Listening to Young Atheists: Lessons for a Stronger Christianity
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that struck me when I read the article was the people interviewed acted like all there was the one church they attended. Like Phil. He loved his old youth pastor. When he left he abandoned the church because the pastor was a “rock star” among other things…well, how about you go to another church? The real problem is Phil never had faith in Jesus Christ caused by a realization that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. Instead, he was looking for a “philosophy club” that met once or twice a week so he could feel smart.
Hopefully, as adults, these people will again seek Jesus Christ.
They felt their churches offered superficial answers to life’s difficult questions
When our participants were asked what they found unconvincing about the Christian faith, they spoke of evolution vs. creation, sexuality, the reliability of the biblical text, Jesus as the only way, etc. Some had gone to church hoping to find answers to these questions. Others hoped to find answers to questions of personal significance, purpose, and ethics. Serious-minded, they often concluded that church services were largely shallow, harmless, and ultimately irrelevant. As Ben, an engineering major at the University of Texas, so bluntly put it: “I really started to get bored with church.”
Yeah, that makes total sense. It’s also why I think that a site like SharperIron is helpful - because it challenges me to think deeper and work through things instead of just buying whatever was told me in school or in a pulpit.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Why did these serious minded students not pursue information outside of the church service? They could have read books from the Christian bookstore, asked the pastor questions, etc.
The article never answers these questions.
The part about non-believers not respecting a Christian who doesn’t witness to them was particularly convicting. I have always been nerdy, and I am glad to hear the testimony of an atheist who appreciated the passion and knowledge his youth pastor demonstrated to the teens. My own youth group activities trend very heavily towards doctrine. I have been told I need to be more fun. I understand where they’re coming from, but we must never sacrifice substance for style. Nobody I have spoken to has advocated that position, but it is a very real danger with teen youth ministry.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
…I thought the entire article was twaddle. Seeking something true from a bunch of liars that have willingly and knowingly accepted a lie as the foundation for their life philosophy, thought patterns, and decision making is moronic at the outset.
“…That which may be known of Him is CLEARLY SEEN…”
Jim’s dismissal, someone not being “authentic” (whatever that means), or a lack of deeper communication (intellectualism) in approach to faith, or whatever has not driven anyone to atheism. Not old atheists; not these new young atheists. And no amount of intellectual repartee’ will open their eyes to the truth of Christ. These presented in this article represent the oldest pagan idolaters in the world—they idolize their own minds. There isn’t anything new under the sun.
You want to combat old or new atheism? Stick with the absolute truth. If the truth of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot change a person then intellectual depth, more authenticity, etc., won’t help either.
Lee
Maybe because they were convinced that those avenues didn’t have answers either.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
I understand what you’re saying. I just took the article as further confirmation of the great need for churches to return to the Bible in their church!
I believe we can agree that it is God who saves, not man. We pray for the Holy Spirit to soften people’s hearts, and turn them from willful rebellion to submission to God.
Far from idolizing intellectualism, I simply took it as a sign that God’s word, preached unashamedly and unapologetically, is the only thing which can turn the hearts of sinners to Christ. Not “programs.” Not dynamic personalities. Just the word, faithfully preached. It is was particularly revealing that one young man admitted he appreciated Bible teaching. The very thing an unbeliever respects is what some modern churches seek to jettison. The irony …
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
I thought it was an interesting article. Very enlightening and convicting. I get Lee’s point, but I think he is over-thinking it. I see the article as merely re-stating what these atheists told the author’s organization. It may be illogical and based on lies, but that is their viewpoint. I think they are worth paying attention to because it can give insight into the state of the church and how we can reach them.
Interesting these atheists didn’t say anything about how important it was to them that a Christian was Relevant or Cool.
No, at the end of the day what mattered to them was that the Christian was Real and Genuine, that they lived their life based on Biblical convictions.
