Tactic of the Non-Believer
It is imperative to know what you believe so you can better defend our Lord Jesus Christ. We must always defend Christ not argue Christ. The non-believing are curious about the Christian belief. You may be given the first opportunity to plant the first seed of faith in the Lord.
How many times have you been confronted by a non-believer about your belief? The hostility they display may not be hostility at all. It might be a true confusion about what Christians believe. This makes it imperative to knowing what you believe so you can better defend our Lord Jesus Christ. You see in the world we live in Christ has gotten lost in the shuffle of the other world religions. Not much different than what Joanna had to confront in her times.
These other world religions have incorporated Christ into their religions in many different ways. Unfortunately many churches have allowed this to happen thinking it is for the best of all. Maybe it is best for all but it is not best for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No wonder so many people are confused in what they believe and because it is changing so often. We need to stay focused on what the real Jesus Christ is and not what is being fed to us.
The first thing we as believing practicing Christians have to do is be prepared for questions. The unbelieving must be confused in how to even begin to ask questions. So there are other tactics they use to reach out to have their questions answered.
First comes a curiosity: This is usually some little comment like “Why do you believe in such a silly concept” or maybe “what you believe is totally beyond me.” If there is a curiosity by someone claiming to be an unbeliever then it is possible that the Holy Spirit is working in that person. That is why it is best for the unbeliever to come to you.
If you respond to this first encounter you will be surprised with the comeback. Whatever you say will be a shock to the non- believer and they will attack, or taunt whatever you say. Keep this in mind and be cautious what you do say. Make sure you can defend your response. It is also good to remember you may be planting the first seed of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It does help to remember to say little with greater impact than a lot with no impact. You will find that long drawn out answers will not be remembered. Short answers can penetrate to the heart and there is a chance that once they are along then the words can be used by the LORD God to speak to that person. Your attitude should be, “not by my words, but by Your words O Lord.”
Next comes a taunting: You might hear something on the lines “I thought you were smarter than to believe in such a fairy tale” or “No one knows for sure that there is even a God, but if you want to believe such a silly notion go ahead.” Again don’t get discouraged and repeat their taunting. Remember if they are contacting you then there must be an interest. They are trying to make you angry or discouraged so you will go away. You may be the only person who is willing to share your faith in Jesus Christ with them. Please remember to defend Jesus Christ not the church, the laws of man, the belief of man, or the traditions of man. Keep on the subject of the LORD GOD or Jesus Christ. We are after all Christians, not Churchians, or Manians, not even Traditionians.
We must always defend Christ. Arguing is not going to gain anything for you or for the non-believer. You have nothing to prove to anyone. The name of this exercise is defending our Lord. The same rote words that we have heard for years, true as they are, is not going to satisfied someone who really does have questions. Memorization helps you remember for a non-believer it will note even empress them. You must live the Word of the Lord not just memorize it.
Luke 9:26 informs us; “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Romans 1:16 is also encouraging when it tells us what Paul said; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Then comes a mocking: Here you might hear something in the lines of “There has been so many people mislead my religions you are really stupid for being one of these people” or “As a professing Christian are you claiming you are the responsible for all the wars started in the name of Christianity?”
This is not the time to show anger or to defend what has happened in the past by a group of men. Simple state it wasn’t Christ who started the wars it was man. Just tell them you will not defend the actions of men. You would rather talk about the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where so many people get caught by the non-believers who want you to have to defend man, not Christ. Our being an example is our first witness.
Then comes the questions: Those non-believers who have lasted this long usually will start with the questions they really want to know. It may sound like they are being unreasonable in their questionings but everyone has a right to ask those question. We as believing and practicing Christians probably had questions also that were answered to our ability to understand. If these questions were not asked and answered we would not be where we are now.
Try answering a non-believing person questions with answers they can understand. Try avoiding the usual pat answers that are always given and really listen to the non-believer questions then find the answer in the Bible and not the emotional statements that are always said. If theses usual pat answers would have worked for the non-believers in the past then they would not still have questions.
If the mocking continues, or the questions become un-rational, or the answer from the Bible is ridiculed then it is time to walk away. This type of person really isn’t interested in the Word of God they are probably just trying to get you down. There is a time to walk away and this would be that time. You have to evaluate the honesty and sincerity of the person on a one on one basis. Those who are not really interested will show their hand and not be able to endure the answer found in the Bible because the Bible speaks for its self.
If you are answering their questions with your emotions; then they have you exactly where they want you, confused and emotional. Stick to the Word of God they are good enough and easy enough for people who want to know and want to discover the love of God through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:26-27).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Tactic of the Non-Believer: .” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1474,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “Tactic of the Non-Believer: .” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1474,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Tactic of the Non-Believer: .” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1474, (accessed).
