To which is usually added: Smugness and arrogance.
Self certainly can be a part of these conversations, leading to what the Bible describes in so many words as vain competition and making another person one’s enemy to be defeated, rather than seeing them as someone being held captive to error and who might be counselled to recognize the truth.
On the other hand, even in the time of the Apostles, false teaching was being put out by professing Christians, as the Lord Himself warned would happen, and the Apostles strove to expose it and the false teachers in no uncertain terms, even using condemning language. Two thousands years on means two thousands years of interpretation, Christians living out their faith, and of invention, including false invention. Christians shouldn’t believe that those who oppose them somehow in belief or interpretation are necessarily enemies to be defeated, or deliberate false teachers. Someone could even have a point. But it is important to have these discussions, which is essentially teaching, to counter false teaching.
The danger here is not recognizing that it could be Me, my Self and I who is in error.
The real danger is that it's not the other person who is being held captive to error, but rather it is me who is not only held captive in error, but has then added condemnation by my hypocrisy, which the Holy Spirit would show me if my ego would get out of the way.
I would see this in others, but would somehow think I was clean and pure and right. What a hoot!
Fact is,
You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.Instead,
--Obi-Wan Kenobi
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.But we don't, which is why there are so many versions of Him.
Proverbs 3:5
Whatever was in his heart, Luther opened the doors to whatever version we each like best.
Personally, I think we're all in for quite a surprise.
To which is usually added: Smugness and arrogance.
