How to Engage an Argument - a Theological Perspective

I have noticed that very few people know how to argue and debate well.  Most "discussions" on volatile topics simply become screaming matches where each side continually repeats the same points and mocks the opposing view point.  At some point the character of both sides are questioned by the other and a whole lot of red herrings and non-sequitur statements seem to follow.  So I thought it would be fitting to consider the concept of a reasoned logical argument from a theological perspective.  Now I want to be clear that I am not just speaking of theological arguments (though those are certainly included), but of any argument on any position.  Common in today's news would include political arguments, gun control, arguments on human sexuality, etc.

Step 1 - determine the importance of the argument. 

There are some issues that are worth arguing to the death.  For instance, Christ is the only way to God the Father.  This is a worthwhile discussion and argument.  Issues of morality should always trump political preference.  The best way that I know to determine what your priorities in this matter should be is to look to the Word of God and the example of Jesus.  There were some things that He stood firm upon. And then there were things like political issues - taxation, that he did not argue so vehemently against.  There are things in Scripture that we are to hold very tightly, and a lot of things that we are to be free to have an educated opinion on but the freedom to disagree, even as believers.  We must be discerning enough to know that the value of human life is more critical in an argument than a personal opinion, which brings us to step 2 - maybe the most important step.

Step 2 - remember we are interacting with fellow Image Bearers.

We are not arguing against a computer (though if you do your arguments online it may feel like it) - we are arguing with people.  This means that their understanding of who they are as a creation in God's image is far more important than us proving we are right at the expense of their feelings and dignity.  We should not ever attempt to make people feel or look stupid as a means of invalidating their argument.  If you have to do this, you have not truly understood the Scriptures as God has given them to us.  We are to serve others, love others, put others first, forgive them, speak pure words to them, encourage them etc. These clear commands of Scripture are far more critical than being right. 

Step 3 - remember your own character.

We need to remember in our discussion that we are representing Christ to this world.  Therefore in what we say and more importantly how we say it, people are going to see us representing Christ.  What will they think of Christ if they base it off of are discussions with them on hot-topic issues?  Will they think that Christ's number one priority was the right to bear arms?  Will they think that Christ only voted for a particular party?  Or will they see that no matter the issue they are thinking about that Christ loved them with an everlasting love that is calling them into relationship with God through the blood of Christ?

These are just a few things to think about the next time you talk to someone about something you are passionate about, or as you are about to post a snarky remark online.  Remember that there is more at stake for us as believers than winning an argument and that we need to engage our world, and our argumentation theologically!

Theology - the only cure for anxiety

Some people tend to worry more than others.  Some of us pick a few select things that we worry about and then we can leave the rest alone.  However you choose to worry, the Scriptures have much to say about anxiety and worry.  The majority of what Scripture says is to avoid it.  We are told not to worry about tomorrow.  We are told we can cast our anxieties on Jesus because of His care for us.  We are in other words to avoid worry. 

For most of us the command to avoid something is essentially meaningless.  After all, how do you get rid of something that seems so internal.  We have this idea that if it happens in our head or hearts we can do nothing about it.  And yet the Bible says in Romans 12 that we are to renew and transform our minds.  There has to be something that we can do.  And the good news is that we can.  We can change our theology - the way that we think about God. 

Proper theology tells us that God is caring for us.  That God will provide for us.  That God is good and all He does is good.  Proper theology tells us who we are and that what we need more than the things that we worry about is that we need God and to be in a right relationship with Him.  Proper thinking about God is the cure for anxiety.  Only when we think rightly of God will we be able to think rightly about our world and about ourselves and about the circumstances we find ourselves in!

So if you are worried today, instead of thinking about it, think about God!

A Little Levity

I am reminded in life that sometimes being really serious leads to an improper view of our world and the God who created it.  I am reminded that while truth is deeply serious to contend for, that the God of truth created the platypus.  It is even fun to say.  God created laughter for mankind to enjoy.  I have never seen a squirrel laugh.  And so every so often I read some good clean jokes. 

I asked my daughter if she’d seen my newspaper. She told me that newspapers are old school. She said that people use tablets nowadays and handed me her iPad. The fly didn’t stand a chance. 

After making coffee for 20 years of marriage, a man asks his wife, "Darling, why don’t you brew us some coffee?"
Wife looks confused: "But that's your task, honey."
“What? Why?”
"It’s all over the Bible, dearest."
"The Bible says nothing about who’s supposed to be brewing coffee!" 
The wife grabs hold of a copy and starts flipping pages at random: "See? Everywhere: Hebrews, Hebrews, Hebrews."

Hopefully this brought you a laugh or two.  Have a blessed day!

A summary of the book of Acts

Whenever I conclude a sermon series there is a sense of sadness.  The text of Scripture that you study when you are preparing to preach becomes a kind of friend to you.  It becomes close and you begin to feel the main emphasis that the author is trying to get across.  For so long I have simply thought about Acts as a recounting of the early days and the formation of the church.  But I am no longer convinced that Acts is simply a recounting of history.  Acts has this as one of its main components, but I believe the reason that it was inspired and preserved for you and I today has to do with the lessons it teaches about how a church can and should grow. 

There are so many books written on church growth and experts in the field far beyond my skill or ability, but I note a few things from the book of Acts:

1. Church growth must be based upon two primary things - the preaching of the Word of God and the movement of the Spirit of God. 

There is a repeated expression in the early chapters "And the Lord added to their number . . . ".  Salvation is the work of God and God alone.  So often we try to make church growth about what we do, and this is a good thing so long as the things we are focusing on is the preaching of the word of God and the movement of the Spirit of God.  We will not properly grow a church by sacrificing truth for people in the pew.  We will not properly grow a church by seeking the most relevant method.  Being relevant is fine so long as it does not replace the preaching of the Word of God as the primary goal.

2.  Personal testimony seems to be critical in the proclamation of the gospel. 

Going through the book of Acts you realize just how often the ministers of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ speak their own testimony as they proclaim the gospel.  This testimony comes in the form of telling the story of Israel as well as individuals encounters with Christ.  But we cannot escape the fact that the gospel impacts our story and I think that we should remember this in our own attempts to share the gospel with a lost and dying world. 

3. People seem to preach wherever they go.

So often we make our ministries about missions and the idea of reaching people that are unreached.  Again, there is nothing fundamentally flawed about this, but Paul simply preaches wherever he is.  In the synagogue he preaches to Jews, in Athens he preaches to those he is talking to, in Jerusalem he preaches multiple times to anyone who will listen.  The issues seems to be not in the going, but in the making of disciples wherever we go.  This means none of us have the excuse that we do not need to make disciples.  Disciple-making is not the job of the Pastor and missionaries alone.  It is the responsibility of the church.  We need to preach wherever we are sent and as we go on the journey to our final destination of eternity, we proclaim the living Christ until He returns! 

I think that if we can focus on these three things, we may find that our church grows organically.  Maybe not by adding thousands overnight (though it could happen) but more likely by the faithful growth of one or two people at a time as we are faithful to preach the gospel!