why when you ask a challenging question about christianity they just say the old cliche only God knows?

Question

don't answer with "because only God knows"
don't quote the bible when answering

and no i'm not atheist

Answer 1

Because -they- certainly don't. Basically, a Christan's time is spent trying to come up with rationalizations to try to make their Bible and their God make some slight degree of sense. They inevitably fail, of course.

Saying "only God knows" is precisely equivalent to how a parent tries to hush a nosy child. "But why, mom, why?" asks the child. "Because!" the parent exasperatedly yells. "Because" is hardly an answer, and "because only God knows" is no different. It's the sort of answer you use when you haven't got a leg to stand on but want to give your opinion some backing. God's endorsement is free—anyone can claim it.

Answer 2

There are things I don't know. I am not afraid to say that I don't know.
Sometimes I am asked why I believe such and such a thing, and sometimes I use the Bible to help me make a point, but I don't rely on my Bible to answer every question I am asked.
(Sometimes, I have been asked questions like "what is your favorite Bible quotation and why?" That one would be sort of hard to answer, unless I quoted the Bible, but I don't think that's the sort of thing you are referring to.)

One thing I am sure of...there are some things, whether I like it or not, or whether you do, that only God knows.
One day, I am sure, I will understand everything, and that Bible will look like a Dick Jane and Sally reader to me. When that happens, I'll look you up. I'll be at home with my Father in His Kingdom. If you happen to be anywhere around (I hope you are!), I'll find you, and we can talk.
Deal?

Answer 3

Why can't we quote the Bible?
It's about Christianity!

Answer 4

it has also been stated: it is a mystery, or the human mind cannot comprehend.
These are excapes that people who are dogmatic and can't support their viewpoints with either Scripture or logic.
Yhe Bible is God's communication with mankind and I believe that he intended nothing to be "mysterious" or "incomprehensable", as any lack of clarity leads to more people being worthy of falling under judgment.
This is not in harmony with what the inspired writwer says at2Peter3:9 Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.
If He (God) desires alll to attain to repentance, then, confusion only serves to better Satan's objectives, namely the death of as many humans as he can miclead.

Answer 5

Even nontheists have to answer "I don't know" sometimes. And it's a legitimate answer.

But I think I understand what you mean. Saying something isn't known and saying something "shouldn't" be known or "isn't knowable" are different things. I can't admire people who think ignorance is a virtue.

Answer 6

Only God knows.

I try to give real answers. My guess is that they have not taken the time to study and learn the answers for themselves.

Answer 7

Because they're lazy; because they haven't been trained to think; because they've been taught that thought is the enemy; because they really don't believe, but only want to believe, and suspect that thinking will make their whole house of cards come tumbling down (but of course it might not).

Answer 8

I'm a Christian, and I have never used that answer.....wonder why...God only...oops.

Answer 9

Lets have a question then!

Answer 10

So what's the question?