Question:

I would like to know how to deal with closeminded people who only want
proof. It’s like they want Jesus to come back, die again, raise again, and
right in front of their eyes or they wont believe. I think it is pretty
sad and wish that there was a place that someone like you who is educated
to answer a lot of their questions to chat/or post on a forum because they
won’t go do the research on their own.

Answer:

My first comment is that if a person is closed-minded, then there is
nothing you can do. For a person like this, as frustrating as it may be,
it is not worth your time or effort to try to convert him or her. Of such
people, Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do
not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under
their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Many people are simply
not in a place in their lives in which they are willing to hear. We
should not waste our time or theirs trying to convince them of the truth.
For such people, well thought out, logical arguments are of no value
whatsoever, as they do not care about the truth. Of such people, Jesus
also said, “You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; you will be
ever seeing but never perceiving.” (Matthew 13:14)

I would go so far as to say that for some people we can actually do them
harm by presenting arguments they are not willing to listen to. In
rejecting the truth, they may be setting themselves up to never be able to
listen to that argument because of their pride, even at a later point in
life when they might otherwise have become open to the truth due to some
circumstance. Another relevant passage is in the parable of the rich man
and Lazarus. When the rich man found himself suffering in Hades, he
wanted to have Abraham send Lazarus to warn his five brothers to repent.
God’s reply in the parable is, “If they do not listen to Moses and the
Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
(Luke 16:31) What I get from this passage is that such people may demand
evidence, but evidence is not their problem. The problem is a hard
heart. No kind of evidence will convince them to repent. I am afraid
that there is an excellent chance that such is the case with the folks you
describe. I am not advising that you completely give up forever on those
who are inwilling to believe. My advice is to continue to “let your light
shine” (Matthew 5:16) so that they may see God in you. Perhaps one day
these stubborn unbelievers will become open. I suggest you throw
something out there every once in a while–perhaps once a year or so, and
wait for a response. Please, do not nag stubborn unbelievers. You will
only hurt them in the long run.

I get the sense you were asking for the secret to unlocking the hearts of
those who are not open. I do not have a secret to do this. The key is
prayer and a life lived as a great example of Jesus Christ.

John Oakes, PhD