The Futility of Atheism

The Background of Sam Brown’s Conversion and Former Atheism

Hi everyone and welcome back to Coffee with a Calvinist. My name is Keith Foskey and I am a Calvinist. Today is a special day because today we are doing our first Coffee with a Calvinist interview which would make this Coffee with two Calvinists and joining me today is a very dear friend of mine from South Florida and his name is Sam Brown.

Sam it's great to have you today. Hi my name is Sam and what's a Calvinist? Oh well you know what a Calvinist is I'm pretty sure that's his lovely wife walking by in the background. Today Sam and I are going to be talking about the subject the futility of atheism.

Now before we get to that I want to sort of give a little bit of a background about why I invited Sam to be with us today. Sam and I met one another several years ago when I had a screen printing t-shirt business and Sam helped me to design one of my t-shirts that we used.

It was a big t-shirt it said what did it say it said the gospel repent and believe yeah that was it just repent and believe the gospel and and it was a great shirt I still wear mine to this day and and and I made some shirts for Sam since then we made a we made a Space Force shirt.

I wish you I wish you to worn that one today the Space Force shirt was great but Sam is also a person who loves to tell people about Jesus and Sam has an interesting history and I want him to share it with us share it with you because Sam is someone who would identify himself as a former atheist and I I know that I came to Christ when I was 19 years older or actually Christ me when I was not 19 years old he drew me to himself and one of the key factors in Christ saving me was an interaction with an atheist.

I met a man who said I would I'm just too smart to believe in those things and those things being the things about the Bible and so that led me to research what I had always been taught it led me to really evaluate the things and for a while I was toying with the idea that maybe it was all just foolishness and that's when God came and changed my heart and drew me to himself and saved me.

How God Drew Sam Brown Out of Atheism

So now Sam what I'd like for you to do is I'd like for you to tell us how the Lord saved you and and what he drew you out of. Okay so I say that the Lord had me on the layaway plan it it took a long time for me to come to faith I I got to last of ten kids in a home really just sort of never hearing the gospel never really understanding it hearing it but you know not really seeing it so I didn't really hear the gospel and understand it until I was I think 37 or 38 and I only heard it because you see this beautiful woman sitting behind me over here her name is Christy and she's the love of my life and we met October 8th 1991 at 247 p .m. and I knew in that moment that that was the woman I was gonna spend the rest of my life with but at that time I was a God hater.

I I used to profess atheism but really I was just I just hated God because I had a rough upbringing. I really wasn't you know very educated I wasn't very of a very sound mind so it wasn't until almost 20 years later when our marriage was in trouble that we decided to try to attend a church as like a desperate last plea and God put the right people in the right place saved me into a very Calvinistic church with a very pastor that was very much like me.

He's a rough fellow he's not a pale-skinned virgin priest you know he was a rough guy who can reach me right. So over the course of the year I showed up and I said look I don't believe all this crap but my wife wants to try it so let's do this.

And after a few weeks I'm like this church is boring. There's no sound. Let me set up some sound for you. He's like okay. And over the course of the next year somehow I became a Christian. I had God God works in those kind of ways.

So it really took an act of God obviously to get me there. But it was not intentional and it was through no effort of my own amen amen and praise God that he he works on drawing us a lot more than we work on going toward him because we don't work on going toward him at all.

Never thought of it. Yeah absolutely. Um so Sam what would you say you know if an atheist came across this video and they were in a situation maybe where you were when you first were in the situation of being a God hater.

What would you say to someone today if they said to you I'm an atheist I don't believe God exists and and I certainly don't believe the God of the Bible exists. What would you say to them. So I frequently have these conversations intentionally.

You know a lot of people you'll hear everybody say oh we're not supposed to talk about religion or politics. I'm like those are the only things that I want to talk about. Right. Those are the only things that matter.

Right. So really depending on who the person was and how well I knew them. Like just last night I was having a messenger conversation with an unbeliever who was a female. She's sweet. You know I've known her for a couple of years but I would approach her very differently than I would like a rough guy.

