Debating or Discussing your faith?

I was somewhat surprised to receive a comment from an atheist to the post yesterday. This blog is obviously open for anyone to read and I’m glad so many have taken an interest in reading it.

To be honest, I didn’t know the person was an atheist. However, I was curious about the phrasing of the response to my post about my son and his Tourette’s. I wondered about the responder. I found his blog on wordpress and read a few of his postings. While I don’t agree with him, I can understand a bit more of the person behind the response and why he might have asked the question he did. Unlike some atheists with whom I’ve attempted to dialogue, I will say to his credit that it does appear that sisyphus is NOT one who typically chooses to reply with vile and anger.  

[His blog “name” is sisyphus fragment. For those of you who may not be familiar with Sisyphus, he was the character in Greek mythology who was condemned to roll a rock up a hill. Of course, the catch was that the rock would roll right back down to the bottom of the hill so he had to repeat the process for eternity. ] 

So – I suppose here is the question – Should a Christian “debate” an atheist? In the strictest definition of the word, I’m going to respond no. (The word originally meant “to beat.”) That may surprise some people, but I don’t think that is a good use of anyone’s time. An atheist and a Christian have two completely different worldviews.

The biggest example is when a Christian will want to quote from Scripture while the atheist denies its validity. It is an arguement that is circular. [That being said, if this is your calling, go for it. I simply don’t think most are called or equipped in that direction.]

So – Let’s ask another question: Can a Christ follower have a discussion with an atheist? I think the answer to that should be yes. The reason I say “should be” is that there can be a very fine line between discussion and debate.

In debate, I think people want to see a “winner.” In a discussion, there is an exchange of ideas and information. I consider it to be a blessing to discuss things with other people. I know I grow when I have to take things to a deeper level or I am exposed to thoughts that I hadn’t considered before.

That’s why I am a part of Lay Renewal and why I love to discuss faith issues.

The crux of LRM’s ministry for 55 years has been to tell faith stories about the reality of Jesus Christ in the lives of people who follow His path. There isn’t anything “magical” or mysterious. It’s simply the stories of individuals who have changed lives as a result of following Christ.

If I’m discussing faith with another Christ follower and we share a passage of Scripture, I may grow from that person’s insight or experience. If we talk about something that has happened in our lives and how our faith made a difference, we may both be blessed and encouraged to persevere.  

It does NOT mean we are perfect. It does NOT mean we know the answer to every question.

It DOES mean that we believe God does know the answer. It DOES mean that if we persevere in seeking that answer, we will come to a point of understanding. It may not be the way we anticipated (or even like), but we will find an answer.

What’s the bottom line?

Keep discussing your faith. Don’t be afraid to answer questions but don’t argue in circles either. If a Christian OR an atheist asks a question about faith, answer from the Word. That is our foundation for faith and practice. If someone does not share that same foundation, talk to them as best you can. Share why it is your foundation and how it makes a difference.

Just remember to pray and speak in love.

God changed your heart. It is up to Him to change another’s.

Yours in Christ,

Marty

Worldview

Looking up the definition of “worldview” on Merriam-Webster on-line, I found a link to the word “weltanschauung” and the definition of “a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint.”

Why do I look up word definitions? I like to be precise and, to be really honest, I get bored using the same words. Therefore, I enjoy looking up a word and clicking on the thesaurus to get a better understanding of all of its possible nuances.

So? What’s up with the word “worldview?”

It gets tossed around rather frequently. The basic sense from a Christian worldview perspective invites the connotation that it is the filter through which we process life. Whether we are considering family, politics, friends, work or whatever, we use this to make sense of or sort out decisions.

How do we develop this worldview? Obviously our worldview is developed by our family history, environment and a number of extenuating factors. However, a Christian should bring all things back to the Word of God – the Bible. Because we live in a fallen world, we need to go back to something we can trust as inerrant – free from error. Emotions are a part of who we are as God has designed us. If we do not base our Christian worldview on the Word, we will be prone to error.

Why do I state that? Simply ask someone you know there opinion about the weather. Objectively, one could respond by stating the facts (72 degrees / raining). Most people don’t answer that way. Most choose to answer subjectively. That’s where we get into a bit of a sticky wicket. 

“It’s hot.” 105 is hot to me. 90 is hot to a resident of Duluth, MN. “It’s cloudy.” To a resident of Arizona, five clouds could mean “cloudy.” To a resident of Seattle, that might mean the sun is not visible.

Because I believe the Bible is without error, I believe it is an objective source for guidance and direction. While certain things may not be specifically addressed (blogging for example), the principles contained therein are instructive for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. If we don’t understand a passage, we must seek to interpret it with other Scripture. Another option is to speak with a pastor who is firmly grounded in the Word.

What’s your worldview? Is it a Christian worldview? How was it created? How is it being shaped? Can you say that you base your decisions on God’s Word?

I’d like to encourage you to do a bit of introspection in order to reflect on those questions. Let me know what you think.

Yours in Christ,

Marty