A letter to Unbelievers.

We have all been involved in a Religious debate at some point in our lives. Here are some objections/arguments I hear from unbelievers and atheists. My brief/unpacked response follows their comments:

'If there was a God, why is there so much suffering in the world? And why does he allow babies to die and little children to suffer'?

God has given us autonomy to do what we will do, he will allow nothing to go unpunished, as judgement has yet to come. A study of theodicy vindicates God and explains why he ordains/allows evil to temporarily exist.

'Don't talk to me about religion, I was forced to go to church when I was young and I hated it! When I see people going to church on a Sunday, I just think they are all a bunch of loonies and hypocrites'!

Stereotyping or pigeonholing people is a knee jerk reaction based on emotions. Using a bad memory of your childhood is bad syllogism and a lame excuse for a lacking in faith. We shouldn't judge others.

'I don't feel the presence of any God, I just want to live the rest of my life and be as happy as I can'  

The harsh truth is Satan blinds the mind to the glorious light of the gospel (good news). The Lord is hidden as the unbeliever lives in spiritual darkness.

'If I was God, I would do things a lot differently and make sure everyone got exactly what they deserved' !

If that be the case, then maybe God should start judgement with you !

Make no mistake, everyone will get exactly what they deserve.! but you and I are not the Judge !

'If there is a God I will be fine, surely he will see I'm a decent loving person. I'm not evil and never harmed anyone. I will be in his good books'

This is self deluding, we are all sinners in Gods eyes and just because we are loving and haven't hurt anyone, doesn't necessarily mean we are in his good books. for eg: its easy

to love your family and friends, but do you pray for your enemies, those that would do you harm? If the answer is no, then you don't know God.

These are just some observations I've made in religious debates. Do unbelievers or atheists have valid arguments, and what do they believe? Typically, unbelievers lead a secular lifestyle, meaning they are detached from or uninterested in religious matters and focus solely on the tangible world. For them, the terms "God" or "devil" are often metaphors for good or evil. They frequently employ scientific reasoning to challenge religion, emphasizing what is real and what can be empirically proven, which makes perfect sense to them. They don't believe in miracles or anything spiritual, so it's unsurprising that the Bible appears irrelevant and outdated. Concepts like salvation, sanctification, or justification hold no significance, and they view death as the final end, with no expectation of an afterlife.

While non-believers are often open to discussing spiritual topics, they typically perceive much of it as nonsensical, and the concept of a crucified God seems absurd to them. However, once the resurrection is understood, everything surely falls into place. If I temporarily set aside my faith and view things from their perspective, I can see that they present many strong and valid arguments. Nonetheless, as an apologist, I hold firm beliefs and will always advocate for unwavering faith in God, as I find the non-believers' arguments somewhat self-defeating and rooted in genuine despair. Therefore, I wish to pave the way for genuine hope and a compelling case for belief in God.

The first step to comprehending God's true nature is to rid your mind of any worldly mysticism or accumulated religious misconceptions. We should not focus on world religions, as these institutions offer only partial truths, and I am confident that most people seek the whole truth, a truth found only in Christ! But one cannot simply tell another, ‘There is a God,’ and expect them to believe. On that note, I suggest that only God can transform someone from within, and if you are willing to take a small step towards faith, the Lord will gladly handle the rest.

What God Can Do for You

God transforms an individual, granting them a new heart. From a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. [Ezekiel 11:19] He gives you a heart like Christ. The Bible states that we must be 'born again' to see the Kingdom of God [John 3:3]. All Christians can attest to this. When a soul is baptized by the Holy Spirit, God fills your heart with faith and wisdom, enabling you to clearly understand His attributes and character. He grants your mind discernment to distinguish between truth and lies. He fills your heart with a profound love, characterized by a powerful forgiveness and a strong will against evil. He inspires your mind with drive and curiosity, making the words of the Bible come alive and resonate like a beautiful melody. This is the true essence of being a Christian, and although Christians experience suffering like everyone else (perhaps even more), there is joy in their suffering because they walk with Christ.

It's crucial to understand in this life that God has granted each of us the unique gift of free will (refer to my other article on Freewill). Currently, as someone who may not believe, the choice not to believe is entirely your responsibility. Simply put, if you stick with that choice, it means that on the day of judgment, books will be opened, and you will stand before the Lord to account for your life. God will search for your name in the book of life, and if it is not there, He will ask you to depart from Him. Consider the following Bible passage: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [Rev 20:12.]  Though this may seem harsh, it is what the Bible teaches us, and the Lord holds His word above the stars of heaven.

