Quoting scripture to nonbelievers ...

[JimB]

God is the opener of the eyes--to the spiritually blinded--anyway

AS we preach--exhort--quote passages of scripture--then a seed is being planted--either for acceptance of truth or further rejection--on their part

Just because they are not spiritually discerned--does not proclude--that it is a sheer waste of time--to give them scriptural texts--as such

God's word will not return void--but accomplish that which it sets out to do

Most people have heard of the following things
~~ hell
~~ heaven
~~ the word sin and sinner
~~ the word judgement
~~ a guilty conscience
~~ the ten commandments
~~ the law and laws of God
~~ eternal life
~~ Jesus as saviour
~~ and the love of GOD

SO they have a concept of truth-- to a degree--altho not yet being born again--as such by water and of the spirit of God

*****

I disagree.


We assume people know these things, but it’s only a baseless assumption. You would be surprised what our sophisticated, postmodern society does NOT know about the Bible. This was brought home to me recently.


Donna is a twentyish high school math teacher, the daughter of two university math teachers, and a new member of our church. She enrolled in our summer Bible for Dummies (Bible 101) course, which gives a 13-week overview of the Old and New Testament. In one of our first sessions on Genesis I thought we would just skip over some of the better known stories like Noah and the Flood, and …

“What flood?” Donna asked.

“You know, Noah and the Flood,” I replied, anxious to move on to the Nephilim and other deeper stuff.

“Who is Noah?” she asked.

This is a university-educated math teacher asking questions we assume even our toddlers know the answer to. Just because these stories are so familiar to us who have hung around the church all, or most, of our lives does not mean your neighbor next door has a clue.

So, when you are witnessing to your neighbor, and you whip out your big black book and quote him scripture, like, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love,” don’t be surprised if you draw a blank stare. He may nod his head, but he does not have a clue what he just heard. As far-fetched as this may sound to a person saturated by churchianity, he may never even have heard John 3.16.

So don’t assume, Bible quoters, that you are having an effect on a non-believer when you whip out your big black Bible. Just because he is polite and will not admit his ignorance does not mean he understood a single word you just quoted. Oh, he may be impressed that you are so knowledgeable, but it does him no good. It just makes you look good.

Just tell him the story of your conversion and let the Holy Spirit do the saving.

~Jim

 

[amorosi]

Thanks Jim

Feel free to dis-agree

I take your point on board to an extent

Can i recommend a sermon to you from ray Comfort

It is a world famous sermon now

Entitled: " hells best kept secret"

at "sermonaudio.com"

Can i ask what may we think Paul said or quoted then to Felix ??

Would Paul thought...hmmmm...I''ll put away that big black collection of books

Or did he talk about

1. righteousness
2. temperance: self control over lust etc etc
3. and judgements to come for sinners

i.e - it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a.... living God
-and the realities of hell and the realities of burning in a lake of fire and of brimstones-- for all of eternity-- seperated from the presence of God
-- and righteousness: his standards of law, his holy standards, his purity.
etc etc

YOU see im currently active in witnessing Jim, i have been a missionary in the past, i have done open air crusades, preached to kids a t high school, pounded the street corners, spoken to the harlots, and the druggies, ive stood on street corners and preached to sinners passing by.

And i know from my own experience what works and was doesn't

the person with the experience, is not at the mercy of someone who hasn't had the experience

Now i don't to what extent youve street witnessed or evangelized Jim....okay....but i know what works for me

And in Fiji....most people that listened...responded to the call...to get saved, and as a result, of the message God laid on my heart, to preach to them.

all to his glory of course

What is your experience then--not so much with results factor--but to the extent or level of your witnessing or previous witnessing ??

We are all called to do the work of an evangelist....are we not ??

And not just get "fat" on the word, and never give something back to the lost world, or to the community.

To many fat and bloated sheep--who--never --sense any burden for the lost

IF YOU HAVE NO BURDEN FOR THE LOST....THEN WHAT PRAY TELL, IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE ??