But I I tend to do better with like rough men because nobody wants to talk to them. Right. All these of the Votie Balcombe described it as the sissified needy Jesus. Right. That's what people believe in.

Is that sort of Jesus is real nice and he just doesn't ever say anything. That's not nice. Well I think that's that's nonsense. So sometimes you just have to I just get in people's faces and I go if so this one fella said to me I'm an atheist I don't believe that.

I laughed. I go you don't really believe that. Do you don't say that out loud people are gonna think you're stupid. Right. And he's like what are you talking about. And it led to a conversation which now four years later we're very good friends and he's hungry for the gospel.

So you know sometimes you have to talk to people on their level. Now I am by no means an apologist. I have very little skill very little knowledge. I've only been saved for a couple of years. But I do believe that God prepares us to interact with the people that he's gonna put in our path.

So there are several I've described us as rough men who I have a close friendship with and we really just beneficial to each other. Amen. Amen. So how did the conversation with the lady go. You said you were having the conversation with the with the ladies.

You're a little bit softer speaking. Yeah. Yeah. And and she just kept saying thank you for the gentle response was something that that she said to me a few times because you know she was bearing her soul to me and telling me some some of the horrible things she's been through.

And you know I understand you know because I was mad at God for those things. But I understand but I love. I had heard an apologist once say that he was talking to a Buddhist who had this Buddha book and he had revealed to him that his father committed suicide.

He goes so when your dad committed suicide was Buddha the one that you were mad at. No you weren't mad at Buddha. You're mad at God. Right. Because you know God exists. Right. Right. We know that God exists.

Everything in creation screams out that God exists. And if you deny that you're just speaking nonsense. Wow. That is really that's very powerful. You weren't mad at Buddha. You were mad at God. That is that is a powerful powerful truth.

The Witness of Creation and Why People Are Really Angry at God

Well Sam I you know I love talking to you and I love watching you online. Part of the reason why I wanted to do this interview with you is because you are a very interesting individual since I have begun to know you and a lot of people probably on my friends list are maybe not friends with you but they've seen me you and a thousand things.

Because every time I see something that I think is a great apologetic or a great meme especially a good Christian meme. I love to share that with you and I've enjoyed the way that the Lord has has brought us together as friends.

I've really enjoyed. You've been to our church I think two times or at least. Right. And and and that's driving all the way up from Melbourne. Right is where you're at one. Yep yeah central Florida. You described a South Florida.

But central Florida. Yeah there's still a drive those. Yeah we don't mess with those South Florida people. I got you. Yeah. Well well well you know Florida man has gained an international attention and so we are both Florida man.

Are you from Florida or is this where you're from. I was born in the great city of Orlando on a dark winter night. I got you. Well I was born in Jacksonville and I've never. Well Callahan is right outside of Jackson was where I grew up but but this is where I've been all my life and and Lord Lord willing it's where I'll be until he takes me home.

I love the church I'm in. I don't I don't have any intention of being anywhere else unless like I said unless God unless God has another plan. And there's a lot going on right now that I never expected in my lifetime all the things that are happening and I know you have a thousand opinions on Corona and COVID -19 and all those things.

And for the sake of safety and brevity I'm not gonna go too far down that path but I do think this is a time we're speaking to people who who don't believe in God is is very important because this is a time where people are facing fear doubt the reality of mortality.

The Gospel: Sin, the Cross, and the Need for a Savior

So could you do me a favor could you share the gospel like if you were gonna share the gospel with me if I was an unbeliever and I don't mean to put you on the spot if but but if you were if I was someone who maybe not an atheist but if I just want to on these interviews I want to want to have the opportunity for whoever's listening to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So so epistemologically like I like to dig deep philosophically epistemologically you know I go right to the heart of things you know why do you believe what you believe. Right. So so we dig down there and and and if if we address that first then we knock out any disagreements that we're gonna have and then we can talk heart to heart you know that Jesus Christ was was was tortured on the cross died for us rose again so that we can be seated next to the father or so that he's seated next to the father and we can be with him in eternity.

