Should we use Bible evidence when reasoning with people who do not believe the Bible?
I read a book that said, when Christians discuss moral issues with people who do not believe in the Bible, we should not use the Bible to convince them. Many people, including some in the Lord’s church, agree there is no value in using the Bible to try to persuade unbelievers regarding specific issues. But consider:
Before deciding whether or not to serve God, each person should consider the sacrifices required to serve faithfully ... and the cost of not serving faithfully.I have a book by Paul Johnson about the history of the American people. It describes the development of the United States and discusses at length the role of religion in our history. One point he emphasizes is the tension throughout our history between the importance of religion and spirituality on the one hand and the urge for possessions and materialism on the other hand.
At one point he describes the occupations, material success, and living arrangements of Americans in the 1700's, including a description of their homes. Page 100 includes the following about what was to be the most magnificent home built during the 1700's:
The greatest early 18th-century house in America was Rosewell, erected by Mann Page ... in 1726 on the York river. Page had this superb house built using designs ... published in London ... Page overspent, his grand house was unfinished when he died in 1730, and his debts exceeded the value of all his property ... Rosewell ... was burned down in 1916.
Some people are ashamed to repent but not ashamed to sin.In Daniel Defoe's well-known classic, Robinson Crusoe left home to go to sea as a sailor against the wishes of his parents. He soon came to regret his decision, but was unwilling to return home because he did not want to admit that he made a mistake. He was ashamed to have his friends and family know that he was wrong and his parents were right.
So he observes: "Some people are not ashamed to sin but they are ashamed to repent."
Consider some things we can learn:
What does the Bible say about honoring our word? Must we keep our promises and commitments? What are the consequences of rash or false promises? Must we keep our commitments in marriage, business, and service to God?
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How serious is the problem of false teaching? Does the Bible contain many warnings about religious error and false teachers? Click here to view this material as a Video Bible Study.
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Some people deny resurrection from the dead because they do not see it today. What evidence is there that people in the past were raised? Especially, is there proof for Jesus' resurrection? Will the dead be raised when Jesus returns? Is resurrection a fact?
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What should we learn from the story of the prodigal son about sin, forgiveness, repentance, confession, and obedience? What do we learn from the father and the older son about love for the lost, free will, love for brethren, and self-righteousness?
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What are the consequences of premillennialism regarding Jesus' reign as king? Is Jesus Christ now reigning as King over His kingdom, or will the Messiah rule 1000 years on the throne of David over an earthly, civil kingdom beginning at His second coming? What are the implications for His priesthood? Does Jesus reign now as King and High Priest, or will He establish an earthly kingdom and reign for a thousand years on earth (the millennium)?This is part of a series of articles about premillennial teaching. To see a list of all the articles, please click here.
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What value do the teachings of the Old Law have today? Are they binding as law? Do they benefit us as evidence for our faith, history, and understanding of the nature of God and of man?Click here to view this material as a Video Bible study.
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What is hospitality according to the Bible? Is it just enjoying good times with friends or is it caring for people with needs? How important is it? Who is responsible to do it: individual Christians or the local church? What principles should guide our hospitality?