 

[JimB]

Thanks Jim

Feel free to dis-agree

I take your point on board to an extent

Can i recommend a sermon to you from ray Comfort

It is a world famous sermon now

Entitled: " hells best kept secret"

at "sermonaudio.com"

Can i ask what may we think Paul said or quoted then to Felix ??

Would Paul thought...hmmmm...I''ll put away that big black collection of books

Or did he talk about

1. righteousness
2. temperance: self control over lust etc etc
3. and judgements to come for sinners

i.e - it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a.... living God
-and the realities of hell and the realities of burning in a lake of fire and of brimstones-- for all of eternity-- seperated from the presence of God
-- and righteousness: his standards of law, his holy standards, his purity.
etc etc

YOU see im currently active in witnessing Jim, i have been a missionary in the past, i have done open air crusades, preached to kids a t high school, pounded the street corners, spoken to the harlots, and the druggies, ive stood on street corners and preached to sinners passing by.

And i know from my own experience what works and was doesn't

the person with the experience, is not at the mercy of someone who hasn't had the experience

Now i don't to what extent youve street witnessed or evangelized Jim....okay....but i know what works for me

And in Fiji....most people that listened...responded to the call...to get saved, and as a result, of the message God laid on my heart, to preach to them.

all to his glory of course

What is your experience then--not so much with results factor--but to the extent or level of your witnessing or previous witnessing ??

We are all called to do the work of an evangelist....are we not ??

And not just get "fat" on the word, and never give something back to the lost world, or to the community.

To many fat and bloated sheep--who--never --sense any burden for the lost

IF YOU HAVE NO BURDEN FOR THE LOST....THEN WHAT PRAY TELL, IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE ??

A., like you I have witnessed all my Christian life. And I too know what works for me and what doesn’t. I teach our people to share their story.

Most Christians do not witness because, I think, they feel inadequate in their knowledge of scripture and have been taught that they need to memorize a lot of key scriptures and fire them at nonbelievers if they are to witness properly. They hesitate because they are intimidated by their ignorance.

Nonbelievers are usually even more ignorant.

But any believer can tell what the Lord has done for them and any nonbeliever can understand what they are saying. On the other hand, they may not understand what a scripture is actually saying.

Anyone, even a Bible illiterate, can witness by telling their story.

~Jim

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Where are our eyes as we ponder whether to speak the Word of God or instead formulate dialogue using our own finite noggin?

We cannot create. We are not creators. We have a mission.

What you are really doing here is suggesting that God intends that we should deny Christ (The Word). Moreover, you are suggesting that we use The Word to deny The Word, and you're using The Word to support this error!!

Where are our eyes if we are waiting for the Holy Spirit's prompting? This is another in an endless series of questions that attempts to confuse, places us at idle, and effectively takes us out of service.

What is our mission? What is the good news?

Tata, gotta run. Very busy.

Blessings,

John

 

[Simon_Templar]

well we may not create.. but we do sub-create.. we were made to resemble God in some ways at least.. and one of them is that we like to create (though really its more accurately sub-creating because we use what God has given us to try and make new and unique things).

But thats a bit off topic.

I'm all for using scripture, and I do. The real problem is that most christians simply don't know how to talk to normal people. Many of the christians I know get so isolated in the christian/church community that they have lost touch with much of the world around them. That may have some benefits.. but one of the negatives is it makes it much more difficult for people to communicate well with the people in the world.

I'm not at all advocating becoming "of the world" but rather simply understanding the time and place in which you live, and understanding the people among whom you live.

 

[hal weeks]

In my humble opinion the effectiveness of quoting the Bible to an unbeliever depends on their accepting the Bible as a sourch of truth.
Jesus quoted Scripture to the devil but he demonstrated His claims by signs and wonders. We, today, as evangelists can have the authority He has deligated to us to cast out demons and heal the sick. They may argue with doctrine but they can not argue with experience. A good approach to evangelism is through healing and then ask them, "would they like to know the Healer?"

 

[amorosi]

uhhh... well.. I'm not even involved in the whole exchange between you two... and I don't really have any personal investment in this conversation...

