Evangelism, or sharing one’s faith with the goal of convincing others to become Christians, is an important calling for many believers. However, evangelizing atheists can be particularly challenging. Atheists often have firm reasons for their non-belief and may be resistant to religious arguments. Some Christians wonder if they should even try to convert avowed atheists. What does the Bible say on this matter?
There are several biblical principles that provide guidance on this issue:
1. Christians are called to share the gospel with all people
Jesus commands his followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This call, known as the Great Commission, is not limited only to those who seem receptive to the message. Christians are to share the good news of salvation with everyone they can (Mark 16:15).
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his disciples they “will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The gospel is for all people everywhere, regardless of their current beliefs. Paul preached the gospel message to both Jews and Gentiles, resulting in many conversions despite much opposition (Acts 13:46-48, 14:1, 17:1-4).
2. God wants all people to repent and be saved
The Bible teaches that God desires everyone to turn to him and receive eternal life through Christ. As Peter writes, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
Since it is God’s will for all people to find salvation in Christ, Christians should make every effort to spread the gospel, even to those who seem unlikely to respond positively at first. As Paul wrote, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). Christians cannot expect atheists to believe if no one tells them the good news.
3. The gospel is powerful and compelling
Christians need not rely on their own powers of persuasion when evangelizing. The message of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross holds innate power and appeal, as Paul describes:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
The transforming truth of the gospel overturns worldly wisdom and offers grace, forgiveness, and purpose. Christians can trust that atheists and others need only properly hear the gospel preached in order to recognize its truth, by the work of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 6:44).
4. Christians should debate and reason as part of evangelism
Sharing the gospel involves using reason and intellect to make a persuasive case, not just stating bible verses. Paul engaged in vigorous public debate with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers during his missionary travels, ably defending the faith through discourse and reasoning (Acts 17:16-34). He urges believers to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
When witnessing to atheists, Christians should be prepared to thoughtfully respond to objections, questions, and counterarguments. They can gently point out logical flaws and fallacies that undermine non-belief. Yet Christians are called to “do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), employing both compassion and truth.
5. Christians must ultimately leave conversion up to God
Even after making the most persuasive case possible, Christians cannot argue or force atheists to convert. Salvation is ultimately the work of God, not of eloquent speech or human will. As Paul writes:
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Christians should faithfully and respectfully deliver the gospel message to atheists, but leave it to the Holy Spirit to soften hearts and bring repentance and belief.
6. Christians must show Christ’s love along with sharing truth
Evangelism is not just about convincing people through reasoning and debate. It also involves developing relationships with nonbelievers and demonstrating God’s love. Christians are called to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Jesus ministered to people’s needs before delivering hard teachings. He calls Christians to show compassion to those resistant to the gospel, as he did for Paul before his conversion (Acts 9). Lovingly serving atheists and developing genuine connections allows truth to be conveyed in a compelling context of real care and concern.
7. Evangelism requires much prayer and reliance on God
Christians who seek to convert atheists must bathe the process in prayer rather than relying on their own efforts. As Paul writes, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and empower the evangelistic words spoken. Christians should plead for God to use them as instruments of grace and peace while sharing with atheists.
Jesus emphasizes the necessity of prayer in evangelistic ministry: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2). As Christians pray for God to draw atheists to himself, they must yield to his timing and will. Salvation cannot be forced or manufactured.
8. Christians should focus efforts where they bear fruit
While Christians have a duty to share the gospel with all, Jesus and Paul both emphasized focusing efforts where people were responsive. Jesus instructed his disciples not to stay in places that rejected them: “If any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet” (Mark 6:11). Similarly, Paul turned his preaching away from unreceptive Jews to more welcoming Gentiles (Acts 13:46).
Christians need not indefinitely debate those who show no interest. They are free to focus efforts where the message is advancing and bearing fruit. As Paul put it, “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Romans 15:20). Still, Christians should gently continue displaying Christ’s love to hostile atheists through good deeds, in hope that many may eventually turn to the Lord as Paul did.
9. Christians should remember they were once lost as well
When encountering atheists who strongly reject the gospel, Christians do well to recall they were also once lost in darkness without God. Such humility prevents an arrogant or judgmental attitude. Paul writes:
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. . . . But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us” (Titus 3:3-5).
Remembering one’s own undeserved salvation fosters compassion and gentleness toward those still requiring God’s grace. Christians evangelize atheists from a position of grateful humility rather than assumed superiority.
10. Christians can trust God to use them and their words
Some atheists may seem impossible to reach with the gospel given their intellectual defiance and opposition to God. Yet Christians need not fret about any human being remaining beyond the transforming power of Christ. God specializes in redeeming even the most hardened individuals, as with the apostle Paul who formerly persecuted Christians zealously before his dramatic conversion (Acts 9).
As Isaiah declares, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Christians fulfill their duty by faithfully and respectfully delivering God’s word, trusting that it can redeem anyone according to God’s purposes and timing.
With compassion, humility, prayer, reason, truth, and love, Christians can make evangelistic inroads with even ardent atheists. God delights to reveal himself to those who seek him (Jeremiah 29:13), and his gospel remains powerful to transform lives. Christians rest in God’s ability to save anyone through faith in Christ when revealed at just the right time.