Q:
A man I work with says religion is just for weak people who need an emotional crutch to get through life. He's very self-confident and talented, but how can I convince him he also needs God?
A:
It’s hard to break through the defenses someone like this has erected to keep God out of his life. His real problem is pride—pride in himself, pride in his talents, pride in his ability to run his life without God. He is like the proud man of whom the Psalmist wrote, “In all his thoughts there is no room for God” (Psalm 10:4).
That’s why the most important thing you can do is to pray for him, because only God can convict him of his sinful pride and convince him of his need for Christ. How might this happen? I don’t know, of course; God often works in hidden ways. But God sometimes works in more open ways; He may (for example) bring into this person’s life something that will make him realize he needs God’s help. The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Pray too that God will help you be an example to him of Christ’s love and peace. He may argue with what you say—but he can’t argue with the reality of a changed life. Remember the Bible’s admonition: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
As a footnote, next week we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. What if you asked him what he’s thankful for—and then asked him where he thinks those good things came from? They came from God—and God might use your witness to this truth to begin opening the door of his heart.