:

    “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you…” (Proverbs 9:7-8a)

And it’s important to understand that your efforts to rebuke a scoffer will go unheeded:

    “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” (Proverbs 13:1)

Let me bring this to a close; it is important to remember that the human secularist, regardless his or her spiritual beliefs, is a prideful person who believes in his or her own goodness:

    “A proud and haughty man—‘Scoffer’ is his name; he acts with arrogant pride.” (Proverbs 21:24)

So that is just a quick look at what we are up against. So how do we actually confront them?

We’ll look at that tomorrow.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers

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