Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Adam and Jeremy Say: We hope this convicts you like it convicts us

On behalf of Greg Koukl...

"There is no reason to threaten our unity by frivolous debate. However, many debates are not frivolous, but are worthy of our best efforts.
Paul told Timothy to retain the standard of sound words, and to guard the treasure which had been entrusted to him (
2 Timothy 1:13-14). He told Titus to choose elders who could exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict, teachers, he said, who must be silenced (Titus 1:9, 11).
This kind of protection of the truth is not a passive enterprise. It’s active and energetic. Arguments are good and dispute is healthy. They clarify the truth and protect us from error and religious despotism.
When the church discourages principled debates and a free flow of ideas it leads to shallow Christianity and a false sense unity. No one gets any practice learning how to field contrary views in a gracious and productive way. The oneness they share is contrived, not genuine. And they lose the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff.
When arguments are few, error abounds. "


Sometimes even Adam and Jeremy (and Jeremy is more guity than Adam) shy away from debate in fear that it could cause a break in unity or stir up a small amount if disention. Alas, after hearing what Greg had to say on the issue, we should think about the way we "argue" and move forward with the discussion...carefully.

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