That our sins are are washed away by the debt that he paid that we could never repay. Right. Our our sins are so are not so great but they're so great because of who they're a sin against right. If I send against Keith Foskey who cares.

Yeah but my sins are against the Lord God Almighty. Therefore it is infinitely worse because of who it's against right. So so the first thing I want to do is Francis Schaeffer said was asked if you had an hour to share the gospel with people what would you do.

He said I would talk about sin for 55 minutes so that people know the reason for the need to be saved because otherwise they're gonna go. What am I being saved from. You know God saving me from himself.

Why. What did I do. Right. So we have to talk about sin. We have to understand who we are. And then R .C. Sproul is another one who I just adore you know said we don't know who God is. We don't understand how holy and righteous he is because we think God is love.

And yes God is love. But God is also just he is also righteous he is also holy holy holy. And if we don't understand that part we're not gonna see the need for a Savior. So I tend to focus on people sin and I'll have great comfort the way you know people goes.

I think I think I'm a good person. Don't really have you ever lied you know anything. So you're a liar and a thief. Okay so you're still a good person. So yeah I like to focus on sin and then bring the gospel just to ensure that we're talking about the same thing.

A Game of Bible Memory Verses

Amen amen. All right. Okay. Well I want to now turn our attention a little bit. I want to make this again. I want to make this fun. And for those of you who are watching for the first time this is the first time I've ever given an interview.

And so yeah. And and and and I'm thankful to interview my friend Sam. And so right. Now what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna switch up to a game. I thought it'd be fun to play a game. I brought along this little timer it goes along with one of the board games that I have and this timer is going to be used by us.

And we're gonna do a back-and-forth to see who can give the most memory verses. Now yeah. Okay so we're gonna both do Bible chapter and verse. And and and I hope you'll be able to hear it every time.

I I'll go first and I get one. I'm gonna click on this. And then you'll hear it clicking. And then when when Sam gets one I'll click it over. And if either one of us when it's our time runs out of time it'll it'll give a little car horn honk.

And that'll mean that person is is out. So we'll do this. We're gonna see how it goes. I'll go first. Okay all right. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1. You stole mine.

Okay okay is it my time. Now your turn. Habakkuk 1 2. How long will I cry out and you will not hear me. Okay in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Romans 1 18. For the for the wrath of God is being poured out on upon all the unrighteousness of all men.

Okay. John 1 14. Oh wait. No I can't do it. I see I do this is killing me. Okay. Romans 3 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. John 3 16 for God to love the world but he gave his only begotten Son.

John 3 17 for for Christ came not into the world to condemn it but to whatever. I forget the last word. Okay. And you did too. So I'll get okay all right. Before Abraham was I am. John 8 58. John 1135 Jesus wept.

Oh yeah. Okay boom. Oh boy see I know a lot more than this but I can't. Oh I promise I'm not just I'm horrible. Under the gun. Come on. Dr. pastor. I know. Oh you did win anyone. Fair and square. No no wait.

I haven't won yet because I have to give one all right. Well I well you for the sake of the game it was whoever went out lost. So I went out. Okay I'm the I'm the loser. Now I do want to wrap up our interview for the sake of time I'm trying to keep these relatively short.

I'm hoping people will enjoy them and be willing to share them. And I have a couple of quick final questions for you. Okay number one. What is your favorite. And I'm gonna say these. I'm gonna say it three times.

I'm gonna say a favorite book of the Bible favorite verse of the Bible. And they don't have to necessarily be the same because mine's different. Like I have a favorite book and a favorite verse and so and they don't aren't always in the same thing.

So what is your favorite book of the Bible. And it like say you were you were stranded on Desert Island. You can only take one book of the Bible with you. What would what would it be Habakkuk. Oh wow.

Back it was the one was I spent a year seminary. You're at seminary. I wasn't a very good student. I did have several instances to be able to preach at a local church. And my first sermon series was on Habakkuk.

