AMEN!
Posted on 07/25/2015 7:45:32 AM PDT by Gamecock
Disapproval of polemics¹ in the Christian Church is a very serious matter. But that is the attitude of the age in which we live. The prevailing idea today in many circles is not to bother about these things. As long as we are all Christians, anyhow, somehow, all is well. Do not let us argue about doctrine, let us all be Christians together and talk about the love of God. That is really the whole basis of ecumenicity. Unfortunately, that same attitude is creeping into evangelical circles also and many say that we must not be too precise about these things…. If you hold that view you are criticizing the Apostle Paul, you are saying that he was wrong, and at the same time you are criticizing the Scriptures. The Scriptures argue and debate and dispute; they are full of polemics. . .
. . .Let us be clear about what we mean. This is not argument for the sake of argument; this is not a manifestation of an argumentative spirit; this is not just indulging one’s prejudices. The Scriptures do not approve of that, and furthermore the Scriptures are very concerned about the spirit in which one engages in discussion. No man should like argument for the sake of argument. We should always regret the necessity; but though we regret and bemoan it, when we feel that a vital matter is at stake we must engage in argument. We must “earnestly contend for the truth,” and we are called upon to do that by the New Testament.
Cited in MacArthur, John. The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson Books, 2007. pp. 193-194.
¹Polemics — The practice of theological controversy to refute errors of doctrine.
How many centuries of collected Talmudic writ exist, and to which one has been affixed, ‘the answer’?
Mankind was not made via cookie-cutters. Each of us can read the same passage, even have it explained to us, and it is our own individual insight, that lastly validates that reading, as to how we see the world, and everything in it.
Why else would there be:
king james Version; New king james version; New Internatioanl version; revised Standard version; Today’s english version; and then, the offshoots printed by mormons and jehovah’s witnesses.
At least we have material to work with, not junk made up out of thin air...
And the article seems to agree
“Let us be clear about what we mean. This is not argument for the sake of argument; this is not a manifestation of an argumentative spirit; this is not just indulging one’s prejudices. The Scriptures do not approve of that, and furthermore the Scriptures are very concerned about the spirit in which one engages in discussion. No man should like argument for the sake of argument. We should always regret the necessity; but though we regret and bemoan it, when we feel that a vital matter is at stake we must engage in argument. We must “earnestly contend for the truth,” and we are called upon to do that by the New Testament.”
Really cute!
I see what you did here!
To which I emphatically reply, "No; I'm NOT!"
Yup...
priorities.
Foxy Vampire
It'll mess yer mind...
But ya gotta know what the gospel IS; first!
Geeeee ..?? Maybe reading a Bible might help.
Now this will DIVIDE some Christians right off the bat!
That isn't followed much these days.
AMEN!
The PROTS are not the ones whining to the mods about getting bashed.
Good luck!
 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.' 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.' |
I agree. Should be. It’s hard to do, though, when we’re so disconnected from one another.
Good point.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.