Engaging with atheists: using the Bible

This is an extract from the recently published Engaging with Atheists.

One of our key principles I want to impress upon readers is that we want to give people the word of God—that means the Bible.

I like to challenge some of my atheist/agnostic friends as to what kind of agnostic they are. I point out that there is intelligent agnosticism and that there is dumb agnosticism. In order to explain the difference, I ask them to imagine that I am sitting in my living room, watching Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the European Cup Final.

The doorbell rings and it’s a complete stranger who asks me: “Do you know your house is on fire?”. I reply that I don’t know. I am agnostic about it. A dumb agnostic in that situation says: “I don’t know and I don’t care”. An intelligent agnostic says: “I don’t know, but it’s a pretty big deal if my house burns down, especially with me in it, so even though I don’t know you, and I am more than a little suspicious of you, I will go and investigate”. Likewise, you can encourage your atheist/agnostic friends to investigate. Perhaps by reading a book you give them, perhaps by going to something like Christianity Explored or Alpha, or perhaps by simply going to church with you.

But one of the best things to do is one-to-one personal Bible study. Why not ask your friend to read a particular passage and then meet them for a drink and discussion? Or perhaps even better, why don’t a group of you—Christians and non-Christians—meet for open discussion on the issues raised?

Here are some suggested passages that I have found especially useful in opening up the issues that trouble atheists and agnostics.

Ecclesiastes

This may seem a little unusual but I have found this to be one of the best books to start people with. Why? Because it is perfect for postmoderns who are searching for meaning and just “can’t get no satisfaction”.

I remember a drug addict, P, who started coming to church. I gave her Ecclesiastes to read, and she came back the following week with a great summary: “Man, that was totally amazing. I didn't know that all that was in the Bible—it’s like Kurt Cobain on speed!” I would suggest you get a good commentary (and listen to a helpful series of sermons on the book) so that you get a firm grasp of it. I love T. M. Moore’s Ecclesiastes: Ancient Wisdom When All Else Fails. Then just simply do one chapter of Ecclesiastes at a time together. Always ask about the passage: What is it saying? What did Solomon find meaningless? What hope is offered or what hope can you think of? What would make this meaningful?

Selected Psalms

I always love to introduce the Psalms as the songbook Jesus knew and used. They are wonderfully contemporary, mingling human emotion and biblical theology in poetic form, bringing some of the great questions we all face to the surface. Psalms 8,14, 19 and 51 are all good to think about.

The Gospel of Luke

We are to tell people the story of Christ. Luke’s Gospel knocks on the head from the very beginning the idea that it is just about myth. It is a very accessible book for modern Western (and Eastern and Southern) people. Asking someone to read a chapter of Luke per week and meeting with them to discuss that chapter—even for 30 minutes—is so worthwhile.

Colossians

Colossians is the letter for atheists! Or at least you can read and discuss it as that. It was written to a church which had to deal with false philosophies and religions. It does not present us with just another philosophy, but rather, with Christ as the antidote to all human philosophies. It also allows you to discuss some of the practical implications of Christian teaching—not least in the areas of family, work (and slavery) and church.

More suggestions for Bible passages to open up and discuss are in the book -- plus plenty of practical advice on how to share the good news with all kinds of atheist, and not be trapped into fruitless arguments.