"Scripture, huh, yeah. What is it good for?"

[Non sequitur]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

I understand that the weight of the verse, to them, but for the purposes of debate/argument/conversation with someone who doesn't give it any weight... both parties already know this... why does this constantly happen?

Philosophically speaking, verse-responses don't offer much to the conversation.

(I'd like to ask that responses don't include, "But non-Christians do the same by...", as that doesn't answer the question,)

 

[voltran]

I've noticed the worst offenders tend to use it as a thought stop mechanism, meant more to prevent the believer from facing uncertainty than for the unbeliever.

 

[Colter]

If you ask a question about a Christians religion, which is often founded on the scripture as their authority, then they will provide a selection of scripture is response, thinking perhaps a direct quote will have the same effect on you that it had on them and sort of answer your inquiry.

It gives the atheist a chance to use the words "bald assertion" again, or imagination, or Santa.

 

[faroukfarouk]

If you ask a question about a Christians religion, which is often founded on the scripture as their authority, then they will provide a selection of scripture is response thinking perhaps a direct quote will have the same effect on you that it had on them and sort of answer your inquiry.

Well, exactly, and reverence for Scripture is linked with reverence for God.

 

[Smidlee]

Christians quoting scriptures on a Christian forum? Who would ever would expected that.

 

[Albion]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

I guess it depends on the poster and the question. In some cases, the non-Christian wants to know the basis or the logic behind some belief. It's obvious, I'd say, that if the Bible is the foundation for our belief system, citing the relevant passage answers the question. But if the non-Christian wants to know why we'd believe the Bible in the first place, that's a different question.

 

[Colter]

Well, exactly, and reverence for Scripture is linked with reverence for God.

Yes, I know, its not really rocket surgery.

 

[Colter]

Christians quoting scriptures on a Christian forum? Who would ever would expected that.

Maybe we should reply with something from "The Great Gatsby" ?

 

[Albion]

Yes, I know, its not really rocket surgery.

Rocket surgery?

 

[faroukfarouk]

I guess it depends on the poster and the question. In some cases, the non-Christian wants to know the basis or the logic behind some belief. It's obvious, I'd say, that if the Bible is the foundation for our belief system, citing the relevant passage answers the question. But if the non-Christian wants to know why we'd believe the Bible in the first place, that's a different question.

The fact that the Bible is self-authenticating is a fact that counts for a lot.

 

[Non sequitur]

If you ask a question about a Christians religion, which is often founded on the scripture as their authority, then they will provide a selection of scripture is response, thinking perhaps a direct quote will have the same effect on you that it had on them and sort of answer your inquiry.

It gives the atheist a chance to use the words "bald assertion" again, or imagination, or Santa.

I've never seen that have the same effect.

It usually leads to:
A - "Well, your scripture also says this..."
C - "You're taking it out of context..."

The end result, always being, is, "I'm right, no matter what your responses are."

So... it seems rather pointless to use it as a response, to begin with.

 

[Hezekiah Holbrooke]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

I understand that the weight of the verse, to them, but for the purposes of debate/argument/conversation with someone who doesn't give it any weight... both parties already know this... why does this constantly happen?

Philosophically speaking, verse-responses don't offer much to the conversation.

(I'd like to ask that responses don't include, "But non-Christians do the same by...", as that doesn't answer the question,)

Well, the name of the forums happens to be "Christian Forums". Perhaps they are simply staying with the theme of the forums?

 

[juvenissun]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

There is a very good chance that they do not know it is a verse in the Bible.

For example: unbelievers ask foolish question. Is this a verse in the Bible?

 

[Non sequitur]

Well, the name of the forums happens to be "Christian Forums". Perhaps they are simply staying with the theme of the forums?

Which I get. But, again, it seems pointless to the conversation.

 

[Colter]

I've never seen that have the same effect.

It usually leads to:
A - "Well, your scripture also says this..."
C - "You're taking it out of context..."

The end result, always being, is, "I'm right, no matter what your responses are."

So... it seems rather pointless to use it as a response, to begin with.

Yes, I understand. I started a thread about this problem a while back entitled "The Difficulty of Talking to Atheist" for the same reasons. Its oil and water, material proofs verses the realm of spiritual truths. http://www.christianforums.com/t7841907/

 

[seven2014]

Christians quoting scriptures on a Christian forum? Who would ever would expected that.

I think they mean using scripture to answer any and all questions put to them.

I remember asking to be shown the holy trinity in the bible. I was shown 3 to 6 passages that still didn't show it.

 

[seven2014]

There is a very good chance that they do not know it is a verse in the Bible.

For example: unbelievers ask foolish question. Is this a verse in the Bible?

All people ask foolish question, this is not specific to one group.

I think it's foolish to believe in a system constructed by man just to control you.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

I understand that the weight of the verse, to them, but for the purposes of debate/argument/conversation with someone who doesn't give it any weight... both parties already know this... why does this constantly happen?

Philosophically speaking, verse-responses don't offer much to the conversation.

(I'd like to ask that responses don't include, "But non-Christians do the same by...", as that doesn't answer the question,)

I've only found quoting Scripture to non-Christians helpful when it is relevant to the conversation, not as a method of convincing the other party (since that'd be dumb). For example, if someone is curious how I interpret a certain passage of the Bible, I'll offer the passage and attempt my best to give it an exegetical treatment. Or, as another example, if the topic is on a certain point of theology I'll likely provide biblical texts as well as various theological commentary as I'm familiar with it to the discussion (e.g. the Creeds, the Lutheran Confessions, the sayings of the Church Fathers, etc).

But quoting the Bible to "win the argument" with someone who does not regard Christian Scripture as any sort of authority has always seemed dumb.

I'm certainly not impressed if a Muslim quotes the Qu'ran at me to convince me of the truths of Islam, so how would my quoting the Bible impress anyone or convince anyone of the truths of Christianity? Answer: It won't and it doesn't.

So was I the best person to answer the question? Probably not.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[RDKirk]

Not sure if this is the "right" area...

I'm curious as to the reason why Christians quote verses in response to questions asked by non-Christians?

I understand that the weight of the verse, to them, but for the purposes of debate/argument/conversation with someone who doesn't give it any weight... both parties already know this... why does this constantly happen?

Philosophically speaking, verse-responses don't offer much to the conversation.

(I'd like to ask that responses don't include, "But non-Christians do the same by...", as that doesn't answer the question,)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness -- 2 timothy 3

This verse tells people who are interested in righteousness (a term peculiar to certain moral philosophies) that scripture is useful for that purpose.

That's all. For those not interested in the philosophies dealing with "righteousness," scripture is irrelevant.

 

[Aldebaran]

Which I get. But, again, it seems pointless to the conversation.

It would depend on the conversation. Many people come here to ask why we believe what we do, or why we think the bible is the truth, or where it says homosexuality is a sin. We quote the bible verses to them, and they don't want to accept it. If a belief or opinion is based on what God's word tells us, why is it strange to show them what God's word says?