Debate - Debating

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding wordly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. 1 Timothy 6:20-21

But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons...
1 Timothy 4:1

Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid wordly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene... 2 Timothy 4:14-18

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:23-26

After reading this series of verses, some of you should be under great conviction and mourning. Many christians, easily seem to forget these passages when teaching doctrine, and their teaching that they are giving ceases to be teaching, but ends up simply as debate. Many "scholars" and "theologians" are especially guilty of this, especially those of the internet chat room variety. This teaching I am presenting to you today is really such a simple teaching, but greatly needed.

Paul tells Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him- the myteries of God. How does he tell Timothy to guard what he is a steward of? He tells Timothy in 1 Tim. 6:20 to avoid "worldy and empty chatter," but does not end there. He tells him to also avoid "the opposing arguments," that is, the things the world has to say against our faith. Paul knows that such things have been the means by which other believers have abandoned the faith!

But so many get caught up, as the above verses say, wrangling about words, putting forth foolish and ignorant speculations, and paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. So many get caught up in strife, enjoying being a provoker of strife, as well as being entertained by strife. Jerry Springerism dominates many bible studies. Are you seeking to be entertained or edified? Or are you looking to instill "love from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5) in those who hear you?
If the goal of your instruction is such, then you will avoid foolish debates, wrangling about the meaning of words, foolish speculations, and the doctrines of demons. Why? Because you know from the scriptures above that such stupid debates do not at all edify, but rather, produce quarrels that only lead to further ungodliness, that leads to the ruin of its hearers. Did you hear that? It leads to the ruin-the destroying of faith- of those who hear the commotion, especially younger, and immature believers.

In 1 Tim. 4:1 it tells us that simply "paying attention" to those seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons will cause some to fall away. I know some translations render it "taking heed" and such, which is perfectly fine..indeed, those who do take heed, and follow these doctrines of devils will be destroyed...but it's not just those who take heed and obey these doctrines of demons that will fall away, but also those who simply pay attention to these lies!

Talk to many Christians and you will find out they are really confused about what they believe, because they've heard all these "great arguments" of various scholars, pastors, teachers, and Brother John Doe. They walk away not really knowing what they believe, and through such events satan begins to plant seeds of doubt in their minds. I don't care what the topic is about. Be it about the divinity of Christ, His second coming, or the topic of if there is even a God or not.

I'd like to use the last example as an illustration. Recently I was teaching about this very topic in a voice-chat room on Paltalk.com (My handle is "Preaching to Cannibals".) An atheist entered the room I was teaching in, and wondered what it was about. So I very kindly brought him up to speed on the purpose of the room I was teaching in. After he informed me he was an atheist, and since there wasn't much activity in the room, he wanted to debate with me if there was a God. Sadly, I've been down this road so many times where I would actually engage the atheist in the philosophical reasons in why somebody should believe in God. However, I have grown, and see such a debate is stupid.

This atheist fellow kept trying to provoke me to debate with him. I kindly told him why I believe in God: because I have experienced God, and experience Him daily. But he didn't want to hear it. He told me to step away from my belief for a while, and think in logical terms only so that we might have a decent discussion. Many people will gladly do this though, briefly stepping away from what they believe, in order to talk in a purely rationalistic, logical manner. Theologians, philosophers, and many others have gladly done this over the ages. St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Cavlin, and all the "greats" have done it. Not only have all the "greats" done it, but so have most believers in general. But God showed me in this discussion what the atheist was really asking me to do is TO COMMIT TEMPORARY APOSTASY!!! That is exactly what this atheist was asking me to do. He was asking me to remove that which is the foundation of my life, my faith in Christ! He was asking me to set aside what I believe, just for a moment. Some think, "Big deal." But don't you realize he was asking me to set aside my faith? It is a big deal!

If he could remove my foundation so easily, the rest of the building will crumble. No building can stand without a foundation. But so many do this. I will never, nor must you, ever set aside your faith for anything. You must not remove your faith from the very foundation of your thinking. I command this in the name of Jesus Christ. If the foundation of your thinking is gone, the rest will not stand. Do we not realize that we have believed only because we have experienced God? Are we so prideful to think that we found God through purely secular reasoning? Impossible. The carnal cannot give birth to the eternal. That which is temporary cannot birth that which endures forever.

No wonder the faith of so many are ship-wrecked. No wonder there are so many wounded. So many confused. So many hurt. For a couple years, I was such an individual. Partaking in conversations that were full of strife, full of contention. Conversations where folks were making points just to make points, not taking into account the weight anything they said had on the hearts and minds of others. Such persons are only speaking to hear themselves talk, making disciples unto themselves instead of to Christ.

Stop the insanity!

Do not be easily provoked into such situations. It is a trap set by satan. Should you come upon a situation where there is obviously strife, and folks disagreeing about doctrine, seek to show them the correct way without getting caught up in strife and debate. Do so in humility, and with a gentle spirit. If they do not receive the correction of your teaching, have nothing further to do with the situation. Stepping out of the conversation will be a sign to those who are continuing in their foolishness. They may ridicule, and revile you for doing such. They may say you are being weak-minded and not open to "thinking outside the box," but that's ok. In stepping away you will set an example that will not go without notice. Perhaps through your example they will repent and come to the true knowledge of the mysteries of God. Perhaps what you do not say will strike them more than what you might have.

Article by Jimmy Humphrey - [email protected]
Used with permission.
Article found at: http://www.christiansteps.com/ministry/debate.html
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