To Debate or Not....that is the question.

[other one]

Andy, there is a really big difference in being open to new ideas and accepting new ideas.... when you are not open to new ideas, you will never really understand what Oprah is saying and without an understanding of her ideas makes it a lot harder in convincing your neighbor that Oprah is not someone to listen to.

[~candice~]

Andy, there is a really big difference in being open to new ideas and accepting new ideas.... when you are not open to new ideas, you will never really understand what Oprah is saying and without an understanding of her ideas makes it a lot harder in convincing your neighbor that Oprah is not someone to listen to.

I am not open to new ideas. I am open to the divine knowledge and truth that is found in the bible and in Christ. These are truths from old, they have always existed. No part of truth is "new".

I understand enough of the worlds "new ideas" to hold them up to scripture and reject them. I am not "open" to them, only "aware" of them.

There is a difference between being open (which to me conveys a possibility of accepting that new idea) and being aware (aware of, perceptive of... knowledgeable about).

[Guest man]

What's wrong with the rest of my post?

Who said anything was wrong with it?

All I said was that the rest of your post backs up what missjenny posted concerning Proverbs 18:15. If the sower isn't open to new ideas, they will never gain the knowledge it takes to defend the Gospel. If the atheist isn't open to new ideas, debating with them is a waste of time.

The problem is that 'open to new ideas' doesn't say whether the idea is new, or just new to the hearer.

And this doesn't say whether the knowledge is new or just new to the hearer.

Proverbs 18

15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

The knowledge of God isn't something new, it's been around since the beginning of time, but to someone who doesn't know God, it's new.

In your studies of the Word you come across things that are new to you. They've always been there, but to you....they're new.

Like I said, being open to new ideas basically means you are willing to learn new things. Seeking knowledge means being open to new ideas.

[~candice~]

I differentiate between new ideas and new knowledge.

To me, an idea is something that is not yet tested and certain truth, it is just a thought... whereas knowledge is truth.

Perhaps this is where we differ .

[Matthitjah]

Andy, there is a really big difference in being open to new ideas and accepting new ideas.... when you are not open to new ideas, you will never really understand what Oprah is saying and without an understanding of her ideas makes it a lot harder in convincing your neighbor that Oprah is not someone to listen to.

Sam,

It was I who brought Oprah into the conversation.

I don't need to know what Oprah is saying to know that's it's worng. I don't even need to listen to it for more than about 30 seconds because I know the Truth. In order to define Truth from the lie we need to know the Truth. Examining the lie is a huge waste of time.

It's like U.S. Treasury agents. They don't study counterfeit money to catch counterfeiters. They become acquainted with the real deal and they know it so well they can spot a fake really quickly.

Peace,

Dave

[georgedrw81]

The freshest ideas are the ones which stand out over time - kike the Bible. The debate is our own struggle to accept them. When we arrive at the point of not being able to do so anymore then we pray. Prayer is to answer the question of our debate. God allways answers to us.

Blessings

[missjenny]

1Pe 3:15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

I would ask that you read and consider this scripture you quoted again...along with what I said about debate and confrontation... as it seems this verse says nothing about debate...all it says is to answer someones question, which is simple enough. In fact answer with meekness and fear!! Which is the approach I have tried to say we should have when speaking/communicating with others. It is all about attitude and putting others before onesself...I must decrease and He must increase. An attitude that does not come from the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

IT is difficult to communicate in mere words...in fact, very difficult. But I would hope that a Christian site, where I would imagine that most posters are Christian, would endeavor to 'act' as Christ would when sharing. Blessings to you...

[~candice~]

1Pe 3:15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

I would ask that you read and consider this scripture you quoted again...along with what I said about debate and confrontation... as it seems this verse says nothing about debate...all it says is to answer someones question, which is simple enough. In fact answer with meekness and fear!! Which is the approach I have tried to say we should have when speaking/communicating with others. It is all about attitude and putting others before onesself...I must decrease and He must increase. An attitude that does not come from the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

IT is difficult to communicate in mere words...in fact, very difficult. But I would hope that a Christian site, where I would imagine that most posters are Christian, would endeavor to 'act' as Christ would when sharing. Blessings to you...

I don't really know what point you are trying to make here. Are you saying that no debates are conducted in meekness and fear, or that they all are from the flesh

.

I have seen christians fruitfully respond to atheist retorts, using grace, love, humility and empowered with the Holy Spirit.

Any christian must always season all their words with grace and love. In and out of debate. We should be an example of Christ. I'm not advocating anything other than this.

[missjenny]

"Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them." Prov. 18:15

Just as a matter of interest, where did the scripture come from, the message?

Pro 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge - ESV There is a big difference between the two?

No judgment from me, but it changes the heart of your post, does it not?

I'm sorry, it was just interesting and strange to me that on a topic about being careful about debating, that the first response seemed to invite debate....also, as being the first response, it did feel as tho someone (you) was already side-tracking or taking the focus off the meaning off this topic.

I am kinda taken back to be honest. It seems that the main point of the topic...attitude and how we treat others...was already gone. And now that I have read thru all the responses, it does seem that some have already missed the forest for the tree. They have taken out one verse to squabble over...ALTHO I appreciate those that are reading between the lines, have open and humble hearts and seeing the meaning....THANK YOU!!

I understand that the post was long, however, I did include some powerful verses about how to relate and communicate with people...and tried to cover as much of this subject as I could.

I'm sorry all...I just believe with all of my heart that God is much more interested in our attitudes, then in what we do or don't know. (1 Cor. 13:1-7)

Blessings to you....

[missjenny]

1Pe 3:15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

I would ask that you read and consider this scripture you quoted again...along with what I said about debate and confrontation... as it seems this verse says nothing about debate...all it says is to answer someones question, which is simple enough. In fact answer with meekness and fear!! Which is the approach I have tried to say we should have when speaking/communicating with others. It is all about attitude and putting others before onesself...I must decrease and He must increase. An attitude that does not come from the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

IT is difficult to communicate in mere words...in fact, very difficult. But I would hope that a Christian site, where I would imagine that most posters are Christian, would endeavor to 'act' as Christ would when sharing. Blessings to you...

I don't really know what point you are trying to make here. Are you saying that no debates are conducted in meekness and fear, or that they all are from the flesh

.

I have seen christians fruitfully respond to atheist retorts, using grace, love, humility and empowered with the Holy Spirit.

Any christian must always season all their words with grace and love. In and out of debate. We should be an example of Christ. I'm not advocating anything other than this.

It may be that you and I see debate differently....I just see it as usually from the flesh...as I spoke about in my original post...so we have to be careful. The word debate even comes from the Old French

debat

...which is from the latin meaning "to fight". I just think debate usually incites and invites the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). Altho, similar to what u said, I have been in some friendly debates with friends or some other people....with much respect and humility.