Why do some Christians say that when an atheist does good God used them to do his will?

Question

I thought the Bible says that unbelievers do no good works.

Answer 1

There are numerous examples throughout the Holy Scriptures of God using men who were not his worshipers to glorify his name or to play a role in the outworking of his purposes. Here are just two:

We have the example of Balaam, who attempted to curse God's people, the Israelites, but was unable because God turned his curse into a blessing three times. (Numbers 23:1-24:9)

Also, the example of King Cyrus of Persia, likely a pagan devotee of Zoroastrianism, who freed the Israelites from Babylonian captivity and allowed them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple for God's worship. (Isaiah 44:28)

In fact, the scriptures even say that the work of warning people of God's coming day of judgment and telling of the good news of the Kingdom and therefore glorifying God's name and purposes is so important, if there were not sufficient ministers to tell it, God could use the stones to do this work. How much more effective/efficient would it be to use people, even if they did not know God or believe in him? Fortunately, that has not proved necessary.

Luke 19:37-40 says: 37 As soon as he got near the road down the Mount of Olives all the multitude of the disciples started to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice concerning all the powerful works they had seen, 38 saying: “Blessed is the One coming as the King in Jehovah’s name! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places!” 39 However, some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 But in reply he said: “I tell YOU, If these remained silent, the stones would cry out."

However, that makes no excuse for those who claim to worship God but who reproach his name. Matthew 7:21-23 says:

21 “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

Answer 2

Most unbelievers being addressed by the Bible are those who belong to their clans who claim to be Jewish but refuse to do what the requirements of their belief does and those that believe in other super natural beings.
Most "unbelievers" also at that time are believers of many Gods and in defense of their faith they tried to harm the Jews who believe in One god. People of the past believe in the existence of dieties and it is only in the later periods when science have made their rendezvous that people started to be non-believers as we know it now. The writings of the Bible was done prior to the birth of scientific findings.

Answer 3

Well see there is hope you guys yet. What an encouraging thought to think that God uses all people for His plans for this world. God not only uses you, my friend, He also, offers some protection for you. Each day in this world is like an obstacle course. Traffic, weather, family woes, sickness, etc. Even though you may not believe in Him you are still under a bit of protection. It is not just the atheists who have no good works to offer God, it is all people. You see, compared to perfection we can not measure up. Oh, to other people we may appear to be "better" but in God's sight we are not perfect. That is a tough order to fill even for those of us who believe. So, yeah, God uses you. You should watch for it, you might find it fascinating.

Answer 4

Good works in the Bible are made with gold (righteousness), silver (redemption) and precious stones (God's love). Bad works made by wood, hay and straw (ie by human effort) will be burned up when God judged our works in the day of judgment. Good works in human terms are not good work in Biblical terms. Good works in the Biblical sense are done abiding in Christ or with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and for the glory of God. So an atheist cannot do good works in God's eyes and they are never done according to His will..

Answer 5

The Bible says that all the works of man (believer or non) are like filthy rags.

But that does not mean that God does not bring good things into our lives. The Bible is full of examples of non-believers being used by God to bring about His perfect will.

Answer 6

You are talking about two different good works. The first good work in your question is good works in the world. It is man who judges and say that particular thing was good.

The second good work is good works the Father sees. As Christians, we are clothed in Christ, so the Father does not see our sinful flesh. A non Christian is not clothes in Christ, so God sees their sin. They are unable to do a good work in God's eyes because of this.

Yes, God can use anything in the world to do his will, and he does.

Answer 7

The bible is correct an unbeliever cannot do any good works. Because they believe they're the cause of the good works, and not God. Without God, nobody can do anything.

Answer 8

Because christians can't accept that atheists are driven to good works by their own will and not god's. Christians are only motivated to do well by others via the threat of hell and eternal damnation. Atheists don't feel that threat and do great services and works by the very goodness of their being.

Answer 9

Because Christians believe in their God, wholeheartedly. And because they are Christians, they are in honest belief that God created the Heavens and the Earth and Humans and all that is contained in our universe, and with that comes his immeasurability, unfathomability, immensity, and overall authority. God can do anything he wants; what he wills, happens.

Answer 10

Because they see life with blinders on and cannot fathom for an instant that someone would do something good for another just because they felt it was the right thing for humanity. Myself, I prefer to live without the blinders.