I am quite weak in speech and I’m no good for live argumentation. I’ve always looked up to people who could do that in a constru
ctive way with good points and good sources. I’ve been thinking about argumentation lately, from arguing about points of views on food or ecology to sharing the Gospel and revealing the pitfalls of people’s philosophies. I am not sure anymore if I want to be someone who knows and can argue well with people. Simply because the majority of the stuff that I find myself arguing about are points of views about things that are not worth arguing for.
I firmly believe that the Scriptures cannot be bent, at any cost and so I want to be able to contend for the truth (Jude 3 says, “… I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the truth that was once and for all entrusted to the saints..”). No doctrine of the Bible, no Gospel point can be altered or compromised, ever. And these are worth fighting for.
But there is little use in arguing about issues that the Bible does not speak clearly for or against. Romans 14 states that for matters of “holy days”, foods and dietary restrictions, one should simply be “convinced in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5).
I believe that what is most important when I feel like I need to “mettre mon grain de sel” (add my grain of salt… French expression) to a conversation because I have a different opinion and want to argue my position, I should look at my motivation. Why do I want to argue? To show the other person’s wrong? To humiliate people? To elevate myself? To look smart? To look different? To help? To keep someone from danger? I think that that’s my job prior to say any word, “Why do I feel the urge to talk?”. If someone’s asking me my opinion, then that’s fine, but if I have wrong motivations, then it’s useless to argue. If my knowledge can help someone who truly is in the wrong, then I must argue and pray for the person, but if my argument is about trivial things or things that the Bible says we should personally be convinced about and that opinions can differ, then, I’m wasting time and pouring vinegar into my relationship bottle.
It’s humbling to keep quiet when the heart disagrees on issues that are not cast in black and white and have no spiritual consequences, worldly stuff. But I think that this is actually promoting love and peace. But one cannot forget to contend for truth revealed and plain found in the Bible.
This is sort of new to me. My understanding and explaining of it isn’t exactly clear, sorry about that. Feel free to add and remove. This is only my thoughts being processed.
Lloyd-Jones wrote:
“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”
2 Comments
Sometimes ‘arguing’ (expressing what we think) is really worth while. Often Jesus asked questions (argued) to make people think about their lives. If we argue to prove we are superior or to step on someone - that’s wrong. But, arguing to encourage or to help - that is right. Staying in our corner and letting life pass by when we can be a witness (in all forms) that is also wrong. The epistle to the Romans is flooded with Paul’s arguments in favor of grace and not works! So holy arguing has its place.
I agree with everything that you said and it’s all written in my post (heart’s good and bad motivations and some topics that simply cannot be a matter of mere personal opinion and must be argued for (like Paul contending for the true Gospel of grace apart from works).
By “arguing” I did not mean “expressing what we think” solely but rather, ” to contend in oral disagreement; dispute”, “to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning” and “a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement”.
There is a big difference between stating one’s opinions and arguing about it.
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