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God’s Not Dead: Welcoming Unbelievers
This is sermon three in our series based on a great movie about a college student who must defend his belief in God in his philosophy class.
In our first two messages about the film, we asked the questions "Where Is God When Life Falls Apart?” and “Is Our Faith Blind?”
In this message, I want to talk about how to handle doubters or unbelievers.
I believe that every christian should know how to talk to skeptics
As believers we should welcome conversations with doubters
it is questions about truth that leads people to a conviction about what is actually true.
In this message I want to present some facts and attempt to eliminate some apparent contradictions that doubters might bring up
I also think that as Christians those who know the truth that I’ve got some things to share with you about welcoming the doubters and unbelievers to conversations
The movie Gods not dead hits on some very important aspects of faith,
confronts some difficult questions that can seem almost impossible to answer but that we should all embrace. And learn how to answer these questions
sometimes we who believe can unintentionally convey the wrong attitude toward unbelievers one that may be judgmental and kind discourage them
We all need to be open-minded.
Remember, all of us were unbelivers too at one time
Maybe not in a not believing in God kind of way because I've always known the truth
But we all still needed some type of convincing proofs. In order to come to Christ
let’s look at one of greatest doubters in the New Testament and see what we can learn from him
Doubting” Thomas the Apostle.
Turn with me to
John 20:24-25
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
In this passage we read about Thomas, also called Didymus
one of the greatest questioners of all.
A man who had to have proof!
We should all respect that.
Thomas is sometimes unfairly judged because 10 witnesses testify to seeing a risen Jesus, but he will not believe them unless he has solid evidence.
He wants to be certain, taking no one’s word for it.
But when Jesus appears again and allows Thomas to touch His wounds, He does not chastise him for doubting.
John 20:26-29
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Thomas is a man who must be convinced, an admirable trait.
No one wants to “go along with the crowd” and just believe to believe.
We all want to be positive and know what’s really true, at least we should
Well, apparently Thomas was sure because he ended up dying for his faith in a risen Jesus, speared to death in India around 70 A.D.
In the movie Josh don't give up his life, but we do see what it costs him.
We also see some wonderful examples about how to graciously “give an account.”
When we are talking about our faith with doubters, there are 5 Goals you should always keep in mind.
Here’s the first:
Goal 1: Our Attitude
1 Timothy 1:5
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
the Bible makes it clear that God wants us to discuss our faith,
we need to be wise in how we do that.
It comes down to our presentation and our execution.
We want to represent Christ properly to the doubters and unbelievers
discussing sensitive topics can lead to an ugly argument if we’re not careful.
As believers, our goal should be to love the person,
not just to win an argument with clever points and information.
The goal of our instruction is love, as we see in the father’s reaction in the parable of the prodigal son
Luke 15:20
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
If you do not have that same desperate compassion, (scanning that road every day as the father did, longing for his son’s return,)
you don’t really get what Jesus was saying here about God’s love for others.
It’s critical that we are being gentle,
filled with the Holy Spirit,
demonstrating His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control etc. when discussing our faith.
No one likes a know-it-all, and it’s critical that we are gracious in sharing the gospel
If our goal is to be right, to win the debate, or show how much we know, then we’ve already lost the person.
We don’t want to win “the battle” over a minor point regarding evolution or creation and lose “the war” to love them.
remember The goal of our instruction is love.
In the movie one of the loudest critics is Professor Radisson. He is loudly and boldly opposing Josh, but Josh does a good job of restraining his emotions and not getting angry We discover later on that the professor has some deep pain that’s driving his anti-God crusade.
that can often be the case in a hurting and broken world. A lot of people have something from their past that is keeping them from coming to Christ
We need to be sensitive to their unseen hurts and compassionate to them just like the prodigal sons father was
There may be an alcohol or drug related problem in their past, a tragic death, or some other personal injury or abuse, maybe even from a church.
If we knew their pain, we’d probably be more compassionate with how they got to this point in their life.
Darwin himself is thought to have turned away from belief in God because of the death of his 10-year old daughter.
Remember it’s not an “us vs. them” situation.
We are all on the same side, we are all just captives trying to help others see evidence of Gods love and grace.
Be careful to lovingly answer their questions
Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:25
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
So remember...
• Sometimes the harder the heart someone has could mean the more pain they have so therefore more compassion is needed.
We don't want to return evil with evil just so we can win the debate
It's not about winning an argument it's about loving a lost soul and trying to win them to The Lord
Goal 2: Share the truth, not clever arguments
Romans 1:16
16 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.
This is precisely the advice that Reverend Dave gave to Josh when he accepts Professor Radisson’s challenge to defend God’s existence
Just simply share the gospel
We don’t have to know every answer to every question but we do need to know the truth
we need to know the gospel.
It’s not about being clever with facts, dates, and figures or statistics
It’s okay to know some answers to hard topical questions about origin theories and things like that
but our goal should be to love people and the most loving thing we can do is to humbly share the gospel.
As Paul says in Romans, this is God’s power for salvation.
The Bible is a weapon—the Sword of the Spirit—
We should be skilled with communicating its truths to our fellow man.