I firmly believe that when it comes to churches, most people really don’t care if the church building is the latest and greatest or if the church uses the latest hip CCM music, has a rock star pastor, or has a church clown/mime worship team. What people from the outside want to know is will they be loved or will they be judged. They want to know if they are respected and appreciated - the kind of things Jesus did to people such as the woman at the well. He simply loved and appreciated her as a person and she turned to Him.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I believe all this talk about the need for Christians to be “Relevant” is over-rated.
If these individuals at one time claimed or professed to be believers, they are now apostates are they not? They have rejected God’s Word, rebelled against Christ, and exalted self over God. The Bible instructs believers how to react and respond to such individuals and also tells us how God will judge them if they do not repent.
Not all atheists are apostates, but it sounds like the ones interviewed might be in the apostate category. There are plenty of people who are not apostates who attempt to teach and warn us of similar shortcomings in our churches who we can and should listen to. These are not those people. If I’m missing something in the Bible, I’m sure someone will point that out, but I do not see anywhere that we should heed the advice of apostates when it comes to determining how we should “do” church or Christianity.
The article states,
If churches are to reach this growing element of American collegiate life, they must first understand who these people are, and that means listening to them.
We have the Bible that helps us understand who these people are. I agree, we might need to listen to them in order to guide our approach to them, but we don’t need to listen to them in order to understand who they are.
It never hurts to listen to the people we have been called to reach, particularly if they “used to be one of us.” It is a shame to spend lots of time answering questions they aren’t asking, and to do so simply because we think we know more than they do about why they don’t believe.
Larry wrote,
It is a shame to spend lots of time answering questions they are asking, and to do so simply because we think we know more than they do about why they don’t believe.
Yes, it would be a shame. Who advocates the mentality and approach that you described in that sentence?
Whether they’re apostates or were never of us misses the entire point.
The point was that their churches, homes, or support systems failed. They brought hard questions to bear and found that we were unable to defend what we believed. If you can’t articulate a defense for why you do things - and this is a reason why I’m passionate about the music standards - then what are you going to do when your kid (either your own kid or someone in the church) comes to you and tells you that homosexuality is biological? Or that women should have the right to abort their children because the father left them when she got pregnant? Or why God killed all of those people in the tornadoes a couple weeks ago?
Yes, we can write them off or blame their parents or their Bible version or whatever. But at the end of the day, not “being able to give an answer for the hope that lies within us” is disobedience to God’s command. Being able to do that might have saved some of these adults from the moral darkness that they wander in now. That’s something we can and should learn from; “Be quiet and believe what I taught you” accomplishes nothing…not in today’s world.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Whether they’re apostates or were never of us misses the entire point.
I know that was not the point of the article.
what are you going to do when your kid (either your own kid or someone in the church) comes to you and tells you that homosexuality is biological? Or that women should have the right to abort their children because the father left them when she got pregnant? Or why God killed all of those people in the tornadoes a couple weeks ago?
I’m going to tell them the truth.
Yes, we can write them off or blame their parents or their Bible version or whatever.
They should not be written off nor should we blame their parents or Bible version.
“Be quiet and believe what I taught you” accomplishes nothing…not in today’s world.
I do not ascribe to that tactic.
Who advocates the mentality and approach that you described in that sentence?
People who think we shouldn’t listen to unbelievers to find out their reasons for not believing so that we can address them.
It may be that you were highlighting my typo which was confusing. I have corrected it above to read, “It is a shame to spend lots of time answering questions they aren’t asking, and to do so simply because we think we know more than they do about why they don’t believe.”
[Jay]According to them, the atheists. Maybe they failed themselves, their family and church if not God’s provision of truth.If I am going to side with any group it will be imperfect believers and not imperfect and unregenerate atheists. I will listen to their protests as all good believers should give all people a hearing but it seems rather obvious many are happy staying rooted in their claims of others failing them than finding resolution. But to those who say the church cannot give an answer to its faith, in the age of the internet such claims by young atheists are dubious.Whether they’re apostates or were never of us misses the entire point.
The point was that their churches, homes, or support systems failed
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