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How would you explain Christianity to someone who has no familiarity with Christianity, or God, or religion?
It’s a question I pondered yesterday. It’s a question I was asked about last evening.
I’ve never actually come across someone who didn’t have some kind of concept of God – even if they didn’t believe in God. Even Atheists have some kind of belief about God – albeit what I think is a wrong view.
But I wonder how the conversation would go with someone who has no concept of God. Is it even possible to have no concept whatsoever of God? I suppose it is.
We’re more likely to have interactions with people who are atheist or agnostic than we are to have interactions with people who have no concept of God at all.
How would you begin to talk about faith, or God? It’s not an easy question to deal with, but it’s one that I think is worth talking about. The importance of this is that it forces us to move from the theoretical to the practical. How do you talk about God with someone who has never heard about God? Where would you start?
I think I’d start by asking such a person some questions to get an understanding of their worldview and beliefs. I’d want to know a bit about their history and personality. Once I got to know them, then I could speak in their language – or closer to their language. I might be able to relate theological ideas to something they were familiar with.
The biggest thing would be to treat the person like a person – to show respect for them and to listen. And not to try to sell God to the person. I would want to see if there was an interest that existed. You can’t force people into a conversation about something they don’t want to talk about. But you can go far in a conversation with someone who is open to talking. That comes through trust and an attitude of openness and respect.
If all I care about is being right, then I’m pretty sure I can win an argument but lose the relationship. And I’m also pretty sure that if the relationship is lost, that person will not be open to hearing anything I have to say. And then what was the point? One can be right, but if you are right and alone, does it matter?
So how would you/do you talk about God with someone who has no concept of God?
Matthew, I have no compulsion to talk to people about God (or Jesus) unless I detect some interest on their part or an appropriate opening to discuss the subject. And I am totally uninterested in trying to win an argument about it. I like what you said:
“If all I care about is being right, then I’m pretty sure I can win an argument but lose the relationship. And I’m also pretty sure that if the relationship is lost, that person will not be open to hearing anything I have to say. And then what was the point? One can be right, but if you are right and alone, does it matter?”
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Thanks Tim.
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I wouldn’t even attempt THAT “conversation” until I had engaged in many conversations with the person about all manner of topics; then I might begin to interject where an opening occurs “I” messages about God. Let’s say after many, many interactions, a discussion begins about something in the news….great fodder for engagement, right? Let’s say there’s an horrendous flood nearby. I might interject something about how God ordered Noah to build an ark, and how I wish God could help me provide one for the people affected by the flood. Might not lead to a discussion right then, but repeated similar “I” messages might eventually lead the person to ask, “Who is this God you keep mentioning?” I would continue over the course of, hopefully, raising more curiosity about God with such interjections, to use “I” messages to share what God and Christianity means to me. This would take place over time, because all my thoughts all at once might be overwhelming and just plain too much to absorb for someone who knows nothing of God.
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Time is the key on that – we don’t just jump in with God.
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You make a good point here about the importance of relationships. Is your belief more important than taking the effort to listen and learn from another’s worldview? btw, non-believers don’t necessarily have any “belief” about God. This is an old, tired and inaccurate apologetic. Maybe the main thing is to have open and honest conversations, rather than making efforts to convince.
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I completely agree with you Chris – open and honest conversations are really important.
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Matthew, I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award! Should you choose to accept, please go here, follow the Rules, and answer the Questions. You’re adorable! https://mitchteemley.com/2017/08/29/im-adorable/
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Thanks Mitch, I’ll have to look into it.
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“If all I care about is being right, then I’m pretty sure I can win an argument but lose the relationship.” Amen. The approach you suggest above is great. Iknew a guy once who was conversant in philosophy but hadn’t heard about God or the gospel. It was fun watching his amazement when I talked about God becoming man. When there’s no preconceptions it’s all fresh ground. Then we pray we don’t plant weeds with the seed!
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That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing!
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