The way I see it: Our mission of bringing the good news of Jesus to the world is especially challenging when dealing atheists and sceptics. We can reach out, but many are angry and mean. It is not easy but we have an obligation to get the word out.
God has a goal for us: God calls on us to reach out to everyone. Some will listen and engage. Others will not. That does not change the goal. “For God so loved the world …”
Good news: Our job is to bring the good news of Jesus. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict and bring the message home. Some will hear and act. Many have come to see the truth of Jesus.
God is God: Regardless of what others may think, God is God. He is infinite and worthy of all praise.
A refusal to trust in God
It is not that atheists, agnostics and unbelievers don’t know God exists. They do. There is plenty of evidence that they ignore.
For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20
At their core, atheists refuse to believe. They are in denial and God-deniers.
- Psalm 78:22 (CSB) — 22 because they did not believe God or rely on his salvation.
- Hebrews 4:2 (CSB) — 2 For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
Why do atheists refuse to believe in God?
An atheist is a person who recognizes that God is God and he is not God, and whose pride finds this intolerable, generating a will to annihilate God. Since real revenge on God is impossible, he avails himself to an IMAGINARY REVENGE on God, which is defiant unbelief, or atheism.
Atheism, at its core, is defiance. That defiance blinds atheists. They could believe but they choose not to.
Atheists play a rhetorical game that is basically intellectually dishonest:
- Assert the burden of proof is on theists
- Demand proofs
- Reject proofs automatically
- Proclaim atheists have NO burden
- Declare victory by default
But again, it is not about proof. It is about God being God and in control. Defiance is insipid. It leads to death. Faith is a choice. Faith is logical. Faith is reasonable. Defiance is irrational.
- John 5:38 (CSB) —You don’t have his word residing in you, because you don’t believe the one he sent.
- Hebrews 3:18–19 (CSB) —And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
- Hebrews 4:2 (CSB) —For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
- Numbers 14:11 (CSB) —The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people despise me? How long will they not trust in me despite all the signs I have performed among them?
- Psalm 78:32 (CSB) —Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works.
- Acts 14:2 (CSB) —But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
A persistence in sin
Unbelievers persist in missing God’s goal for their life [sin]. They refuse to change their minds.
- Psalm 78:32 (CSB) — 32 Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works.
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 
Micheal,
Your list is spot on about atheist playbook in your statement and example.
“Atheists play a rhetorical game that is basically intellectually dishonest:”
In my opinion, atheist’s need to wise up.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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Thanks. Have blessed day!
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I once knew a person who made the comment, “I just wish I could believe.” the battle within was real. I haven’t seen them in years, I can only pray that he found that belief.
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Thanks for that. The conflict is real. We all need to double down in getting the good news message of Jesus to as many as we can.
Blessings.
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Agreed, for that is our assignment and instructions. It is not for us to keep the glorious gift of salvation and the grace of forgiveness to ourselves but to share with all.
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Atheism is a lack of belief in a god: a-no or un, theism-belief in a god. Theists are also atheists since you disbelieve in plenty of gods. So this claim of definition is no more than a lie “An atheist is a person who recognizes that God is God and he is not God, and whose pride finds this intolerable, generating a will to annihilate God. Since real revenge on God is impossible, he avails himself to an IMAGINARY REVENGE on God, which is defiant unbelief, or atheism.”
Real revenge on god is impossible since there is no god. Many Christians get upset that no one needs them aka their god. I don’t recognize any gods at all. I do recognize that theists make up what they want to force everyone to do and pretend they are god.
So, hmmm, do you have all of these characteristics toward those gods you don’t believe in? Yep.
There is no evidence for your god nor other gods. There is no evidence it is “good”. Most theists simply claim that anything they pretend this god wants or does is “good”.
I have no reason to trust in something that has no evidence for it. Most people trust in some god because they were told it was real by someone they had reason to trust. That does not mean the god exists.
Nope, it’s not defiance at all. It’s lack of evidence. Many Christians get upset because atheists defy *them*.
and more lies:
“Assert the burden of proof is on theists
Demand proofs
Reject proofs automatically
Proclaim atheists have NO burden
Declare victory by default”
The burden of proof is on theists. They make extraordinary claims so they need to support them. I have no problem in showing that their claims are wrong with evidence.
I don’t reject claims of evidence automatically. I consider them and then show how they fail.
Atheists have no burden to show some god doesn’t exist. But if we do, then Christians have the same burden to show no other gods exist. Please proceed in doing so.
I declare victory when the Christian cannot show that their god exists and that they cannot do what the bible promises all baptized believers in Christ as personal savoir can do, James 5, John 14, Mark 16.
It does bemuse me that so many Christians have no problem in breaking the commandment to not bear false witness against others and ignore their bible’s many verses on how this god hates lies and liars. Romans 3 even says that thinking you lying for this god’s benefit is a no-no.
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Atheism is defiance and rebellion. You well described their intellectually dishonest arguments. It may be a myth to think that atheists are rational.
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Correctly stated Frank…atheists all have “little gods” whether it be fame or fortune. Many of the writer’s doubts have an answer in scripture. Luke 16:23 discusses a religious man’s plight after death. John 6:44 is no less than amazing as is 1 Cor: 1:18. Atheists desire to “test” Adoni despite the admonition against it and then complain when believers who are currently in fleshly bodies also stumble. Exodus is packed full of these reminders. Recall the conversation between the two men who hung on crosses next to Yeshua. Only one of the two believed in the power and the promise of resurrection. If the Torah were taught in churches, practiced by parents & passed onto their children, few would give false testimony or break any of the covenantal laws for that matter. Despite the judgements presented by atheists, who can see the heart of a man, except for God…as noted in Matthew 7:21-23? Every sentient person makes a free-will selection and no choice is a choice.
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I’ve seen these descriptions you given of atheists and skeptics both online and during my college campus evangelism
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