Look at Ephesians 6:17
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
It makes no difference if someone believes in the Bible or not
It’s still a sharp weapon,
just like a scalpel it can cut
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Think about pointing a loaded gun at someone and they say, “I don’t believe it’s loaded.” What they believe about the gun makes no difference.
It can still affect them.
Share the Gods word with them,
if possible have them read it out loud
But remember
God’s Word is powerful.
Use it wisely
as I've already said this isn’t just a debate or a discussion.
Eternal destinies are on the line.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
So remember...
• This is a spiritual battle, not a battle of wits.
Just share the gospel and remember to share it with love
Goal 3: Be Humble
1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Corinthians 8:1
1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Remember that we are just one beggar sharing a piece of bread with another beggar
you have nothing to boast about because it is Gods grace that saved you from your sins.
Remember what Paul said “...Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
Stay humble
It’s okay to admit that you don’t know an answer to a question
You’re human, and you don’t have to be a theologian to lovingly help others understand Gods love for them.
People will respect your humility to say that you don’t know everything.
When Professor Radisson challenges Josh with new information about Stephen Hawking’s theories, Josh says, “I don’t know...but that doesn’t change my faith in God.”
That’s brilliant! Don’t think you have to know everything to share the gospel or defend what you believe.
Just because we don’t have all the answers, doesn’t mean we don’t have enough answers to tell people the truth of the gospel
You can also use those opportunities of not knowing to promise to get them an answer, and then get back with them later on.
It’s okay not to know every answer.
Just humbly share what you do know.
Just humbly share the gospel message of Jesus Christ and him crucified
So just remember...
• You don’t have to have all the answers.
This is not to say that you shouldn’t have some answers, because they do exist.
There are lots of apologetic books and websites out there to help you with these questions.
So you should have an idea of what you believe—and why you believe it—on some basic topics like creation/evolution, the Bible, the resurrection, etc.
many famous scientists were also believers (Newton, Kepler, Pascal, Bacon, Pasteur, Kelvin, Marconi, Maxwell, Carver, Fleming, Hertz, and Von Braun, to name a few). Having a tidbit like that in your back pocket can turn a few science-heads who think science and faith are incompatible.
You can be both a brilliant scientist and still recognize intelligent design when you see it. These scientists did, and they were geniuses!
sometimes “the answer” isn’t what’s needed anyway.
Sometimes what’s needed is love
Real life has real hardships that just require real compassion and honesty.
“I don’t know why your loved ones were killed in that car crash last year, or why your loved one has cancer or this or that but I know that God loves you and gave Himself up for you”
We see this very clearly in our movie God’s Not Dead when Amy meets The Newsboys backstage she just needed to know someone cared
Sometimes folks just need to know that you care.
pray for wisdom as you’re interacting with someone.
Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see what the real need is in their life so you can demonstrate genuine concern.
remember...
• You should have some answers...a defense for the hope that is in you.
But be humble and demonstrate love
Goal 4: Be Winsome
Matthew 9:37
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Revelation 14:15
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
There is lost souls everywhere that need Jesus
It's our job to tell them but we need to be careful
Sometimes we get so excited about our salvation as believers that we just want to tell everyone how wonderful it is, shoving it down their throats,
Which is good because we need to tell others of what God has done for us
but it must be accompanied with the knowledge that not everyone is ready to believe,
so don’t tug on “green” fruit. As the old saying goes
Wait be patient
Look for opportunities to talk about your faith, but know when to move on when someone isn’t open to it
Don't push so hard that you lose them altogether
In the movie, we see several examples of the different stages of a person’s spiritual journey in the various characters,
it’s important for us to recognize these different stages of people's journey
Some people are not interested in the gospel at all and are even violently opposed to it.
Some people are not open to the truth they just want to argue, they won't accept the truth no matter what proofs are presented.
Some people are content with their life, they are not interested in church when you invite them they just say “No thanks. I’m good.” Or something like that
Some people are honestly searching for the truth about God, even someone who knows nothing about Jesus Christ.
We need to have discernment and respect for each person’s place in their spiritual journey, combined with a genuine love for them no matter what.
Goal 5: Intercede For Them
Matthew 13:18-23
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Sometimes all you can do is plant the seed it might grow it might not but plant regardless
Just share the gospel
Once you have shared the gospel with someone, remember to pray that the seed would take root and grow in their heart.
This is another way to show God’s love to them: by praying for them.
Ask yourself if there is anyone else praying for them.
If not you, then who will?
Specifically you can pray that:
• The Holy Spirit would convict them of their need for forgiveness.
• They would be reminded of the truth of the gospel
• You could develop a friendship with them and ask for divine appointments.
• Other Christians would come into their lives and show them God’s love, too.
Conclusion:
remember that Jesus Christ loves the whole world and “...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4 NASB).”
We are all in need...
we are all prisoners. It’s just that some captives have escaped and are now trying to help show their fellow prisoners the way out, too.
winning an argument is not as important as winning a friend.
Be in the Spirit as you discuss your faith and answer hard questions about the gospel with humility and gentleness, seeking to win them and not just a debate.
Remember, the goal of our instruction is love.
Let’s pray.
