Why Christians Defend Theism and Atheists Must Answer Too

“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

– 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

Christians are often asked why they believe in God. The honest ones—at least those who are thinking Christians—welcome the question. We believe in truth. We believe it matters. And we believe that if Christianity is true, it is worth defending. But what happens when the conversation only flows one way?

Atheists, especially in online spaces, often challenge Christians with sharp questions, biting sarcasm, or accusations of blind faith. But when they are asked what they believe and why—they often reply with something like: “Atheism is just a lack of belief. I don’t need to defend anything.” And then they return to complaints: about evil, about hypocrisy, about wars, about churches, about rules.

But here’s the problem: if you enter a debate, critique someone’s worldview, and challenge their hope—and yet refuse to offer anything in its place—you aren’t engaging in honest inquiry. You’re just tearing down. You’re playing critic without being a builder. And that raises the question: Are you really seeking truth, or just trying to win an argument?

Christians Are Expected to Defend Their Beliefs

Let’s start with a truth Christians must own: we are called to defend our faith. That’s not optional. Peter’s command in 1 Peter 3:15 isn’t just for scholars or apologists—it’s for every believer: “Always be prepared to make a defense… for the hope that is in you.”

The Greek word apologia (translated “defense”) doesn’t mean getting defensive. It means giving a reasoned case—like in a courtroom. Christians throughout history—from Paul in the Areopagus to Augustine to Aquinas to C.S. Lewis—have taken this seriously. Why? Because truth matters. Souls matter. And when your worldview provides meaning, purpose, forgiveness, and eternal life, it deserves to be shared and thoughtfully explained.

We don’t claim to have all the answers. But we believe the best answers are found in Christ. And so we speak, write, reason, and listen—because we want others to find the same hope.

Atheists Must Be Willing to Defend Their Position Too

Now here’s the catch: if an atheist wants to critique Christianity—fine. Bring your best questions. We welcome them. But if you expect Christians to defend their worldview while you defend nothing, something’s off.

The most common escape hatch is this: “Atheism is just a lack of belief. I’m not making a claim.” But that’s a sleight of hand. In practice, most atheists don’t merely lack belief. They actively reject God’s existence, criticize religion, mock religious claims, and often promote naturalism, materialism, or scientism.

If you’re going to assert that “there is no God,” or “faith is harmful,” or “religion is a delusion,” then you’re making a claim. And claims require support.

It’s fair to ask:

• What do you believe about morality, purpose, and the universe?
• How do you explain the origin of the cosmos, consciousness, and human dignity?
• What do you offer in place of hope?

Silence—or worse, mockery—is not an answer.

Let’s break this down with simple logic:

1. If a worldview makes claims about reality, it should be supported by evidence or reasoning.
2. Atheism often makes claims (e.g., “There is no God,” “Religion is harmful,” “Faith is irrational”).
3. Therefore, atheism should be supported by evidence or reasoning.

To say “I lack belief” while promoting naturalism, moral relativism, or anti-theism is not neutrality. It’s a worldview—and it must be defended.

Complaints Are Not Arguments

The other common approach is to complain rather than construct. “God allows suffering.” “Christians are hypocrites.” “Religion causes war.” These are familiar lines. But none of them prove God doesn’t exist. At best, they highlight that Christians fail (which we admit), or that we wrestle with deep questions (which we do). But evil doesn’t disprove God—it may actually require God.

C.S. Lewis once believed that the cruelty of the world disproved God. But he came to realize that his very sense of injustice pointed toward a standard that he could not explain without God. He wrote:
*“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? … Of course I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if I did that, then my argument against God collapsed too.”*¹

Complaining that God hasn’t made the world the way we wish He had is not the same as proving He doesn’t exist. It’s often a moral protest—and moral protests assume a moral law. Which leads us right back to the question: Whose standard are you using to call anything wrong?

G.K. Chesterton once remarked that when people stop believing in God, it’s not that they believe in nothing—they’ll believe in anything. The question is not whether we believe—but what we believe, and whether it holds up under scrutiny.

The Cost of Cynicism

Let’s talk for a moment about what’s at stake.

Sometimes an atheist wins the argument—or at least thinks they do—by leaving a Christian shaken, unsure, or embarrassed. But suppose you are wrong. Suppose the faith you mock is actually true. Suppose the cross really is the place where God bore the sins of the world.

Then what have you done? You haven’t just “won” a debate. You may have pushed someone away from hope. You may have trampled a bruised reed.

In an online culture that rewards sarcasm and punishes vulnerability, it’s easy to forget: some people are barely hanging on. They might be seeking God in the dark. They might be hurt, not stupid. They might be searching for grace, not a lecture. And if your rejection of faith causes them to walk away from hope—you haven’t won anything. You’ve just helped bury the lifeline they needed most.

Jesus warned sternly about this:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned…” (Matthew 18:6)

Now, to be clear, Christians must be willing to face hard questions. We don’t get to hide behind our emotions. But there’s a difference between honest doubt and destructive cynicism. If you’re trying to pull someone out of darkness, good. If you’re just mocking their candle, beware.

For Christians reading this: don’t fear hard questions. If your faith is true, it can withstand scrutiny. Engage with grace and confidence—but never back away from the conversation.

There’s a difference between honest doubt and hollow dismissal. Thomas doubted—but stayed close enough to Jesus to be convinced. Today, many doubters aren’t seeking to touch the wounds—they just want to mock the story. But God honors the sincere seeker, not the scoffer.

The Real Question: Are You Seeking the Truth?

At the end of the day, this is what matters: Are you truly seeking the truth—or just trying to avoid it?

It’s easy to sit back, criticize, and say, “I don’t believe.” But that doesn’t make you neutral. That doesn’t make you brave. And it certainly doesn’t make you wise. If the God of the Bible is real, then nothing matters more than how you respond to Him.

Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.” But seeking means more than sitting with crossed arms waiting to be convinced. It means leaning in, asking real questions, listening to answers, and being willing to follow where the truth leads—even if it costs you your pride, your assumptions, or your preferred lifestyle.

That’s what Christians are trying to do when we offer arguments for God’s existence, for the resurrection, for the truth of Scripture. We’re not selling a fantasy. We’re pointing to a reality that changes everything.

So if you’re an atheist reading this, let me ask plainly:

• Are you honestly seeking answers?
• Are you willing to defend your view of the world, not just tear down someone else’s?
• What if, in the end, your skepticism leads someone else to despair?
• And what if, one day, you discover that the faith you mocked was the very truth that could have saved you?

If Christianity is false, you have nothing to fear. But if it’s true, then everything depends on what you do with that truth. Can you really afford to ignore it?

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Footnote
¹ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (HarperOne, 2001), Book I, Ch. 2.

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