“Sometimes [atheists] call me a coward for declining to debate, but I’ve come to view it as a fruitless exercise.”
Most of the time people do not believe the Gospel because of issues of morality and character rather than logic, reason, or evidence. That’s why these debates tend to be fruitless.
But sometimes God intervenes in their lives to prove He is real, if they are really open-minded enough to receive it. He did that for Larry Nevenhoven, who writes for WND:
http://www.wnd.com/2018/04/do-we-still-need-prophecy-and-spiritual-gifts/
Most of the time people do not believe the Gospel because of issues of morality and character rather than logic, reason, or evidence.
I think this hits the nail on the head, but atheists obviously don't see it that way. To listen to them it's about "defeating Christianity," which is holding mankind back from a "scientific utopia."
Say what you will about Nietsche, at least he was one of the few who was brutally honest about it. Admitting that he rejected Christianity out of preference, not any persuasive argument.