A friend of mine recently watched the video of my interview with an atheist Joker on YouTube. He was amazed that I didn’t get upset and angry at the things he was spouting. “If it was me,” he confessed, “I’m not so sure I would have remained so calm.” I explained to him that after dealing with these types of unbelievers for many years, there isn’t much they can say that will rattle my cage.

If a blind man gave you erroneous directions, you wouldn’t seethe because you understand that he can’t see; you’d consult a map.

The Bible says “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4)

A homeless lady babbles to you some nonsense about the origins of life and explains very clearly how nothing created everything and how a gorilla is her distant cousin. Would you argue and spit? Of course not. You’d consider her pitiful condition and show her much grace, gently explaining the truth.

A toddler hollers  and screams  that he knows better than you. Wouldn’t you consider his maturity and demonstrate great patience and gentleness?

A Christian evangelist understands that a non-believer will say all kinds of silly things about God, the Bible, and how life works. He may demean you, harass you, laugh and cackle at your beliefs and the truth you profess.

So what?

Continue to speak the truth in love understanding that you, too, were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2: 1-5)

Realize anew that they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ( 1 Peter 4:5)

When confronted with that antagonistic atheist, don’t get mad, don’t answer evil with evil. Do what our Savior did when he spoke to the young, naive, clueless ruler who thought he had all the answers: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” (Mark 10:21)

Then continue to preach the Gospel.

***Next week: The real motivation of the atheists who comment on this blog and why I let them post their comments.