At this point I really wouldn't chance saying your comments, Johnny, are truth.. or deception... because honestly.. I have no idea what you said. I mean, I know the words you used... but I haven't a clue what ideas your trying to get across.

Now... this tends to worry me a bit because I'm pretty good at understanding obscure language and complex communications etc... so am I loosing it here? does anyone else know what he's talking about?

yes i do--perfectly--and concur with his words wholeheartedly

If jim m is right--then he has never read the book of acts--or not properly--anyway.

let's have a closer look if quoting scripture is a sheer waste of time, to the unregenerates--and then once again-- draw your own conclusions.

After God used the evangelist philip, to set almost an entire city free-- from a false prophet, who had mesmerized with sorceries, fake lying wonders and counterfeit experiences--allegedly in GOD.

The angel of the Lord spake to philip and said arise now philip. go southward, to gaza, which is in a desert.

And as he arose he he beheld an ethopian, an enuch, having great authority, under candace queen of those ethopians, and had come into jerusalem, for to worship.

And upon returning, and riding in his chariot, was reading from isaiah the prophet.

then the spirit said ...go near...and join yourself...philip, so philip ran to him.

And heard him, reading from isaiah's great book--then philip said--do you understand what you are reading--he responds how can i ??, except one guide me ? And he then desired philip, that he would come and sit with him

Now the reading was from Is 53:7 " and the enuch answered philip, and said i pray thee, of whom is isaiah refering to ??

is it himself--or does he refer to some other man ??

Then philip opened his mouth: and began at the same scripture

And preached jesus unto him

for isaiah was speaking about the coming death of king jesus[ crucifixition ]

Anyway the story goes , that as they approached water, the enuch says, what does now hinder me, from baptism ??

And philip replies: if you believe with all your heart, then you may be baptized

the enuch then repliesand says this: I BELIEVE THAT THIS JESUS CHRIST--IS THE VERY SON OF GOD ! GLORY !

AND SO HE-- PHILIP BAPTIZED HIM IN WATER: AFTER HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH

AND THEN "DIVINE SUPERNATURAL TRANSPORTATION OCCURED": BEFORE THE VERY EYES OF THIS EUNUCH: THE SPIRIT OF GOD "CAUGHT" PHILIP "AWAY"
THAT THE ENUCH "SAW HIM NO MORE" !! GLORY TO GOD, HALLELJAH !!

AND HE WENT AWAY GREATLY REJOICING !!

AND PHILIP WAS LATER FOUND AT AZOTUS, AND PREACHING IN ALL THE CITIES ROUNDABOUT.

SO EVEN THOUGH THIS MAN STRUGGLED TO KNOW WHO AND WHAT ISAIAH WAS ON ABOUT, PHILIP TOOK HIM RIGHT BACK TO THE PASSAGE AND ELABORATED AND ARTICULATED UNDER THE ANOINTING , WHO THE PROPHET ISAIAH WAS REFERING TOO.

AND SUBSEQUENTLY: THIS MAN WAS GLORIOUSLY AND POWERFULLY BORN AGAIN--AND TRANSFORMED, FROM THAT DAY ONWARDS.

AND AS ANOTHER SIGN TO THE ENUCH, AND BECAUSE HE REPENTED AND RESPONDED, GOD SUPERNATURALLY TOOK PHILIP AND CAUGHT HIM AWAY GEOGRAPHICALLY TO ANOTHER LOCATION !! HALLELJAH GLORY HALLELJAH

WHAT A GOD --AND WHAT A SAVIOR !!!!!

&*$$%&&%!#^**(+((*)*&%&%*%^^(*^(%%^%$&^$#%$@%$$&^(&*

INTERPRETED I MUST NOW-- NEEDS BE...GO PRAY IN A HEAVENLY WONDERFUL WONDERFUL HEAVENLY LANGUAGE....GLLLLLLOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!!!

 

[JimB]

yes i do--perfectly--and concur with his words wholeheartedly

If jim m is right--then he has never read the book of acts--or not properly--anyway.

let's have a closer look if quoting scripture is a sheer waste of time, to the unregenerates--and then once again-- draw your own conclusions.

