How To Handle Doctrinal Spats

240 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:23-26, “ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2:23-26) Oh the battles that have been fought in congregations over the most absurd things! What color should the carpeting be? I have read stories on the internet about actual church splits over the spelling of alleluia! Some wanted it with an “H” others did not. Some have argued over what brand of coffee should be served! Another biggie is they style of worship. Should it be contemporary or traditional worship or a mix of both. And when you hear the words, “we've never done it that way before,” brace yourself, another battle is about to begin. These preceding examples are silly of course, and Paul's advice to Timothy and us is to not get drawn into these silly battles, rather keep the main thing the main thing! I know of fewer things that can turn people off concerning the church than serving on a board where many of these arguments take place. But I think Paul is talking about more than adiophora here because he uses the word ignorant, which means the uninstructed, and he speaks of the need of repentance unto salvation. The uninstructed speaks of new believers, a little wet behind the ears, yet very zealous for the faith and what they believe. Many times in their healthy quest for knowledge, they will garner it from unhealthy sources. They'll read books and listen to teachings that seem really cool and plausible to them, and no one is going to tell them otherwise! These often spectacular speculations are nothing but straw, chaff that will be blown away under the careful instruction in the Word of God! And this is Paul's encouragement to Timothy to fight these dangerous teachings. No need to quarrel with these troublemakers, rather continue to humbly and patiently teach the truth of God's Word and let the Holy Spirit do the rest!