Can the Word of God and God's wisdom be beneficial to an unbeliever?
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I'm going to start with some base assumptions, because I sense that the atheists are going to have a field day with this, and I'm hoping to prevent this from turning into a debate on whether or not God exists, is good, etc. The assumptions are those that are necessary for this site. IMO, the debate over the assumptions on which this site are off-topic. Those debates have nothing to do with the question asked
Assuming that God is who the Bible claims He is (a core assumption of Christianity), then He is all-knowing...
Assuming again, that the Bible is God's word, given to us by His divine inspiration, and preserved through time (again, a core assumption of Christianity)...
And further assuming that God loves us, and is good, and knows what's best for us...
Then yes, Biblical advice can absolutely help an unbeliever. In addition to pointing to God, and Christ as savior, the Bible is chock full of wisdom that is applicable to daily life. If God loves us (as the Bible says He does), then He will give us good advice, and instructions that are for our own good. His wisdom is good, regardless of whether not an individual believes it.
The instructions on how husbands and wives are supposed to love and respect each other in Ephesians 5, for example, will strengthen the relationship of anyone who chooses to follow them, regardless of whether they are Christian or not. Similarly, advice to love our neighbors (and our enemies) as we love ourselves will benefit anyone. Most strife in relationships is caused by selfishness on one or both parts. Two completely selfless people, devoted to loving each other as God intended would have nothing to fight about. (Of course, there is no such thing as a completely selfless human being.)
The question is whether or not they will choose to follow Biblical advice and apply it. Plenty of people will reject even the best advice, if it comes from a source they don't agree with.
Upvote:0
God is God. His Word is the living Word. It's been declared a seed of righteousness. If it is sown it will thrive and it will bring a harvest. If you think about it, this is a Word that has been around since the beginning of time and no one has ever been able to destroy it; and, it has edified and enriched countless lives. Don't ever be afraid or reluctant to share God's Word.
Upvote:0
Can? Yes.
You know what they say 'History repeats it-self'. Which is also said in Ecclesiastes 1:9 there is nothing new under the sun. People learn from other's mistakes.
Specially Hollywood benefits. It is said that are only 7 original plots for stories and movies. Which comes from Bible. Hollywood knows that people are drawn to the Bible so any movie based on the Bible plots should do ok.
thanks for reading
Upvote:10
This is a two-part answer, because your question addresses two things:
I should also make it clear up front that I am one of those unbeliever types.
1) Yes, wisdom from the bible can be beneficial to an unbeliever.
Because wisdom from all sources is beneficial. As an unbeliever, no book holds a special place. This means that all sources can be analysed for wisdom. The bible in particular contains many parables and thought experiments that can be useful regardless of their source; exercises to challenge one's sense of ethics and morality.
But equally, we could read Harry Potter and analyse some of their circumstances and come out with different, but equally valid, wisdom. Stories of daring and heroism, and in particular those things that the heroes are willing to do or sacrifice in order to achieve that heroism, are always fun to break down and analyse. Try to work out the ethics of Snape, for example.
But do be aware that, since unbelievers don't share the same foundational concepts, the stories and ethics can come out somewhat differently. Many of the more foundational stories of the Old Testament -- The Binding of Isaac, Jonah and the Whale, The Testing of Job all being class examples -- and even the concepts from the New Testament -- the vicarious redemption of mankind by Jesus, Hell, etc. -- can be and are interpreted entirely differently.
2) Don't do that.
Even in the rare case that the story you're going to tell is actually appropriate, telling bible stories to a stressed-out unbeliever is going to come across as preachy and will stress your friendship equally if not more. Feel free to suggest actions taken by those in the stories as possible routes out of their situation -- after all, this is distilled version of the wisdom that is actually imparted to you -- but just telling the story will just likely cause your message to be lost.
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