I believe the responsibility lies with us, and I can only imagine how devastating it will be for those who made poor or careless decisions, those who had ample time and opportunity but thought to themselves, "This isn't for me, or I just don't believe in God." We should not be deceived; no one can simply say, "I don't believe," and vanish into a peaceful nothingness, never to feel anything again. This is a falsehood the enemy wants you to accept. It is written that every person will be resurrected and stand before the Almighty to account for their life, as the Lord knows every thought and action. Even if you have lived a decent life, without a relationship with the Lord, you will not enter His kingdom. God will not force anyone into heaven against their free will. I pray that He instills a godly fear in your heart, as I assure you, I speak from the heart.

No matter how virtuous we believe ourselves to be, everyone has sinned in the eyes of God. Consider this passage: But we are all like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we wither like leaves, and our sins, like the wind, have swept us away. [Isaiah 64:6.)] Only Christ can cleanse us of our sins, which is why God established a plan of salvation; a new covenant in the New Testament. We can only be renewed and saved through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12]

God will hold us all accountable for the choices we make in life, even if we are misled.

Deception is undoubtedly one of the most potent tools of the enemy, and self-deception can be equally influential. Some people think that after death, we will simply fade into oblivion. In a sense, I wish that were true, as I don't wish suffering upon anyone. Others assume that if Heaven exists, they will surely enter it just because they are decent and respectable individuals. However, this mindset is dangerous because, above all, the Lord desires a relationship with us. Without a personal relationship, we are left to navigate life on our own, guided by subjective morality.

We need to think differently, we need a regenerated mind, a paradigm shift towards holiness!

It's often said that the devil's greatest trick was convincing the world of his nonexistence, and he's certainly been effective at it! We all need to awaken to the fact that he does exist and discern these truths before we meet the Lord and it's too late.

If you still lack a healthy fear of the Lord and can't envision a day of judgment, try reflecting on the happiest moment of your life and comparing it to your lowest and saddest point. This should provide a clearer understanding of the afterlife. The devil deceives you in ways you cannot see. He doesn't care about your wealth or health; his aim is your soul and identity. For those who believe a cruel God condemns people to hell, it's clear now that the choice is ours, and the devil is merely assisting us in making it.

A Christian would prefer to endure countless deaths in this life rather than face a second death and eternal damnation. At the time of judgment, the regret will be unimaginable, and the light and love of God will vanish from their existence forever.

These will suffer everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power, [2 Thess 1:9] No one has returned from hell to describe its horrors, but it must surely be a place of constant torment, anguish, and despair! A place where your senses are tormented day and night. A place filled with blasphemers and vile souls who curse God continuously. Whatever sins you committed in life will persist in this realm of outer darkness. However, the difference is that there will be no God to call upon; God will not be listening anymore, and there will be no more mercy! Those suffering souls will realize this, adding to their misery. A friend once remarked, "Oh well, at least we will have each other down there" But in truth, there are no relationships in hell, no love, no friends, no connections.

The choice of the unbeliever is to reject our Lord Jesus Christ and continue in their sin; God will respect your decision and its eternal consequences. However, this doesn't have to be a tale of despair, as it's not too late to repent. As long as you are alive, you can seek God's forgiveness and receive salvation. Jesus said: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [John 10:10]. Salvation means being saved from this world, saved from sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, sanctified, and welcomed into God's kingdom.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

[Romans 10:9-10]

It is true that some might feel judged, but please understand that this is not judgment; it is a strong warning in life. God loves everyone and desires to save you. His love surpasses all knowledge, and His power is manifest. There is a treasure in Heaven waiting for you. There are no grey areas here, nor are there waiting places like purgatory where you can cleanse your sins after death. We all need to maintain a proper relationship with God, not just part-time on Sundays, but full-time from Monday through Saturday.

This encouragement is not only for non-believers; it also pertains to those with a lukewarm faith and, dare I say, some churchgoers as well! Many people in the church possess a very shallow theology. If you attend church on Sundays and find yourself daydreaming or having mundane responses, you should question why you are there in the first place. If you attend out of guilt, feel condemnation, and look forward to the end of the service, then spiritually, you're not in a healthy place. If your minister, priest, or pastor only preaches part of the gospel and never discusses eschatology or quotes from the book of Revelation, then you’re not receiving the full benefit of the gospel. If you don't feel the power of the Holy Spirit in your church, I strongly recommend finding one that is spirit-filled.

I tell you the truth, your particular brand of Christianity is of no concern to God.

In simplistic terms, if your theology is somewhere in the mid ground and your belief is still cloudy, I would suggest you take your eyes off the world and disregard all religious clutter and look to the heavens with a clear mind. Jesus kept things simple; he didn't instruct us to create a religion, join any global faith, engage in disputes among ourselves, or judge others. He said:

Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbour as yourself. He also said: go into a room, close the door and sincerely pray to your Father in heaven in secret , God who sees your heart shall reward thee. [Matthew 6:6]