Avoid foolish controversies!
Our time is very valuable and God commands us to “do good to everyone.” Stay away from people who want to argue about useless and pointless questions. Don’t even allow yourself to get caught up with such issues!
The apostle Paul warned his young brother, Titus: “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9).
These conversations are pointless and useless! They neither help nor bear fruit for eternity.
There are many important questions that need to be addressed rather than those foolish questions we should avoid. I would like to name a few:
- Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart?
- Do I love my Savior?
- Does He occupy the first place in my life?
- How is my walk? Is it according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?
- Does my walk honor the teachings of Jesus?
- Am I waiting for the Lord’s return?
- Am I faithful in watching and praying?
- What more can I do for my Savior?
These are questions we need to ask and with which we should seriously examine ourselves. Let us be children of peace so that we can be blessed and bless others as well. Avoid those foolish controversies!
H.D. Nimz
A very good point - there are some things simply not worth arguing about. We must take heed, lest we become as the pharisees, who strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel (Matt. 23:24).
ReplyDeleteDivision is condemned in scripture. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, we read "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
But for the sake of discussion, allow me to become more specific here. What would we define as 'foolish questions? Would we apply the term broadly and vaguely to any sort of dispute over doctrines which do not make up the very core of the gospel?
It is commanded in scripture that we prove all things and hold fast to what is good (1 Thess. 5:21). Hence, we cannot completely abandon doctrine or avoid judging it.
But where is the line between rightful,necessary judging and foolish questions? Many Christians, practically from the days of the apostles to the present day, are very zealous when it comes to refuting error (yes, you're looking at me ;), but they take it to the point of condemning as heretics those who disagree with them. Look on an internet message board where theological debates are being had, and it is simply saddening.
How, then, do we answer this question?
1. We need to realize that it is not our sole duty as a Christian to refute bad doctrine, but also to show love to our brethren in Christ. If a brother disagrees with me over doctrine, it is best to go to the Lord in prayer, reading the Word and asking the Spirit to guide us into all truth, rather than arguing out these things endlessly. If someone is deliberately denying a fundamental doctrine of the faith, that is one thing, but if someone has a different view on a peripheral doctrine than you do, it just means either one or both of you is wrong and you should be trusting in the Lord rather than leaning on your own understanding.
2 Ask yourself the questions listed in the post! These things are far more important than controversies.
I am sorry - this comment has exceeded the length of the post. But these were just some insights I wanted to add.
Great post, and God bless you all as you continue to present people with truths from God's word.