After God used the evangelist philip, to set almost an entire city free-- from a false prophet, who had mesmerized with sorceries, fake lying wonders and counterfeit experiences--allegedly in GOD.

The angel of the Lord spake to philip and said arise now philip. go southward, to gaza, which is in a desert.

And as he arose he he beheld an ethopian, an enuch, having great authority, under candace queen of those ethopians, and had come into jerusalem, for to worship.

And upon returning, and riding in his chariot, was reading from isaiah the prophet.

then the spirit said ...go near...and join yourself...philip, so philip ran to him.

And heard him, reading from isaiah's great book--then philip said--do you understand what you are reading--he responds how can i ??, except one guide me ? And he then desired philip, that he would come and sit with him

Now the reading was from Is 53:7 " and the enuch answered philip, and said i pray thee, of whom is isaiah refering to ??

is it himself--or does he refer to some other man ??

Then philip opened his mouth: and began at the same scripture

And preached jesus unto him

for isaiah was speaking about the coming death of king jesus[ crucifixition ]

Anyway the story goes , that as they approached water, the enuch says, what does now hinder me, from baptism ??

And philip replies: if you believe with all your heart, then you may be baptized

the enuch then repliesand says this: I BELIEVE THAT THIS JESUS CHRIST--IS THE VERY SON OF GOD ! GLORY !

AND SO HE-- PHILIP BAPTIZED HIM IN WATER: AFTER HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH

AND THEN "DIVINE SUPERNATURAL TRANSPORTATION OCCURED": BEFORE THE VERY EYES OF THIS EUNUCH: THE SPIRIT OF GOD "CAUGHT" PHILIP "AWAY"
THAT THE ENUCH "SAW HIM NO MORE" !! GLORY TO GOD, HALLELJAH !!

AND HE WENT AWAY GREATLY REJOICING !!

AND PHILIP WAS LATER FOUND AT AZOTUS, AND PREACHING IN ALL THE CITIES ROUNDABOUT.

SO EVEN THOUGH THIS MAN STRUGGLED TO KNOW WHO AND WHAT ISAIAH WAS ON ABOUT, PHILIP TOOK HIM RIGHT BACK TO THE PASSAGE AND ELABORATED AND ARTICULATED UNDER THE ANOINTING , WHO THE PROPHET ISAIAH WAS REFERING TOO.

AND SUBSEQUENTLY: THIS MAN WAS GLORIOUSLY AND POWERFULLY BORN AGAIN--AND TRANSFORMED, FROM THAT DAY ONWARDS.

AND AS ANOTHER SIGN TO THE ENUCH, AND BECAUSE HE REPENTED AND RESPONDED, GOD SUPERNATURALLY TOOK PHILIP AND CAUGHT HIM AWAY GEOGRAPHICALLY TO ANOTHER LOCATION !! HALLELJAH GLORY HALLELJAH

WHAT A GOD --AND WHAT A SAVIOR !!!!!

&*$$%&&%!#^**(+((*)*&%&%*%^^(*^(%%^%$&^$#%$@%$$&^(&*

INTERPRETED I MUST NOW-- NEEDS BE...GO PRAY IN A HEAVENLY WONDERFUL WONDERFUL HEAVENLY LANGUAGE....GLLLLLLOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

I already explained Philip and the eunuch in post #9 (which I have pasted below).

Someone just called my attention to Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8) where Philip used scripture to win the eunuch. My contention is that the eunuch admitted that he could not understand the scripture “unless someone guides me". It took a person with spiritual discernment to help him understand what he read. Anyhow, Philip did not initiate the use of scripture, the eunuch was already reading it when Philip encountered him.

What do you think?

