How Do You Stand?
- Image by mrdorkesq via Flickr
That is, in your faith.
I used to get involved in debates quite frequently.
Most of them were online, and sometimes in some kind of forum. Other times they have been personal.
But never have I participated in a formal debate—I still wonder about that.
Recently, though, I have been involved in a bit of a debate with another person in a comment thread on a website I often read.
It’s been a back-and-forth commenting on the issue of the Bible being exclusive truth, and Jesus being the only means to salvation—Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6).
We obviously stand in two complete different interpretations of Scripture, as he calls himself a Christian yet denies the deity of Christ and the physical resurrection.
Me? Well, you should know, I affirm them both . . . firmly.
But how far should we go in our debates
and how do we end them in love?
I do not think we should shrink from them, because we are told to always be prepared to give an answer.
Then there’s the problem with the fact that you or I can never make someone believe. We cannot rely on testimony alone, but we can give them knowledge of the truth and reasons to believe.
Some, however, will not believe because they lack the faith, and are just unable to obtain this of themselves.
We certainly want to discuss, but when do we divide? Where is the line in our witnessing? How far do we go?
Or do we divide?
What’s your answer to all this? I would love to hear.
—Jonathan
Related articles
- Hell: What’s at Stake If We Neglect It? (fallenandflawed.com)
- Do Not Labor for the Food That Perishes (desiringgod.org)
Matthew 10:11-16
"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Thanks for that Scripture—it fits.
So what do you think is a good way to "leave the town"? And with that, to "shake the dust off your feet" when you leave?
I think when you find yourself starting to go back over the same points you have reached the point to start shaking the dust. My advice is to disagree in a disagreeable fashion. State that you are done making your points, acknowledge that the two of you differ on viewpoints, bless them and wish them well. As you noted, we do not make people believe, that needs the prompting and conviction of the Spirit. You have done your part, to keep sweating over an argument going nowhere will make you acquire spiritual B.O.
Puaha! Spiritual B.O. Love it.
Hold on… I think I smell a blog post coming…. (gotta love puns)
Ok man, usually I'm with you but here I think you need to define your terms a bit.
First off, what do you mean by "exclusive truth?" I think what you're saying is that everything in the Bible is true, which I agree with. "Exclusive Truth" can also be taken to mean that ONLY the Bible is true, which is an entirely different proposition. I believe the whole Bible is true, but I don't believe that the Bible is the ONLY thing that's true. Have you read JP Moreland yet? He'd probably be one of your favorite authors… "Love your God with all your Mind" type that you are (I love him too). He's the head of Talbot Seminary and (for a while, at least) the head of the Evangelical Theological Society. So when he wrote and delivered called "How Evangelicals Became Overcommitted to the Bible and What Can be Done About It" it was kind of a big deal. You should go read it right now… it's short, easy to get through, and really makes great points.
Second, PLEASE don't use the word "literally" that way. It hurts my brain. It's like when a friend of mine told me he'd literally turned his house upside down looking for his car keys. I kept asking "Literally? You LITERALLY turned your house upside down?" And he'd say "Yeah man I looked everywhere!" THAT'S NOT WHAT LITERALLY MEANS.
When Jesus says he's the "oros" (in 14:6, not 6:14) he's not saying he's LITERALLY a road. Rather, he's speaking in metaphor to show that he is the only "way" to God. I can forgive the average guy in the pew for misusing the phrase literally all the time (hehe double meaning FTW!) but for somebody with your aspirations you need to aim a bit higher.
Third, I'm curious as to why Jesus' one-time instructions to his disciples in Matthew 10:11-16 are more binding on you than Peter's actions in Acts 2:40 or Paul's in Acts 17:17. It's cherry-picking to take a one-time command to an individual and read it as a permanent command to everyone in all cultures and times.
—–
Love ya man! All of these three things are pretty minor. Keep up the good work!
- Micah
Woh dude.
Okay man, I DID NOT want to leave you hanging on this, that is why I'm leaving this short comment. However, I am actually on my way out the door for a dinner with some relatives.
I look forward to tackling this when I return.
Okay buddy. I'm going to respond as simple as I can and try to make sense at the same time.
Exclusive truth:
What I mean by this is not that the Bible is the only thing true. That can be very philosophical, because it is quite true we are having this conversation, yet it is not recorded in the Bible. Instead, everything in the Bible is true. For instance, salvation: when it makes a claim such as there being "no name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved," it is at the same time excluding all other possibilities for one to be saved apart from the person of Jesus Christ. And by this other philosophies, ideas, religions, and practices that are in opposition are excluded from being true in this manner. And if not found true in this manner—which is paramount in Christian doctrine—then is not found true in its fundamental framework. Simply put: no one is getting saved by Buddha.
What do I mean by "literal"?
Basically, I mean "not figurative or metaphorical" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literal). True, I have not used the word in its intended use, which is in literature, typography, etc. "Literally" ought to be used in relation to literature, not the people literature is describing. That's my mistake and I apologize for not being clear. When I said "Jesus being the literal Way, Truth, and Life," I mean that pertaining to salvation, there is no other way. He is the "mode or means" by which salvation occurs. So I mean nothing more than the way you understand it to be. I suppose I overlooked the use of my words in that sentence thinking that they made sense. And thanks for the correction in Scripture, I'll change that asap.
Your third point.
That's the Matthew 10:11-16 Scripture. Personally, I don't think it's binding on me for all times and situations, nor do I think it is for others. But I think it has its place. When Marty brought that up, I thought it was a great moment for me to probe him more on what he means. That is why I asked, "So what do you think is a good way to "leave the town"? And with that, to "shake the dust off your feet" when you leave?" I think it fits, but in its unique setting. So instead of me responding to him on what I think about his comment, I thought it to be a better idea to let him explain what he means by this passage because he did not.
It seems as though I wasn't as short as I wanted to be, but let me know if that helps.
Thanks for stopping by, Micah!
Tough question, and I think your position will evolve with experience and mistakes. In the past I've pulled the plug on conversations very quickly and other times I nearly drove them nuts [read: my sister]. Something to consider, especially when dealing with personal relationships and family: Don't debate during the holidays. And often, you just need to be very clear with people a couple of times so they understand where you stand and then just shut up and let the Holy Spirit work on them AND you.
My recent post Monergism.com: A Quick and Dirty Guide
Hey D. Good advice. Your observations never cease to profit me.
My recent post Focus: It’s Un-Habitual