Recently, I received a question about how to address a common criticism against Christianity. Specifically, it’s the fact that some Christians don’t act very much like Christians…

What do we say when someone says they have trouble believing in God (and they’re not being snarky or arrogant in saying this) because they see people who profess to believe, but are living a life that is not in accordance with that belief? Would an answer include something along the lines of “someone who continues in sin after putting on Christ without repentance has nullified their salvation by their choice to not accept it?” What would I tell them?

My response is this:

Your answer is true but not really an answer to the argument. The argument is basically “I don’t believe in God because many Christians don’t live godly.” That argument is silly, but don’t say that. What does my failure have to do with God’s existence? God either does or doesn’t exist, regardless of how I live my life.

Now, you can certainly go in a different direction and talk about the fruit of the spirit and how Christians who don’t bear the fruit contribute to the very issue this atheist is raising. In other words, when we don’t bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, etc, we give people no reason to think we are God’s people, and thus no way for folks to see the light that is in the world through us (Matthew 5:16).

Also it’s worth noting that by saying “you people don’t act godly,” the athiest is essentially admitting that there is a godly standard to live by. Where did that come from? The accusation presupposes God exists and is the standard. By recognizing that some don’t act a certain way, you admit that there IS a way for us to act. Who gave me that way? God did.

It’s possible this guy has been listening to Calvinists, who say “God’s elect” bear the fruit of the spirit, etc, and by seeing so many who don’t he’s concluded there is no God to give the Spirit/fruit to. I get that argument but it’s based on the falsehood of Calvinism, so it falls apart when you take the false theology out of it.

At the end of the day, we are commanded to be faithful. We must choose to obey that command or we harm, not only to our own souls, but to the name of Christ in general.

~Matthew