How do you talk to an agnostic?

6-2-07 | Houmatt

[Houmatt]

How do you minister to someone who wants to believe in God, but doesn't?

What if they have bought into the lies of The Da Vinci Code and Holy Blood, Holy Grail?

Scripture?

[Vision]

I don’t think you are supposed to. Just do your thing, give thanks to God for it, and He should take care of the rest.

[Chi-townChief]

My dad’s pretty much agnostic and my mother was a devout Roman Catholic and it was never a real huge issue, at least as far as us kids knew. Now, my brother’s a devout Catholic and I’m a bad Catholic.

[EndWelfareToday]

Until they are open to learn you can't. God instructs us to not "cast our pearls before swine." If the person you are speaking to wants to hear you must pray with him/her and both of you come into agreement to receive only from God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in all things. Then, as being led of God you can present material (scripture, your own personal testimony, etc.) for them to consider before God but the revelations that will come from that material must come from God. You can't make them receive it.

Patience and trusting God is the only thing that will work. I can assure you that God loves the person you are worried about a lot more than you do.

[Lurker]

If someone doesn't believe in God, they're an atheist, not an agnostic.

And agnostic is someone who believes that God is unknowable but doesn't deny that God may exist.

L

[Mr. Mojo]

I know a long-married couple in the same boat — he’s agnostic and she’s a devout RC. Very happily married.

[Houmatt]

If they are questioning God's existence, they are an agnostic.

Since this person wants to believe but does not, is it not reasonable to say to them God's existence is in question?

[VOA]

There’s a plethora of books outlining the flights of fancy in Dan Brown’s
bestsellers. Some are pretty good, others so-so.
Here’s a starting point (note the similar books listed on the page):

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Vinci-Code-Questions-Everyones/dp/0785280146/ref=pd_bbs_10/105-4394904-1687614?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180802485&sr=8-10

I’ve not read Bock’s book, but I suspect it’s pretty good based
on the interviews I heard with him about the book on radio.
IIRC, he’s a faculty member at a theology school in Dallas (Dallas Theological
Seminary?) and he’s enough of a Bible scholar to hold his own in
discussing the truth worthiness of the Bible with guys like Bart Erdman
(sp?) of Univ. of North Carolina.

Brown is a good writer of popular fiction; he weaves a good tale
for liesurely reading. But a historian he ain’t.
Nor the author of any sort of sensical view of religion or truth.

[weegee]

If they have bought into the lies of the Davinci Code, then they have faith, in a false story.

Ask them why they have faith in an anti-religious conspiracy?

[kevao]

Use scare tactics, misinformation, and deception. Insult your base. Tell your friend that to believe in God is to do what is right for America.

Jesus is the pathway to citizenship in heaven. Amen.

[Mr. Mojo]

Since this person wants to believe but does not, is it not reasonable to say to them God's existence is in question?

No. You said the person doesn't believe in God, not that he questions the belief in God. Two different things entirely. The former is atheistic, the latter is agnostic.

The person in question is an atheist who desires to be either a Deist or Theist.

[Chi-townChief]

Correct.

[Mr. Mojo]

not that he questions the belief in God.

I meant to write "questions God's existence."

[Lurker]

I don't recall the author at the moment, but recommend "The Case For Christ".

L

[fporretto]

Merely live your creed, openly and sincerely. Admit any mistakes you make, and do your best to make good on them. Above all, be happy; happiness is the most attractive of all human characteristics. Nothing else has nearly as good a record of success.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Eternity Road

[tpaine]

"And agnostic is someone who believes that God is unknowable but doesn't deny that God may exist."
Lurker

Houmatt:
If they are questioning God's existence, they are an agnostic.

Agnostics do not deny/question the possibility of God's existence. They simply acknowledge that men are not smart enough to prove the issue.

Thus, you talk to an agnostic as your intellectual peer.

[Red_Devil 232]

I believe you are spot on. Let God take care of it.

[VOA]

If you want some fun while seeing some of the major tenets of
“The Da Vinci Code” get skewered...
I do highly recommend the road-show documentary “The Real Da Vinci Code”
that aired a couple of times on The Discovery Channel a year or
so ago.

Tony Robinson, who was in the British TV show “Black Adder” goes
on a roadtrip to different specific sites mentioned in “The Da Vinci Code”
and finds just bogus (as true history) a lot of the book is.
Robinson, even though he’s a comic actor, does seem to take the investigation
seriously and fair-mindedly...even being uncertain as to whether
that is John or Mary Magdalene in “The Last Supper”.

The show was funny and substantive at the same time; that’s why I
watched it twice.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460542/maindetails

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460542/usercomments

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDWLUA/imdb-adbox/

[Iscool]

God uses people to speak for Him...Ask God to show you what to say to the person...Ask God to use you to to witness to this person...

You be amazed at what comes out of your mouth while witnessing to this person...

This person may not respond favorably right now...But don’t worry about it...You have done what you could...God will do what He can...

[GoLightly]

Who brought up the subject, you or them?

[onedoug]

Guillermo Gonzalez & Jay W Richards, The Privileged Planet

[Diapason]

I think the author is Lee Strobel.

[kidd]

Would you characterize your friend as

- an apathetic agnostic (someone who doesn’t give much thought to their origin, purpose and ultimate destination)

- or as a questioning agnostic (one who is looking for answers)

- or as an angry agnostic (possibly had a bad experience in life and questions God’s motives)?

[armydoc]

I don’t think you are supposed to. Just do your thing, give thanks to God for it, and He should take care of the rest.

Yes, by all means, keep the Gospel to yourself. You might offend him. I'm sure that's what the Great Commission was all about. /sarc

Are you guys serious?

[Vision]

Yes I’m serious. What do you have to say?

[armydoc]

Yes I’m serious. What do you have to say?

I say that Jesus, in the bible, commands Christians to be vocal proponents of the Gospel. Yes, our actions strengthen our witness, but there is no substitute for overt, vocal proclamation of the Gospel. Of course, we are commanded to do this in a loving, respectful manner. Indeed, every conversion is God's work, but we are his instruments.

[Vision]

Exactly, and I don’t believe preaching to an agnostic is respectful. They’ll come around eventually or die unhappy IMO.

[armydoc]

Exactly, and I don’t believe preaching to an agnostic is respectful.

Why, exactly?

When witnessing to anyone, you have to start "where they are." In the case of an agnostic, that means affirming their belief in the possibility of the existence of God, then expanding from there. There is no reason that this can't be done respectfully.

[Vision]

I am not a pushy salesman for God.

I am a beacon of light which spreads his message.

[armydoc]

I am not a pushy salesman for God. I am a beacon of light which spreads his message.

I am not sure what that means. Do you explicitly, vocally proclaim the Gospel to non-believers?

[Vision]

I’m sorry, I’m failing to see how I can make this any more obvious.

[armydoc]

I’m sorry, I’m failing to see how I can make this any more obvious.

By replying with a simple "yes" or "no", for a start.

If you consider yourself a Christian but consider it improper to vocally proclaim the Gospel, I would submit to you that you are being disobedient. I would encourage you to pray about it. I will pray for you as well. God Bless.

[bmwcyle]

If this is a problem in your life, you need to go to more Bible study.

[Vision]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll suggest you take an inventory of your attitude and see what comes of that.

[armydoc]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll suggest you take an inventory of your attitude and see what comes of that.

Yes, it is valuable to examine one's attitude frequently. My motive was to point out an inconsistency between your actions and the directives of Scripture, with the goal of promoting obedience in a fellow Believer. You see, that is also a command found in Scripture- to hold other Believers accountable. No offense was intended. If you took offense, I apologize. God Bless.