Wednesday, April 2, 2008

WW--We Shouldn’t Argue Or Debate

~It’s unloving to try to beat someone in an argument.
~It’s a fallacy to assume that two people arguing on opposite sides will bring out all the relevant ideas.
~Debate is oppositional, whereas real thinking should be more collaborative
~Rhetoric rather than substance wins debates.
~Debating emphasizes speed, not quality of thought.
~Debating is more about ego and winning than about discovering truth

~In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty.
Therefore, we never need to disagree.
~Disagreeing gives people the impression that Christians are not united.
~The Bible warns us against indulging in vain disputes.
~Disagreeing agreeably just doesn’t happen very often.
~Love and disagreement aren’t synonyms, and we’re supposed to be known for our love.
~Disagreement is the first step down the path of schism and church-split.
Just like you shouldn’t look at other women because it’s the first step towards an affair.
~Disagreements often lead us to question other people’s Christianity.
~Only sinners disagree, and we’re not supposed to imitate sinners are we?
~Whether we disagree doesn’t matter as long as we love each other.

Bible References: Matt 5:9, Matt 5:44-48, Matt 24:46-51, John 13:34-35, Acts 15, Acts 19:8-9, Rom 14:1-13, Gal 2:11, Phil 2:14-16, 1 Tim 1:3-4, 1 Tim 6:3-5, Titus 3:9-11

Links:
Why Do Good Christians Disagree?
by Hazelden.org
When Christians Disagree, What to do? by Servantsnews.com
When Christians Disagree
by Sydneyanglicans.net

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