And... in this corner...
More Christians!
Ha! You thought I was going to say Atheists. Or one of the many different religions floating around our world. That would have made more sense, perhaps. And yet, quite honestly, most of the debates/arguments/blood baths I've witnessed have not been between Christians and other groups. It's been Christians against Christians.
A Christian arguing with any other group has a very easy argument - The Bible tells us God is the one true God, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, died to save us. And the person on the other side of the debate doesn't believe in that God or the Bible. Easy.
A Christian arguing with another Christian, on the other hand...
Not only are these arguments even more difficult to participate in... I mean, you have to actually research the Bible and dig into your memories of what you've been taught and pray on what the truth is... these arguments also get very mean. And oh my God, do you know how annoying it is to hear Bible verses about false prophets during these fights? Seriously - there is always one person (at least) accusing the other of being a false prophet... or of following false prophets.
But the truth is - not all Christians are going to agree all the time. What is important is we agree that God created everything; and He sent Jesus to die for our sins. Anything above and beyond that, while important, should not be important enough to divide us. As long as we continue battling with each other, we will never be able to bring non-believers to God.
We are supposed to love one another, including our enemies. This is a commandment given to us by Jesus. This is a commandment we must follow if we are to have any hope of spreading the news of Christ.
John 13:34-35
ReplyDelete34"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
How can men see that we are disciples if we are always fighting one another?
Jesus -
ReplyDeleteColossians 1:15-20 (KJV)
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.