In Debating Unbelievers Formally or Informally
I'm convinced it's imperative for the Christian to understand debating a believer on just about any topic can be tricky. Debating an unbeliever on just about any topic is even trickier. The unbeliever is attempting to build on a completely different type of foundation than the believing Christian. Both have two different states of mind.
The believing Christian has a biblical mindset, and is dedicated to believing and following Jesus the Messiah. The believer also sees Bible scripture as true and without fault in its original languages. The unbeliever has a secular mindset and sees everything from a humanistic, materialistic, Darwinian evolutionary, technological, or "scientific" perspective. There can also be a combination of any or all of these for the unbeliever. The believing Christian might also have some of these perspectives peppered in as well. But, the believing Christian will in the end contend Bible scripture as the chief influence for perspective, or at least should.
Here is a scripture reference to remember when debating an unbeliever. It might help keep things in perspective: Romans 8:5-8 (Berean Study Bible) - (5) Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (6) The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, (7) because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. (8) Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
For context, this is Paul writing to Christians in Rome. This is in reference to the contrast of living under, believing in, and following after Christ Jesus versus attempting to satisfy the Law given to Israel by YHWH through Moses. Note Romans 8:2 (BSB) - "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death." It's important to understand the context of what we read in scripture when referencing scripture.
What is Paul saying in Romans 8:5-8? There's an excellent takeaway here to understand in general. Also, there's an excellent takeaway for believers debating unbelievers, which I think is the same for both: 1. Those holding to a secular, unbelieving perspective have given their mind and intellect to a life of unbelief. 2. Those holding to a biblical perspective live according to the Spirit of God, and have given their mind and intellect to things of God. 3. A mind given to "unbelief" (all the things previously listed for the unbeliever's foundational perspective) results in death, it's a dead end, nothing short of fatal. There's no reward, only a consequence. 4. The mind given to "belief" (a biblically Christian perspective) has the reward of life and peace. This is understood as everlasting life and rest in and with Jesus the Messiah. 5. The unbelieving mind (the unbeliever) is hostile towards God. It hates God and refuses to submit to the principles of God. 6. Those given to unbelief have a nature that just can not please God.
Again, I'm convinced it's imperative for the believer to understand this before debating the unbeliever. Any debate with an unbeliever will be incredibly tricky.
Thanks
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