Why do ppl answer questions with verses?

Question

I ask this because I'm really sorry....we don't read them. If you aren't Christian...well to put it bluntly, we don't care. We actually sort of think its brainwashy and creepy. I suppose if its the way you think or something we can't change it. But people outside your faith with take you a lot more seriously if you just used your own words. So why do ppl do it? I understand you think its the word of God...but couldn't you like paraphrase or something?

But why can't you "proclaim the truth" in your own words? It makes it look like you don't believe it, you don't THINK about, you just read and recite. I know Christians are perfectly intelligent...but it doesn't sound that way sometimes. I think you all sell yourself short when you do it.

I know YOU think its the truth, but ppl whoa ren't Christians don't. And for everyone who answered with bible qoutes, LOL seriously I don't bother to read them. I've read the bible. If I wanted answers out of it, I'd just read it myself.

Answer 1

You make a good point. To be honest, when I see verse after verse after verse quoted here in response to a question, my eyes glaze over too. And I'm a Bible-believing and -reading Christian (formerly Baptist, now Catholic, and I may get slammed on one or the other... wouldn't be the first time).

The thing is ... although we believe that the Bible is the word of God and that it will "not return void" (meaning that whenever it is communicated, it will accomplish the will of God), some of us tend to forget two important considerations; meeting the other person where they are, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

If I cannot convince someone that what I believe is true without using the Bible -- which is most surely the case when the other person doesn't believe the Bible is anything more than ancient superstition -- then just gratuitously rolling out Bible verses isn't likely to be well-received. There are some who would point me to the verses in Matthew and Mark about the word sown in rocky soil, etc. But taking that to mean just tossing it out there and leaving it to God whether or not it grows can easily become (oh, here it comes) rote and ... lazy. Unless a questioner has specifically asked for Bible verses, it's impersonal -- and a lost opportunity to share what we believe in a way that others can relate to.

Far be it from me to dictate to anyone how to go about evangelization or apologetics. But I do wonder why some of my brethren are aghast at paraphrasing by way of explanation when the Bible they're holding in their hands is likely a translation which, by definition, has been paraphrased from the original text!

Lest we feel unequal to the task, or fear that we'll make some grievous error if we don't just stick to quoting chapter and verse, we need to keep in mind that the Holy Spirit can and does use even our poorest efforts and weakest witness. For me, it's very reassuring that it's not completely up to us.

Answer 2

Jill, I don't know whether you are Christian or not but what I do know is that Christians follow the footsteps of the Lord Jesus who was sent to the earth to die for our sins. Our reference to that statement is found in the Bible Book of John 3:16. Now tell me, how would you have known if I had not cited that scripture?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1) You see Jill; this is what the Bible is about. Do this today or right now. Ask a student or a business person, "What is a Book for All People?" and notice that their answers will be why, "The Bible". It is only the Bible that will tell you that God created the heavens and the earth. How else can you know, except we give you the quotation: the Book, the Chapter and the verse(s), of course.

I am sure you are out of school by now. Recall when you did a Term Paper in school, the Teacher no doubt asked you to provide references in your Bibliography. You provided them, didn't you? As Christians, we have to use an authoritative source, which is God's Word the Holy Bible. (1 Tim. 3:16,17). Have you really read the entire Bible? From Genesis to Revelation? If so, how many times? Notice that Jesus used quotations too. When Satan the Devil tempted him as to worshiping the Devil, Jesus said, 'It is written, You must worship God alone.' He was quoting from Exodus 20:3. Even the Devil quoted from Psalm 91:11, 12 when he posed the second tempting question to Jesus. Now how will you know what was going on between Jesus and Satan except you read Matthew 4:1-10.

Actually, we can try to explain the Bible to you but it better for the Bible to speak for itself. (Heb. 4:12) Please take this seriously; referring to what is stated at Revelation 22:18, 19. I would like you to try and look it up. Kindly be willing to move some muscle and flip the pages of the Bible and verify a point or two for you to know for sure that is a message telling us not to add or subtract from the Scriptures. In essence, we can not be paraphrasing the Bible’s words we can only try to get you to understand it because God’s Word is Truth.—John 17:17.

Answer 3

Dear Jill,

You don't have to apologize for not caring about the Bible verses in answers. I think you've made a fair statement. Some people do read them. I've got to tell you that I personally have trouble taking people's comments seriously when they substitute "ppl" for people or use other text languagel. So I guess it takes all kinds here.

So far I've only read Primo's answer and I do agree with his answer.