~Jim

This thread is becoming a tempest in a teacup and degenerated to the point of calling names – over an issue of style. Actually, guys like you and [another guy] seem to want to use any issue, no matter how bland, as an opportunity to take some shots at poor ol’ Jim. Have I gotten so much under you skin, touched such an open nerve, raised your hackles to such a level, that you can't reason straight when it comes to my posts? I invited [the other guy] to point out my “deceptions” (he did call me a “deceiver” early-on in this thread), but he refuses to do it (because he cannot do it). He prefers casting aspersions and calling names. Apparently, so do you.

My point is (again, sigh!), I believe the Bible gives indication that the best approach to witnessing is simply telling your story and not quoting scriptures at non-believers because they cannot “receive the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2.14). It’s just an idea that I use effectively. It is not that big a deal.

If you prefer showing off your command of scripture to people who do not have a clue what you are saying, then more power to you (you’ll need it, IMO).

I don’t care how you present the gospel.

This thread is just a suggestion.

Sheesh!!

~Jim

 

[NewSong]

A., like you I have witnessed all my Christian life. And I too know what works for me and what doesn’t. I teach our people to share their story.

Most Christians do not witness because, I think, they feel inadequate in their knowledge of scripture and have been taught that they need to memorize a lot of key scriptures and fire them at nonbelievers if they are to witness properly. They hesitate because they are intimidated by their ignorance.

Nonbelievers are usually even more ignorant.

But any believer can tell what the Lord has done for them and any nonbeliever can understand what they are saying. On the other hand, they may not understand what a scripture is actually saying.

Anyone, even a Bible illiterate, can witness by telling their story.

~Jim

Sharing a person's story has been the most effective tool I have ever seen. I know of specific examples that I can quote of my own personal life when I wouldn't have testified or quoted the Word of God for anything because I felt or knew that I had not lined up but somewhere out there there were people who wanted to know and that is what I could share was my story.

Someone' elses' story is why I came to the Lord. Someone shared with me and then I remember they gave me a gift that had a verse in the pen that went with the stationary that said, "Not by power, not by might, but my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts." I have never forgotten that gift or that person sharing. That person is living contrary to everything they told me now but I still have their story and what Christ done for them right then and there and everyone once in a while I will bump into them at Fast food and say, "Ya know I will never be able to thank you enough for sharing with me and I still have that pen you bought me and I see then I am reminded of where I came from and I thank God for you." then they start talking about how they need to get right. It isn't me telling them they need to get right. It is there own story that got me and now thier story is coming back to them.

Just my 2 cents and I do believe that it is powerful to share our story with others over and above the scripture because people want to hear hope. They want to see light in a darkness. They are looking for someone who is making it and not silent suffering and dying hopelessly.

NewSong

Sorry for being too wordy.

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Do you realize you posted this:

...what is the point of quoting scriptures to nonbelievers?

Wouldn’t you say that it is best to simply tell your story to a nonbeliever than to, say, try to reason with him out of the scripture?"

You are proposing the use of human reasoning to present the Gospel while, at the same time, reasoning that we should not, "try to reason with the (non Christian) out of the scripture." This is confusing.

To be clear, however, please allow me to state simply, right here and now, that your question, "...what is the point of quoting scriptures to nonbelievers?", was stated in this manner because you intended to argue that one should NOT use scripture to present the Gospel. Not that there are times to/not to use scripture.

They are your words, Jim. *You even used the word, "scripture" instead of just saying "the Word". You do realize that THE WORD, SCRIPTURE, and JESUS are interchangeable, right?!

Further, when you stated, "Wouldn’t you say that it is best to simply tell your story to a nonbeliever than to, say, try to reason with him out of the scripture?" inferring that we should use OUR FINITE MINDS, as opposed to using God's own Word or the Holy Spirit.

My point is (again,

sigh!), I believe the Bible gives indication that the best approach to witnessing is simply telling your story and not quoting scriptures at non-believers because they cannot “receive the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2.14). It’s just an idea that I use effectively. It is not that big a deal.

You liken what you describe as, "the best approach" to presenting the plan YOU prefer to present, as OPPOSED to the plan God may have you present. Do you think that God may possibly bring to mind SCRIPTURE that He may want you to quote to an unbeliever who may identify with it? I realize that I've only provided one example here--one out of an INFINATE NUMBER of examples of how God could use His Word (JESUS, by the way) to convey His Good News, but, please give this some thought!! The Word of God is useful for at least a couple of things, wouldn't you agree?

