Why use Bible verses to explain things to nonbelievers?

Question

Fellows,

Why, when someone who isn't a believer asks a question regarding faith, do you use Bible verses immediately to make a point? If they are a non-believer, they won't believe in the Bible or any other religious text, so what is the point of STARTING with verses? This is a tactic that I think is somewhat ignorant- why debate using only quotes from something that they deem illogical? Why not first convince them to believe by other means, then, once they believe in the Bible, use verses to back things up?

Please clarify why you use verses on non-believers.

Answer 1

Dear Brandon,

i think there needs to be a balance. When sharing the gospel it is important that people understand that it's God's message and not your personal thoughts or opinons.

That being said i think it depends on the nature of your relationship with that person. With a lot of my non-Christian co-workers i share a lot of principals and sometimes even quote verses (though i don't need to give them the reference).

That being said--- there are some whose hearts are open to Bible verses. i've had non-believers ask me for Bible verses to comfort them even though they don't believe in God.

For myself personally when i was non-believer that was seeking to know God- the Bible was a tremendous help to me. i began to read and read and read it and found Jesus' teachings to be true- though i did not understand everything and had my fair share of questions.

The key to sharing with others is just sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. i think there are times when sharing verses are appropriate and we need to clearly teach and share what God has shared with us. And other times when the Spirit will direct us to just listen and really search out what obstacles that person has to overcome to know Christ.

i will use verses on non-believers because God's word is true, it's pure, and it's quite different from so many of the things we often hear in the world. How can you tell someone that Jesus loves them- without sharing about what He has said and done which is found in God's word?

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 2

Punter... you just did exactly what the asker of this question said not to do. You quoted bible verses. How about you answer the actual question instead of avoiding it hmm?

To answer the question... they do it because they don't have anything else. They have no way to convince you so they think that, since they believe it, if they quote it enough times you'll believe it too.

Answer 3

I think that the best reason to use Bible verses to explain things in answer to a question is in case there is even one person who reads it that is inspired by it. That would mean that one person was being led to God and blessed by what is said.

Answer 4

Arguments without using the Bible, such as "there had to've been something in the beginning that created all of this" and "don't you think you ought to believe just in case you're wrong in not believing" have been equally as unpersuasive as quoting scripture.

Answer 5

There isn't room enough here to answer all your questions. So I'll deal with the first and suggest you do some research on your own for answers to your remaining questions. This answer also ties in with your question #9. Paul was not forbidding women ever to speak at all, as many presume, or else why would he have admonished them to wear a head covering when praying and prophesying? (1 Corinthians 11:5-6) The context of 1 Corinthians 14:34 is orderly worship, and the Greek word translated “speak” means to talk, question, argue, or chatter. These are disruptive actions of which some women in the church at Corinth were guilty. In support of this, in 1 Corinthians 14:35 Paul said that if ever they didn’t understand what that was going on, or had a contrary opinion about something being said, they should wait and discuss it with their husbands when they got home. The definition for “speak” specifically did not prohibit singing, praying, prophesying or public speaking, which women, like men, have always been welcome to do in the church as long as it’s done in an orderly manner. Beginning in 1 Cor. 11 Paul’s focus was on orderly worship, so everything has to be looked at in that light.  And as you study all of Paul’s writing on the marriage relationship, you’ll see that he always differentiated between equality and submission.  There’s never a hint of male superiority, either in what he did or what he wrote.  In fact the entire New Testament is one of the most liberating documents ever written for women. But from the beginning, there has been an order in creation that calls for man to be submissive to God and woman to be submissive to man.  For example, Jesus is equal to God in every way, but when He became a man He placed Himself in submission to God. (Phil. 2:6-7) That’s what Paul meant by obeying the law.  His point was that out of respect for God, it’s especially important for this order to be maintained in worship. In 1 Cor. 11:5 Paul recognized that women would take part in worship, so that’s not the issue.  And voluntary submission to her husband obviously doesn’t apply to single women.  Paul’s instruction only seems strange to us because of the misguided notion that in order for women to be equal to men, they cannot be submissive to their husbands.

Answer 6

Hi Brandon H. We should always use the God's word the Bible when we are spreading the Gospel, because it is the truth. If we try to use our own word to bring you to God it would do no good. Only God can bring you to Him. He tells us very clearly this is true in John 6:44:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

There are people who want something tangible to base their faith on, but God tells us He is a spirit in John 4:24:

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Some people want a vision or a dream so that they know God is real. But, we must remember that Judas Iscariot walked with Christ, he saw Peter walk on water and had seen almost all of Christ's miracles, yet Judas still betrayed Jesus.

When we rely on God's Word the Bible and compare the Bible in its entirety we can know what God is teaching us about Salvation. My advice is to avoid anyone who wants to tell you about God who does not rely on the Bible as their sole authority.

Answer 7

I agree with you, unless the question involves something that directly relates to the Bible; like, why do you believe???, or what makes Christians think???

Answer 8

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Well, the scriptures can target much more than just the mere intellect of a person but, also the heart. Hebrews 4:12
.

Answer 9

Because that's all they have. An ancient fairy tale. And the people who believe this fairy tale is true can't really think for themselves because if they could they would see it for what it is. So since they can't think freely due to going to church every week and being told exactly what to believe and what to do, that's all they have is their bible scriptures and since they believe every word of it, they think that's all they need.

Answer 10

They don't have anything else.