I'm thinking maybe some of the best apologetics with regards to atheists may be "caught" more than "taught".
For 10 years, and admittedly not of my own choosing, my executive assistant was an atheist lesbian Jew. From the moment she found out I was a Christian, she was relentless in her mocking of (she used a word not approved of on Tweb due to blasphemy).
I just decided to continue to be professional, courteous, and "Christian". She never missed an opportunity to flaunt her lesbianism or to bash Christ. She was in charge of arranging our annual Christmas party, which she tried her best to change to "Holiday Party", but the owners wouldn't allow that.
LONG story short, I treated her with courtesy and respect, and, eventually, I endured an episode where my son-in-law to be was diagnosed with cancer. Sharon (not her real name) was compassionate about this, realizing this was not the time to be combative, and often asked how things were going. I ended up performing the wedding for my daughter and the young man, knowing his cancer was terminal, and the "til death do you part" part was really hard for me to say during the vows. 30 days after marrying them, I buried him. Sharon was paying particular attention to my handling of this whole saga.
Amazingly, during this same time, Sharon's sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was a Jewish funeral out of state, else I might have attended just to support Sharon.
When she got back from family leave, Sharon came into my office and closed the door. She asked, "what if you're right and I'm wrong?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, but she continued.. "about the Jesus thing".
I explained that if I am wrong about Jesus, then I will have lived a pleasant life, loving family, avoiding a lot of ugliness, and die in peace, apparently dissolving into nothingness, or "whatever" -- no regrets. IF, however, SHE were wrong.... and she interrupted "then I'm in a hell of a lot of trouble".
I don't know that she has taken that any further, or thought much more about it, but I do know that I had an opportunity to witness to her that I never would have had if I had "taken the bait" and "battled" her antagonism and hostility.
I don't discount AT ALL the admonition from scripture to "always be ready to give an answer...." -- in fact, it's a fundamental part of my approach to witnessing. But at some point, there has to be "fertile ground" to plant the seed, and it's amazing to me how the Holy Spirit prepares the soil.
For 10 years, and admittedly not of my own choosing, my executive assistant was an atheist lesbian Jew. From the moment she found out I was a Christian, she was relentless in her mocking of (she used a word not approved of on Tweb due to blasphemy).
I just decided to continue to be professional, courteous, and "Christian". She never missed an opportunity to flaunt her lesbianism or to bash Christ. She was in charge of arranging our annual Christmas party, which she tried her best to change to "Holiday Party", but the owners wouldn't allow that.
LONG story short, I treated her with courtesy and respect, and, eventually, I endured an episode where my son-in-law to be was diagnosed with cancer. Sharon (not her real name) was compassionate about this, realizing this was not the time to be combative, and often asked how things were going. I ended up performing the wedding for my daughter and the young man, knowing his cancer was terminal, and the "til death do you part" part was really hard for me to say during the vows. 30 days after marrying them, I buried him. Sharon was paying particular attention to my handling of this whole saga.
Amazingly, during this same time, Sharon's sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was a Jewish funeral out of state, else I might have attended just to support Sharon.
When she got back from family leave, Sharon came into my office and closed the door. She asked, "what if you're right and I'm wrong?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, but she continued.. "about the Jesus thing".
I explained that if I am wrong about Jesus, then I will have lived a pleasant life, loving family, avoiding a lot of ugliness, and die in peace, apparently dissolving into nothingness, or "whatever" -- no regrets. IF, however, SHE were wrong.... and she interrupted "then I'm in a hell of a lot of trouble".
I don't know that she has taken that any further, or thought much more about it, but I do know that I had an opportunity to witness to her that I never would have had if I had "taken the bait" and "battled" her antagonism and hostility.
I don't discount AT ALL the admonition from scripture to "always be ready to give an answer...." -- in fact, it's a fundamental part of my approach to witnessing. But at some point, there has to be "fertile ground" to plant the seed, and it's amazing to me how the Holy Spirit prepares the soil.
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