If you prefer showing off your command of scripture to people who do not have a clue what you are saying, then more power to you (you’ll need it, IMO).

Your error is presumption here.

 

[NewSong]

I have to comment again. I just feel so compelled that I cannot help myself. I have had scriptures thrown at the ones I loved and used out of context in hopes of evangelizing them but who can dispute a living witness? My grandfather never came to be a believer until the man was 80 years old because of evangelizing with scriptures. Some would say one thing with the scriptures and then some would say another thing with the scriptures and they would speak them and he was totally turned off and did not have the slightest clue what was being said.

His doctor had a book laying on a counter that said, "Is there life after death?" and my grandfather was called back to the consulting room where his doctor was treating him for terminal cancer and my grandfather asked him if he believed that book? The doc could see my grandfather's wheels turning and then proceeded to tell him what he believed and why he believed as a scientist, as a doctor, and as a Christian. My grandfather got saved as a result of that mans' story and a little booklet sowing with questions about how prepared was he for a life after death? I read that book and it was truly preparing people to die. I do not remember that there were scriptures or not to be honest but I do remember my grandpa saying that now he was facing death here he wanted to know what was life after death. That is how he came to the Lord. Scriptures hurled at him for over 50 years from my grandma's preachers, evangelists, children, grandkids, etc made no sense whatsoever.

How do you dispute personal testimonies of people who had scripture hurled at them not understanding it and what they did understand was condemning and not appealing because it was not used in context?

You are talking about souls that need salvation? Not brownie points. Ya know I hate it when I hear someone say that they can get all the more crowns in heaven. Makes me gag. Just care about someone's life for pete's sake and get the job done and the job is not hurling the scripture out of context and assuming they will understand.

This is my personal experience and the experience of those I love and the ones that I see coming to the kingdom of God is through something other than someone usuing "scriptures" in or out of context. I am not opposed to scriptures but far more times than I care to count, I know they have been used to condemn someone so we can get them saved.

Thanks for letting me share.

I wished that everyone would just let Jim M to post and not feel so threatened by his posts. They are so thought provoking and I just feel that God is using them in my hardened life and terrified life to help me keep going forward. I implore some of you who feel the need to go after him not to, but to just disagree and move on. I need to hear what he has to say. I am not pointing fingers at anyone but it is hard to see what some of you have if there appears to be an attack on someone and it discredits what you have to say. Sorry to be so blunt with my opinion here.



Thank you so much. I wished I could explain my position better.

Love,
NewSong

 

[Wolf Georges]

Johnny B,

For many years I lived my life away from Christ. In every other aspect I was living in a Christian manner. I broke no commandments and was not stepped in sin on any grand level but my life was incomplete because I had not yet opened my heart to Jesus. This hiatus was personal and a matter that was, and continues to be, between myself and God.

During these years I was often harassed by people who felt it was their job to save me by beating me over the head with Scripture that I was not yet ready to hear. A diluted analogy would be that it was kind of like trying to explain the virtues of Miles Davis to a 13 year old who is still convinced that MTV is real music. All you do is alienate These people lived lives full of sin and anger but they felt that as long as they were spouting the Word they were ok. They came off as condescending and judgmental, and sadly I began to view Christianity threw the negative prism of these pushy Christians. In the end, my return to the Lord was achieved when it was supposed. It was not helped, and was in all probability delayed, by these people who felt the need to try and communicate God's love through Scripture that ultimately conflicted with the way they lead their lives. I thank God every night for receiving me back and I pray for these people that they see that the Scripture is only one part of God's omnipresence.

In my opinion Jim M raised an honest question. He may have stirred the pot a little along the way but I think you accusations that he has some nefarious plot at hand are off base.

 

[Svt4Him]

I broke no commandments

Really? None? I certainly would use the word of God if you were to tell me this as a non-Christian. It woud start out like:

Have you ever lied? And if so, what does that make you?

