It’s absurd to think that some people make a conscious choice to suffer in eternal torment rather than experience the glory of Heaven. Evangelists hardly even ask whether people want to go to Heaven. Most assume everyone wants to be there and instead start with the question: “Do you think you will go to Heaven when you die?” Yet, there are people in this world who hate God to such a degree they would rather spend eternity in Hell than worship the Almighty.
Imagine someone walking up to a stranger and saying: “Hi, my name is Robert and I’d like to share with you the good news.” The stranger replies: “No, thanks. I don’t want to hear anything about Jesus today.” The evangelist replies: “Oh, no! I wasn’t talking about Jesus …I wanted to tell you about he new iPhone.” In our consumerist society, this scenario is not all that hard to imagine. In many cities it is more culturally acceptable to be an evangelist for Microsoft, Google, Apple, or Adobe than it is to evangelize the true Gospel.
As atheists grow bolder in the absence of such boldness from christian leaders in the Western world, we have begun to find new terms to describe this group. Typically, we call them the “New Atheists” – ones who do not simply lack belief in God, but actively assert that God does not exist and “evangelize” their worldview. Now, I have found a better word proposed by Robin Schumacher, a blogger for the Christian Post. He proposes the term “Hatetheist” to describe those who cannot help but espouse their hatred (not just disagreement) with theism, especially of the Christian variety.
Schumacher raises a number of points that resonate with me (and I suspect most who engage in any debates with atheists), such as:
…atheists keep Christians honest where our apologetics are concerned, and they are helpful in showcasing what the philosophy of naturalism espouses and where it logically leads. Although we disagree on theological matters, I’ve found atheists to be respectful, intelligent, and understanding in many of our discussions. They have thought through their positions, present them in a well-organized manner, and are happy to consider contrary positions and opposing arguments to their stance.
In contrast, he says, “discussing theology with hatetheists is an exercise in futility.” He lays out 8 points describing what sets the hatetheist apart from other atheists. Below is my attempt to boil down his comparisons for simplicity.
| Atheist | Hatetheist |
| Respectful | Name-caller |
| Uses names “God”, “Jesus” | “Invisible sky fairy”, “Jewish zombie” |
| Recognizes intellectual equality | Believe they have superior intellect |
| Considers and addresses arguments | Uses red herrings, dodges questions |
| Recognizes limits of science | Adheres to scientism |
| Universally critiques all gods | Focuses on God of Christianity |
| Promotes freedom of religion | Promotes freedom from religion |
| Does not see Christianity as a threat | Fights against threat of Christianity |
These distinctions are important because they can help discern how best to respond or approach an unbeliever. While it may be a good idea to continually engage with an atheist for evangelism or other discussion, Schumacher warns against such continued interaction with hatetheists. He gives a number of scriptural examples for this conclusion, which is summed up with a quote from Richard Weaver’s book, Ideas Have Consequences:
“Nothing good can come if the will is wrong. And to give evidence to him who loves not the truth is to give him more plentiful material for misinterpretation.”
If you often engage with atheists online, I would strongly recommend reading his entire post. Do you agree that we should sometimes disengage with an unbeliever, or is it always advisable to keep the dialogue going?
An eye-opening description of what life is like for the inhabitants of war-torn Southern Sudan. Peter Hammond and Frontline Fellowship are inspiring in their efforts to smuggle Bibles into one of the most hostile places on Earth.
The Bitter Cup abounds with compelling testimonies by missionaries of the younger generation. Their dedication, suffering, faithfulness, and thanksgiving have led to an unprecedented revival of the Chinese Christian church.
View Paul’s Life and Journeys in a larger map
While you explore the map above, below are some observations to take note of.
If the Lord has shown you something interesting that’s not in this list, we’d love for you to tell us about it!
Source info: Biblestudy.org (not affiliated with this website)
Many people think they will go to Heaven because they are a good person. Take this test to find out if you’re good enough by God’s standards and discover the provision he has made for sinners.
Why do 80-90% of those making a decision for Christ fall away from the faith? What is the principle that Spurgeon, Wesley, Whitefield, etc., used to reach the lost? Why have the Church neglected it?