Changes

== Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists ==

== Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists ==

Although it is not reported in the press often, due the press preferring to focus on controversy and conflict, as it garners more viewership/readers, many Christians quietly pray for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] - even those of the [[militant atheism|militant variety]] such as [[Richard Dawkins]].<ref>[http://creation.com/dawkins-upset Richard Dawkins upset that public doesn’t like him] by Warren Nunn, Published by [[Creation Ministries International]] 13 May 2014 (GMT+10)</ref> The late atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] had many Christians praying for him before he passed away and were saddened when he died.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-grieve-death-of-christopher-hitchens-share-hopes-for-deathbed-conversion-65035/ Christians Grieve Death of Christopher Hitchens; Share Hopes for Deathbed Conversion] by Eryn Sun, ''Christian Post'' Reporter, December 16, 2011</ref>

Although it is not reported in the press often, due the press preferring to focus on controversy and conflict, as it garners more viewership/readers, many Christians quietly pray for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] - even those of the [[militant atheism|militant variety]] such as [[Richard Dawkins]].<ref>[http://creation.com/dawkins-upset Richard Dawkins upset that public doesn’t like him] by Warren Nunn, Published by [[Creation Ministries International]] 13 May 2014 (GMT+10)</ref> The late atheist Christopher Hitchens had many Christians praying for him before he passed away and were saddened when he died.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-grieve-death-of-christopher-hitchens-share-hopes-for-deathbed-conversion-65035/ Christians Grieve Death of Christopher Hitchens; Share Hopes for Deathbed Conversion] by Eryn Sun, ''Christian Post'' Reporter, December 16, 2011</ref>

 

Richard Wurmbrand, who endured years of torture by an atheistic [[communism|communist]] government and wrote the wrote the book ''Tortured for Christ'', indicated that he had a compassion even for those who tortured him by "looking at men .. not as they are, but as they will be ... I could also see in our persecutors ... a future [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]] ... (and) the jailer in Philippi who became a convert."<ref>[[DC Talk|dc Talk]] and The Voice of the Martyrs. ''Jesus Freaks: Stories of those who stood for Jesus: the ultimate Jesus Freaks.'' Bethany House Publishers, 1999, p. 67</ref>  

[[Jesus Christ]] taught to pray for those who persecute you and to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44).

[[Jesus Christ]] taught to pray for those who persecute you and to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44).