The problem with paraphrasing is that new man-made religions arise every day with paraphrasing the paraphraising. It reminds me of when I was a child and had some cavitites. I asked the dentist why he had to drill the cavity out first if he was just going to fill the tooth back up. I was trying to avoid the pain but he told me there would be even more pain involved if he did what I asked him to do.

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 4

I think most Christians who try to answer a question with a Bible verse are trying hard not just to give an opinion but to support it, the same way you might quote a famous author to demonstrate a point. Sincere opinions and paraphrases are wonderful, but true Christians know that the written word of God has power to change lives . I'm sure you can appreciate the desire to back up and support the opinion with God's word. I think it shows true consideration and extra effort, and I hope some of the verses speak to your heart.

Answer 5

It doesn't make much sense, does it?
I suppose it could be "support" for their answer, but not everyone (perhaps even the one asking the question) believes in the Bible; so it's not helpful and most likely doesn't even get close to answering the question. It's equivalent to quoting Green Eggs and Ham.
At times I think I'm dumber than a rock, but when I notice some of the stupid things people write on this website, I feel like Einstein. I guess it's true, after a while you start to notice most of the people on here don't have very many brain cells.

Answer 6

Generally I answer all questions from what I know, but it stems from knowing God and knowing scriptures. However when we are making a point on a statement that may need to be strengthened by a Scripture, I post it. Else how do you know that what I know is of any value, or of any truth, if it just extends to personal truth, then we could say that all truth is relevant and all truth is then good, however this is not the case, all truth is not the same truth, or even all truth is relevant truth, only that truth which comes from God is "the Truth". That is why scriptures are quoted, our truth even from the Scriptues is our experience with it, but when it is presented it is vested by the Holy Spirit with God's power, and God's truth and that truth will not return void, for it says so in the Holy Scriptures. The Word will do its work in the individual either as admonition by faith to bring one into the fullness of salvation in Christ or to be their judge of not heeding the truth that was pesented to them.

Answer 7

Hey Jill, that's a great question. If you would like, we could have a converstion about moral absolutes, love, human responsibility, justice, guilt, post-modernism, etc. on a purely rational plane, but ultimately, those things don't mean anything if there is no God. What do I care about justice of there is no God (and no justice league either). I will define my own justice, moral absolutes, according to my own bias and if that is in conflict with yours, tough. If yours are in conflict with mine, tough. If I think rape is ok, don't go throwing morals in my face because I make up my own when I want, there is no objective standard. If I want to steal from you, dont tell me I should not do that, what I should or should not do doesn't really exist. When we use the word "should" or "must" or "ought" we are appealing to a standard that is outside of ourselves or a higher authority. For there to be any real justice in this world, there must be a Justice or Lawgiver who is totally just, righteous, equitable, and holy who is able to impart moral absolutes. So then, rape is always wrong, wrong all the time because a righteous God has declared it so. When Christians appeal to the Bible, they are appealing to an authority outside of themselves, an authority that claims in over 3,000 places to be the word of the Lord. Christians are not an authority in and of themselves, they do not think they are better than anybody because Christians believe the authority is God, not men or women. That authority, God's love letter to humanity has announced God's justice against sin, but also His love in forgiving the sinner who repents and trusts in God's salvation provided in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. We can trust that what Jesus did on the cross was real because death could not hold him, He rose again defeating sin, death, and the grave. Jill, instead of facing God's wrath against your sin, you could face God's love in forgiving your sin so that you will be welcomed in His heaven when your life on earth is over. Also, you can have a personal relationship with the living God right now here on earth knowing that you are accepted in Him because of the work of Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

Because the person is unable to think for themselves and can only quote others. I faced the same problem with philosophy, a lot of people thought that just quoting others was a substitute for debate. An attitude of: "They said it, therefore it must be true".

In my opinion, a good answer will give an answer to the question asked, and provide a reason for the person's thinking. If the answerer wants to refer to a scriptural quote, what is wrong with just putting down the reference?

Unless it's the text of a particular piece of scripture that's being debated, I really don't see the need to put reams of quotations in to an answer here. Tell us what you think, not what others have thought.

Answer 9

Well said and -

The bible is a source of wisdom.

Even an atheist can see the good in wisdom of the bible.

But because there is so much God - God - God atheists strongly reject a lot of wisdom that is in the bible.

Some verses are really awesome when applied to life.

Some people just misapply verses of the bible to make points - ....

I just vote thumb down and go to the next answer. and so forth.
This shrinks up the answers until a few good one are showing and from these something may be learned.

Answer 10

When a question is asked we Christians often have a Scripture come to mind. It's just like any other book that you read the more you read it the more you understand it. You might have to read it several times to understand it but once you do it sticks with you. It's like having proof in what you are saying. That's all, we're not trying to appear creepy.