My Video Chat With Atheist Dr. Ron On His New YouTube Channel. (need help)

[VladtheDestroyer]

So this is something we just kinda decided to do on the fly. Ron is a pretty smart guy and I was sorta fumbling throughout the whole discussion. I've been on YouTube a couple times before and I always get real nervous and kinda stutter and I have a bit of a speech impediment that makes me a bit difficult to understand. But that's ok. If anything it might encourage others who are more capable than I am to give it a shot sometime. Him and I are both a bit dissatisfied in some of the ways that the online discourse between Christians and unbelievers seems to have devolved over the years. And I think he want's to try to create a platform for more genuine discussions rather that just these debates where you have 2 opponents who often just seem to be speaking past each other for most of the time.

I am ok with this idea. And I know that many of us are.

I think I did ok with a couple questions he had. But much of it caught me off guard. I haven't had a discussion like this with and atheist in a very long time.

One of the questions I feel he was essentially asking was if he could become a Christian without believing that Jesus and the God of the Bible are real.

I could not think of a good way to answer that at the time. I still can't. Part of me wanted to say yes because we grow in our understanding and in our relationship with the Lord. And that relationship is a process that I am sure isn't always the same for everyone, but the God of the Bible is more "real" to me now than He was a younger Christian. (meaning that I feel my relationship with God and my understanding of Him is much more stronger than it was when I was young and foolish. God is always real. )

But at the same time, of course I couldn't say "Christians don't have to believe in Jesus." And I believe part of being saved involves telling other's that you are saved!

Maybe someone a bit more qualified than I am (Perhaps Clete or JudgeRightly?) could help me understand what the right answer is here?

I'm posting the youtube video at the 26:20 mark. Shortly before the time this question gets asked in case someone doesn't have time to watch the whole video.

 

[Nick M]

I don't ask him to forgive us. He already did. He reconciled his enemies to himself at the cross. Nobody will put their trust and faith in him that isn't remorseful, contrite, sorry for what they did.

A Christian is a person that believes the gospel given to Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. That is what he referred to in Acts 16. Your faith and trust is in what the Lord Jesus Christ did, on your behalf, at the cross. Paul is more detailed in his letter to those that know and are under the law of Moses, which is the Romans. Confessing with the mouth is evidence people are saved. Or not saved, as it seems for most.

Being put on the spot isn't easy for anybody.

 

[VladtheDestroyer]

I don't ask him to forgive us. He already did. He reconciled his enemies to himself at the cross. Nobody will put their trust and faith in him that isn't remorseful, contrite, sorry for what they did.

Sure. I get what you are saying here and I don't disagree.

A Christian is a person that believes the gospel given to Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. That is what he referred to in Acts 16. Your faith and trust is in what the Lord Jesus Christ did, on your behalf, at the cross. Paul is more detailed in his letter to those that know and are under the law of Moses, which is the Romans. Confessing with the mouth is evidence people are saved. Or not saved, as it seems for most.

Well...ok.

Being put on the spot isn't easy for anybody.

Yeah but I want to know more about what it is that makes me a poor evangelist. In the past it always just seemed to make people angry at me and to want to never talk to me again. Maybe this was an improvement. I have no idea.

 

[Nick M]

In the past it always just seemed to make people angry at me and to want to never talk to me again.

Paul was murdered for preaching the gospel. You will not be popular if you preach the gospel.

 

[Nick M]

Well...ok.

You don't think so? There is a lot of good news in the Bible. And bad, depending on your chosen fate. This is the bottom line.

1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

My evening just freed up. I will watch the whole video on youtube. And of course comment and like to drive the coding our way.

edit again: I am not sure he was being candid with you, based on just the first minute. I reject many that say "science" because the Bible says otherwise.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Another edit: This is to refute their argument before men, as they deny God before men. I mean refute their logic. Or lack thereof. Get the book In the Beginning by Walt Brown. His website is creationscience.com. I bought it decades ago. Not for the hydroplate theory, but it is full of atheist research pointing out there is no evidence of evolution. None.