I quit debating Atheists many years ago. I just give the Gospel story (if they will listen) and let it go at that, the rest is up to the Holy Spirit (planting the seed, as it were). In reading the Bible, you will never discover anything about Jesus “debating” the Gospel of Salvation … Mark 10:17-27 is a great example. If He didn’t choose to debate, who am I to do differently.
It isn’t a matter of debating. We must do much, much more than just present a simple message.
Each person is unique. Each needs us to enter their own life, their own narrative, and share the Gospel in a language they understand.
When pagans were being converted, it took a long, long time. They did not have the intellectual ‘furniture’ that Christians had. Talk of God, sin, redemption and spirituality simply had no meaning to them.
What this means is, start where they are. If they have objections, it is likely they are cultural objections which need to be thought through. Be patient. If we are not willing to walk beside them and help them walk through their objections, we ourselves our ‘out of step’ with the Gospel. (The Gospel is: God came down and walked beside us in order to save us. He didn’t have to. He wanted to.)
Yes, there is also hostility to the Gospel. But Christ died for us while we were still hostile towards him, living in sin (which is what sin is — hostility towards Christ).
Remember, God was patient with each of us while we were in sin. He is still patient with us, as few of us have even a clue as to his real majesty and the grace he has provided. We’re all living off what he lent to us. Let’s lend the atheists what we have.