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To: Colofornian
There is certainly a place for polemics in Christian apologetics. See this old thread: Uncharitable? Divisive? Strident? Recovering the Art of Christian Polemics

On the other hand, when polemics are used as a club, they serve the purpose of doing violence, not charity.

16 Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren. 17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. 18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures. 19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

21 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass. 24 For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was. 25 But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.
--James 1: 16-27

68 posted on 07/06/2010 8:52:17 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: Dr. Brian Kopp
There is certainly a place for polemics in Christian apologetics...On the other hand, when polemics are used as a club, they serve the purpose of doing violence, not charity.

Dr. Brian, the heart of your citation closest to dealing with what you said (I believe) was vv. 18-20, 26:

James 1: 18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures. 19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God...

These verses clearly outline acting in anger (a key motivation you didn't mention). I think you & I would agree that some people's skin is thinner than others; but what might be deemed a "club" to one is not so to another.

James 1: 26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

I agree with this.

379 posted on 07/06/2010 2:48:18 PM PDT by Colofornian
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