STOP debating Atheists and Unbelievers! Take Back Your Religion Board!

My friend, you are deeply mistaken about this. You are not only acting illogically but against what scripture clearly teaches. There are at least four possible benefits from debating atheists: 1) It is possible for even hardcore atheists to convert. While it is not likely, we are not to just give in; that ignores what Christ clearly teaches. Of course, there are some where there would be no point in debating. It would not be wise to debate someone who is hurling insults; that wouldn't help anyone. But, as long as the atheist is civil, the debate would be extremely valuable. 2) We may plant a seed. If we truly win the debate in the mind of our opponent, that may make them question what they believe. If we can simply plant a seed of doubt, that seed may later come to fruition. 3) Debating also sharpens ourselves. If we are trained by debating highly knowledgeable atheists, we will be ready to answer the same questions from an interested agnostic. 4) If we truly show how the case for Christ is much better than the case against Him, we may influence those who watch the debate. Many people have converted to Christianity after watching a Christian vs atheist debate. It is an important part of evangelism to smash every obsticle in front of the gospel that may cause others to question the faith. On the otherhand, after watching your debates with atheists, perhapse you should stop debating them. You are not demolishing their arguments, nor are you making the superior case for the gospel clear. If you walk into such a debate unprepared, you may accomplish the opposite of the goal. 1 Peter 3:15 Tells us to give an answer or a reason for what we believe to anyone who asks us. This includes logic, history, science and anything else we can use to defend the faith. Of course, this requires study, but that is a study we are commanded to do. Mark 16:15-16 Is not scripture. This passage was added later by a well-meaning scribe, but it was not written by Mark. It was added later and contradicts other scriptures. I want to know what Mark wrote, not what someone else thought Mark should have written. "Notice, it does "NOT" require YOU to prove anything!" My friend, you do not have the correct attidude. Even if we are not told to prove our case directly, that does not mean we should not try. This sounds like you are trying to justify your own laziness by not giving a reasoned defense. You are waiting on God to explicitly tell you what you should do when you should already know what do. We are commanded to give such a defense in 1 Peter 3:15. Also, there are other passages that teach that we should debate, but you did not quote them. Just because those passages that you quoted do not explicitly teach this (except for 1 Peter), it does not mean other passages do. Thank you for perhapse the worst explanation of "deny yourself" that I have ever heard. In fact, this means pretty much the exact opposite of what you twisted it to mean. Denying oneself should NEVER be interpreted to mean deny other people. Denying ouselves means to let go of earthly desires in order to serve God. Part of serving God is giving a reasoned defense to those who do not believe. You are ignoring the commandment of God. You seek to justify your laziness while you deny both atheists and God. "You are not your own? Do you have rights based on this statement? Can you choose what denomination you will belong to? Can you pick how you will worship? Can you declare which denomination is right, which is Wrong? Do you see the error of YOUR WAY!" While we certainly belong to God after we have surrendered ourselves to Him, this should not be taken to mean we have no free will. Your lack of willingness to defend the gospel of Christ is evidence that we can resist God. "According to Ezekiel 3. 18 When I say to a wicked person,"You will surely die," and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself." This proves exactly the opposite of your case. When we try to dissuade other people, we use every means necessary. If you are not fully studying the reasons to believe the gospel, you cannot full dissuade other people from rejecting it. "What not to share: that which is for YOU and you alone! All are aware that little of the Bible is for the unbeliever, why then do you share it with them? You were i structed not to do thisfor very reasonable purposes .... they MOCK the Holy Word! Is this not what God told you would happen?" That statement legitimately shocked me because it is so evil. The entire Bible and all of its revealed truth is for ALL people, not just a few elect. All people are called unto salvation by the gospel since the gospel is given to all. It is simply up to us whether we may take it. Are you actually suggesting that we should actually withold God's truthfrom unbelievers? If so, you are an obsitcle to the spread of the gospel, and I would even question your own faith. You also assume that all atheists mock the word of God, but this is not true. Many atheists are respectful of what we believe and are respectful of the reasons we have for it. "Consider what is the point of accepting debates with the atheists and unbelievers? They exist on this board to mock you, nothing more. They have no grasp of the Holy Word, you will simply exhaust yourself with one who by command cannot understand!" Purhapse they mock YOU after the kind of arguments that you tend to use, but I have debated plenty of respectful atheists. There is a point where we should not bother trying, but that point tends to be way too easy to reach for you. "you will simply exhaust yourself with one who by command cannot understand!" That statement is also evil. You mean exhaust ourselves like Paul did? Of course that requires actually denying ourselves which you seem unwilling to do. God does not command anyone not to understand. We are hardened by ourselves, so the blame does not fall on God. Not ONCE in scripture did God harden anyone so that they may not be saved. All that we hardened were hardened for a different purpose. Isaiah 6:9 He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Why did God command the hardening of Israel? Was it so that they would not be saved? Of course not! Romans 11:1,11,20,25-26 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!... So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.... That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.... Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved... They were hardened for ther unbelief, not because God rejected them before the foundation of the world. They were blinded that they may fall, but in order to bring about the greater purpose of salvation to all people. They were also hardned so that when the gentiles came in, Israel might be jealous and turn back themselves. Therefore, even those who were hardened by God still might eventually accept Him. God's hardening is partial, not absolute as the passage says. Lastly, Israelites are not the atheists on this site. God did not harden the atheists, He hardened the Jews. I'm afraid your point breaks down in every way it is analyzed. "Use the time to discuss with the more mature Christians The ways of God. " If I did that, I don't think I would be able to debate you. You have ignored the commandment of God and sought to justify your own lack of willingness to provide reasons for your belief. "Be on the look out for False believers ... those who know not God nor his word! Only the utterly ignorant or Atheists place their opinions ABOVE Gods WORD! You can HELP neither! turn them over to Satan as directed." We actually can help them; that's why we are called to evangelize and destroy all barriers to belief. Perhaps you would turn them over to satan as you are directed, but I will choose not to listen to Satan. With that, I will provide examples of other's reasoning with unbelievers: Acts 28:23-24 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. Paul reasoned from the scriptures and proved to these people that Jesus is the Christ. He did this from morning until evening. This was not just a little debate; this was hours and hours of providing evidence. This is something we should all be willing to do. Acts 18:28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 9:28-29 So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. Acts 17:2,17 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. These are just a couple examples about how Paul reasoned with hostile nonbelievers. Was he not denying himself as you seem to believe?