Quarreling Over God

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because they are unprofitable and useless." -Titus 3:9Some people waste a lot of time quarreling over God, and issues such asthe theory of evolution, when was the world created, and what span in time was man formed. There is no doubt that God wants us to know His word and will, and to increase in wisdom and understanding, but how do we know when to speak, and when to let truth speak for itself?

I can recall in my own family how my father-in-law and I used to love to get involved in a nice juicy debate every Christmas eve. He and my mother-in-law would visit from out of state, staying for a week or two in our home. When everyone else hopped in their beds for a good nights rest, my husband's father and I would settle in our living room chairs prepared to do battle; a match of wits in the heartiest of good spirits. Sometimes our discussions were about politics, and other times they centered around some popular controversial issue. My favorite however, was our late in to the night talks on God and the Bible. As much as I enjoyed these, however, there were some nights when I had to walk away from the discussion, not in defeat, mind you, but because there came a point in the debate when ego was getting in the way of truth, or true enlightenment was not being sought. My response in cases as this was always the same, "The truth does not need to be defended." I would then politely excuse myself, give my father-in-law a hug, and tell him how much I enjoyed our talk, and I would leave the rest in God's hands.

As my above story reveals, sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the heat of debate or quarreling, and truth becomes secondary. In cases as this, it is more important to be right, than to be lovingly working toward truth. There are also moments when Biblical quarreling can turn more in to a silly or viscous form of entertainment, and once again, the spirit of truth is forgotten.

I have learned through my own experiences that while we are called to be messengers and sharers of the God's good news, that news becomes soured when it is used as hateful verbal daggers, or prideful spews rather than issued in the spirit of love and generosity. In short, verbal wars can be a deterrent from truth so it is best to simply let truth speak for itself all in God's good time. Sometimes, trust in God, and patience is the only way for truth to set its own course.

Heavenly Father, thank you for letting me be wise enough to know when to speak, and when to remain silent. Thank you for giving me the wisdom to know when it is best to embrace my enemies, rather than shun them. Grant me the ability to cleave to your word, rather than my own pride. And lastly, God, thank you for helping me to best teach your word to others by how I live it, rather than how I speak or debate it. This I ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr