The folly of Christian debate

My YouTube algorithm knows that I love a good Christian v. Atheist debate. The likes of John Lennox and Alex O’Connor fill my search page. I like the arguing. I like the pursuit of truth. I like hearing points from both sides of which I have not yet heard. I want to know God, I want to know truth.

And yet, I have come to realize that the debate never ends. Truth, though seemingly apparent to me, is never recognized by the losing side. Each partner digs into their argument, regardless of how convincing the other.

In an interview I recently saw of Alex O’Connor, a respected agnostic atheist, he was asked if there was any evidence that he would change his view on God. His response was jarring: the only thing that would change his mind is a personal experience.

O’Connor spends his time debating reason and logic. And yet he seems to admit that there is no argument that could be made that could change his mind. It is an experience with Christ that alone would change his mind.

Primacy of experience

What O’Connor’s statement reveals to us is that we spend much of our time frivolously acquiring more knowledge in order to debate. Yes, you should be able to understand your faith and why you believe. But the constant consuming of knowledge and facts at some point loses its benefits.

We try with all our might to logically prove God who is beyond understanding.

We try to reason God when he is beyond comprehension.

We try to prove him by natural means when we believe God to be supernatural.

Alex O’Connor claims the only way he would come to believe is by experience, though he spends his entire life reasoning. Why? Because reasoning is easier to understand than experience. He knows that to experience something would place God outside of the neat box he tries to put God in.

So how can we give him, and those like him, that experience?

It is not through trying harder. And it will not always be lightning from heaven, though I believe that could happen (see Paul being knocked from his horse by the appearance of the heavenly Jesus).

Most people will not have an experience where Jesus physically reveals himself in blinding light, but they will without a doubt daily experience the Church. They will experience the body of Christ.

What do those who do not yet believe experience when they experience the Church?

All people will taste the fruit borne of the believer’s life. And in tasting they should experience life beyond comprehension. The Christian is only able to produce that good fruit by slowly, faithfully, following God. It is about daily showing up to the workplace, to family, to friends. Producing good fruit is being a peacemaker. It is being a reconciler. It is about being joy-filled.

The atheist may not experience Christ in a sudden miracle, but they can experience Christ in the slow, daily faithfulness of those who claim belief in God, allowing Christ to transform who once was into someone who looks Christlike.

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