Because it it's a book that is so powerful. It's only three short chapters but it's one of the most quoted books in in the New Testament. And it's unique in the way that the that the prophet is speaking directly with God and gets answers and just the way that it plays out is so beautiful and it's really relevant now like I would think that if if a pastor was looking for a sermon series to do now with the coronavirus and the the plagues of locusts and all that that Habakkuk would be an excellent book to preach on.

And I see you taking notes, listen. I can just come up there and give my series for you. Okay I tell you what I'll stand there and you can preach in the background and I'll just move my lips. Favorite verse.

Jesus wept. I think that that so much just encapsulates the entirety of the story that we need to understand. We don't get that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Right. He went through everything that we do.

Right we have a Savior. You're not like you know an 18-armed Shiva which is some fantastical ridiculous thing made up. We have a Savior that that became flesh and and died for our sins and so he understood everything.

You know you think you're anxious. What about when Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. He you know it was so anxious that he sweat blood. Right he understood everything that we go through. So we can't say that that we're not.

You know praying to a God who doesn't understand us. He understands us in every single way because he created us you know from the very moment of conception. I'm sorry like I said I tend to read no no that's perfect.

Favorite Bible Teacher and Favorite Historical Preacher

Okay so um you're I'm gonna give you two questions. Your favorite Bible teacher living and no longer living so no longer living in this world we could say with with Christ who is your who's your favorite living Bible teacher.

And and can't say me and I am I tend to riff on things so I hope this isn't offensive but actually you are like an image of my current favorite Bible teacher living and that's Durbin. Jeff Durbin. I have a huge man crush on Jeff Durbin and I and I see you as maybe like a plus-size Jeff Durbin.

Right karate guy. Okay I'll have to send Jeff Durbin this video just the plus-size Jeff Durbin that that was probably the greatest compliment I've gotten in a while. Okay yeah I just love that guy so much because really really just his his exposition his heart for the unborn just the fact that he's just a normal good guy and and but he's assertive with proclaiming the gospel as we should be.

And you know for so many years I've seen these sissified pale-skinned virgin priests who just want to smile and like Joel Osteen because I don't want to talk about sin because people know they're bad.

They don't don't we think that we are amazing. So without proclaiming the truth of the gospel to people they're never gonna get it. And as far as you know my favorite non-living or at least not earthly living Bible teacher goodness you know Bonhoeffer has really but I don't really know that wasn't really like an extoller so maybe Whitfield George Whitfield.

I loved how they would write about George Whitfield how he would be come so overcome with emotion that he would collapse on the on the on the lectern there and they were afraid that he wasn't gonna recover because he was but and he was like you laugh at me because I'm crying but your very souls are in danger and you don't understand it.

I think I had a heart for people and just loved people. And and probably one of my favorite quotes is from seat from CT stud. He said most people want to live within the sound of church bells. I want to run a rescue mission one yard outside of hell.

I mean that that's it brother that is that is that is somebody who had a heart for people and really wanted to proclaim the gospel to people as they were marching through the gates of hell. You know you can't go there without saying you haven't heard the gospel.

Closing Prayer and Final Sign-Off

Absolutely absolutely well brother I have so appreciated you and I've enjoyed this time together and I'm gonna just do a quick prayer for those who are listening and for you and me. And and so if we could pray together father I thank you for this time with my friend I pray that this has been a blessing to him and to and I know it has been to me and I thank you Lord.

And I pray that this would be a blessing to anyone who hears it Lord especially one who might be struggling in unbelief. Lord may we see may we see the the futility of atheism and the beauty in the beauty of the cross and and may we see Christ as worthy of worship as he truly is.

And it's in his name. We pray. Amen amen. Thank you Jesus. And thank you Kiefoski. Thank you Sam Brown. Bless. Sighs. I love you brother and I look forward to seeing you online. May God bless you. Thank you for tuning in to coffee with the Calvinist.

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