 

[Wolf Georges]

Really? None? I certainly would use the word of God if you were to tell me this as a non-Christian. It woud start out like:

Have you ever lied? And if so, what does that make you?

Huh?

 

[Victorian Rose]

closed for staff review

 

[Victorian Rose]

MOD NOTE------

Staff is re-opening this thread.

Please remember to keep on topic and to be civil to each other even if you don't agree.

Thank you and God Bless!

Victorian Rose
Moderator

 

[Svt4Him]

Huh?

This topic is about quoting Scripture to non-Christians. A lot of non-Christians think they don't sin, yet the Bible says all do. So when they say they are good, I will quote the law, and ask if they've ever lied. Then ask if they've ever taken something that doesn't belong to them, no matter how small? Then I'd ask what that made them? This is still using God's word to non-Christians.

 

[JimB]

Many if not most unbelievers do not believe the Bible anyhow so quoting it to them falls on deaf ears. They are after all, called NON-believers for a reason.

Acts indicates that Paul “reasoned” with Greeks and Gentiles (Acts 17.17; 18.4; 18.19; 19.19; 24.25; 26.25). Only once does it say that he “reasoned from scripture” and that is in Acts 17.7 in a synagogue on the Sabbath to Jews. I am sure when he reasoned with Felix and Festus (24.25; 26.35), both Romans, he did not reason from scripture. They did not know the scriptures, did not believe in the scriptures, and would not have understood the scriptures (1 Cor. 2.14).

JMO.

~Jim

 

[Svt4Him]

Why do you have to quote the Bible, why not just use the word of God? And yes it does say he reasoned with the Greeks, but it doesn't say he didn't use the Scripture, so it could be either, but that's why an argumentum ad ignorantiam is a fallacy.

Then I heard about the guy in Texas who, after seeing the Passion of the Christ, turned himself in for murdering his girlfriend. Tell me, was the power in the movie, or in the word of God? There is power in the word of God, and God has exalted it above His own name. (I'm pretty sure we had this discussion before) Paul, the same person you said didn't use Scripture with the Greeks once said something along the lines of 'Who cares why they're preaching, just that Jesus is being preached'. You don't have to know the scriptures to know the law, God has written it on our hearts. You don't have to know the scripture to realize live is short, God has built eternity into us. But you can still be presented with the Scripture. Jesus used the law to the rich young ruler, who, by your definition, didn't understand what Jesus was saying. But it seemed pretty clear that he knew exactly what Jesus was asking of him, and Jesus was using the first commandment.

 

[Wolf Georges]

This topic is about quoting Scripture to non-Christians. A lot of non-Christians think they don't sin, yet the Bible says all do. So when they say they are good, I will quote the law, and ask if they've ever lied. Then ask if they've ever taken something that doesn't belong to them, no matter how small? Then I'd ask what that made them? This is still using God's word to non-Christians.

I was not free of sin before I became a Christian and now, as a Christian, I am still not free of sin. My methods of addressing this have most definitely changed but not much else has. I stated that I didn't break any Commandments....and I stand by that statement. I'm not a thief and while I do agree that telling a lie is a sin, I would have to respectfully disagree that the lie breaks a Commandment if it does not involve bearing false witness against a fellow man. For instance, shaving a few pounds off of one's weight or a couple of years off your age.

That said, I think that your approach to non-Christians is probably not bringing too many of them home to Christ. I am sure that you have the best intentions in heart but I fail to see how pointing out how sinful a person is shows them God's grace. Is the logic that when they hear how bad they've been that they'll fall to their knees, accept Jesus and thank you? Seems an odd approach and, as I stated in a prior post, the type of condescension that keeps many people away from the Christ.

Let a person feel the warmth of God's love on their face and in their heart and they will, most likely, hear the calling. Reading your words reminds me of the ruler carrying Nuns that tried to beat God into us when I was in grade school. I'm not saying that is all Nuns either, just a few overtly aggressive ones. For the record, I don't think they converted anyone.

God Bless