Very surprised at the number of posts so I went back to read what the hubbub was about and, of course, the bickering was there. Just read a thread today that contained another really good verse...
2 Timothy 2:14
14 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.
If we spent more time praising God and expounding on His works in our lives I am sure He would multiply our wealth of His glories just as He multiplies our tythes.
Now that is a work we could all enjoy and prove that He is indeed in our hearts and in our lives instead of arguing over what we think He says plus show the pagans that we do indeed love our brothers and sisters in Christ and bring them into our loving churches.
14 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.
I noticed the same verse while going over 2 Timothy. Of course, I wouldn't try to apply this counsel to forbid discussions about and disagreements over doctrine for the sake of a false version of unity, peace, or love.
At the same time, I have difficulty finding the love in certain styles of discussion. Maybe I'm a blind sinner who has difficulty discerning the genuine Christian love in them; if this is so, then I request that the masters of love make it easier for me to see.
If we spent more time praising God and expounding on His works in our lives I am sure He would multiply our wealth of His glories just as He multiplies our tythes.
Now that is a work we could all enjoy and prove that He is indeed in our hearts and in our lives instead of arguing over what we think He says plus show the pagans that we do indeed love our brothers and sisters in Christ and bring them into our loving churches.
It's interesting to consider how we choose to spend our lives, including the parts of our lives posting on forums such as these. I do not exclude discussions and even debates over "what he think He says" from what appears to be the ideal Christian life, but there is more to life than those.
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I do not expect that (or request that) the contents of one's private life of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving will be spilled all over the forums. I'd just hope that we can discuss matters of faith as people who sound as if we rejoice, pray, and give thanks more than we sometimes seem to do.