Keep in mind that there are three kinds of skeptics, and they need different treatment. Some people have truly intellectual objections to Christianity. Some have primarily moral objections-not objections, really, but problems that stand in the way of their believing. A third sort of skeptic has both intellectual and moral objections‑and this person is the most common.

Never assume that intellectual objections to Christianity are mere excuses hiding the fact that people do not wish to abandon their sins. Often that is the case, but with any given individual, it may well not be. If you relate to him as if it were, you will only offend him and stand in the way of his becoming  a Christian. Answer his intellectual questions carefully, as knowledgeably as you are able. Don't pretend to have answers when you don't‑such dishonesty will certainly be found out and will become one more reason for the person not to trust Jesus. Admit when you're stumped, and try to find an answer later.

Eventually most people run out of intellectual objections to Christianity-especially if Christians give good answers to those objections. Sometimes they will immediately be ready to trust in Jesus. At other times, they will begin to make moral excuses. They will object that they don't wish to give up control of their lives, or that they have known immoral Christians or that they don't think it's fair for God to require faith in Jesus, or something like that. In the following pages, you will see some ways to answer such excuses and to urge people toward faith in Jesus. Be sure to be friendly, honest, and gentle in dealing with these things. People are easily offended over such matters.

Sometimes when people run out of intellectual objections they begin to repeat the same objections that were already answered for them. This sometimes indicates that their real problems are moral, but sometimes it only indicates that they want more assurance, more clarity, in their earlier  belief that their objections were answered. Be patient. If the person seems sincere, continue to answer his questions; perhaps approach the answers in different ways from what you have first used. Clarify your answers; give more thorough explanations. But be alert, too, to the possibility that his intellectual objections have become mere smokescreens for moral problems that prevent his coming to faith in Jesus. Try to pinpoint what those are (refusal to submit to God's will; fear that Christian faith will stand in the way of career; etc.), and then help the person to surmount them.

Always be friendly. You must, of course, tell a person he is a sinner, but you needn't be offensive about it. Bring that truth across matter‑of-factly, and remind him that you, too, are a sinner. Hold out to him the loving forgiveness of God and the loving fellowship of Christians as a solution to his sin. Always remember, the goal is to remove any obstacles that prevent his trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord. When he is ready to make that decision, you may help him by sharing the gospel as contained in the "Four Spiritual Laws" or by suggesting the prayer that appears at the end of this dialogue.