Christians arguing with other Christians

[missmuffet]

5 hours ago, Regenerated-Adult said:

about theology, morality, philosophy, science, history, and so on.  If they were actually saints, they probably wouldn't engage in such crass and gross behaviour with other people who claim to be "born again".  Yet it continues to happen, and there is seemingly no end in sight.

 

It's not any part of my conception of what a Christian is supposed to be, or be like.

 

When Christians gather together, and someone says, "You just committed the ad hom fallacy", you know you are dealing with nothing but a troll and not a saint, by any means.

It's amazing to me to see a group of people united in something disunited in the small print of it.

You can not say someone is "arguing" with you because they have a different theology opinion. It all depends on how they discuss the issue. Name calling and unkind remarks that they say to you personally should not be tolerated in a Christian message board. You need to report that. 

[leah777]

Quote

Ephesians 4:31-32

King James Version

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Using the word Arguing is open to interpretation. It can mean behaviour like I have quoted above - and this is wrong

Quote

Acts 17:11

King James Version

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

It can also mean intense but peaceful discussion of scripture, to get to truth. That arguing is OK. 

So maybe specify what is meant by arguing is helpful.

[Whyme]

We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom. 

[Starise]

No matter how much this subject is reflected on I seldom ever see anything change. 

There seem to always be a few from every stripe. I could go into classifications as i see them but this would only make it worse.

Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be pleasantly surprised.

I tend to meet kind with kind which I know is unspiritual. It's my old nature. You throw it at me a certain way and I'll send it back sometimes in spades. I figure if your sensitivity is that low you won't mind if I communicate with you in the same way.  I have to step outside my character to do it. I think it's simply my way of conveying to someone how they are coming off to me. In hindsight this approach seldom ever makes things any better. I think it's important to let people who are being rude, insensitive and inconsiderate know there are boundaries.

 

I despise when someone is stepping on boundaries. They are aware they are doing it. They do it regardless and don’t care. Or they are so self absorbed they are oblivious they are doing it.

I despise people who willingly prey on the helpless and the innocent, much less those who can defend themselves.

I despise people who would rather follow a comfortable lie than an uncomfortable truth.

I despise intentional harm to our fellow man. Probably the worst thing for me. Oblivious, insensitive harm comes in a close second.

I despise manipulation of others emotions, resources or circumstances for purposes of control, cruel self gratification or personal gain.

I despise lack of empathy towards others.

Even so, I recognize that there are redeeming qualities in even the worst of people. I do my best to see those qualities.  Looking in the mirror I see this is true.

In the end, for the Christian, God is still working in us all.

 

 

 

[Michael37]

6 hours ago, Regenerated-Adult said:

about theology, morality, philosophy, science, history, and so on.  If they were actually saints, they probably wouldn't engage in such crass and gross behaviour with other people who claim to be "born again".  Yet it continues to happen, and there is seemingly no end in sight.

It's not any part of my conception of what a Christian is supposed to be, or be like.

When Christians gather together, and someone says, "You just committed the ad hom fallacy", you know you are dealing with nothing but a troll and not a saint, by any means.

It's amazing to me to see a group of people united in something disunited in the small print of it.

Ever been on a church board?

 Paul and Barnabas Separate
Act 15:36  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 
Act 15:37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 
Act 15:38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 
Act 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 

[Unit 11]

This hits home for me. When I first converted, I took it for granted that arguing was a normal part of being a believer--from time to time, at least. And argue I did, for years. What a waste of time. I wasn't too good at it. I got overexcited and walked away burning with embarrassment, as well as the hindsight that lashed at me when the perfect rebuttals came to mind only afterwards, when it was too late to use them. Still I kept getting into arguments.

Some guys I knew seemed to relish arguing. When one of them found out I had difference of opinion, he sought me out every meeting and started in. Sheesh. 

I think it does something to a person's mind if they argue too much. In the beginning there was a group I played Bible Trivia with, pleasant people not given to disputes. A question came up: What miracle of Christ's is recorded in all four gospels? A lady knew the answer, "The feeding of the five thousand." Well and good. 

Years later, in another group with the above-mentioned guy, the same question came up. Sure enough, he raised a great big stink about it. "Do you mean, besides raising himself from the dead? Does it include raising himself from the dead? Well? Does it or doesn't it?" It's as if arguing all the time, so often being in that mode, got him over-analyzing and disputing everything.

Looking back on all the spats I've gotten into, I don't see how any of them did anyone any good. Everyone gets all flustered and worked up, back and forth, back and forth, and when the dust has finally settled, nothing's changed.

So now I don't argue. I've gotten into little exchanges on this board now and then, but I avoid ugly, endless back-and-forth spats. I don't argue, not with JW's, not with Mormons, not with atheists and not with other Christians. And my life is much more peaceful, relaxed and breathing easier, since adopting this personal rule.

 

[Michael37]

20 minutes ago, Unit 11 said:

"Do you mean, besides raising himself from the dead? Does it include raising himself from the dead? Well? Does it or doesn't it?"

I would have advised this person that Jesus Christ the Son didn't raise Himself from the dead, God the Father did.

Act_2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Act_2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act_3:15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act_3:26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Act_4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act_5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act_10:40  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Rom_6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Col_2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.

& so on . . .

[Unit 11]

9 hours ago, Michael37 said:

I would have advised this person that Jesus Christ the Son didn't raise Himself from the dead, God the Father did.

Act_2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Act_2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

 

 

If I or anyone had, I wonder if he would have gone so far as to interrupt the evening for a long, animated dispute about it. I don't know what verses he might have used to demonstrate the other point of view, but some folks like to argue and fight just for its own sake. I was raised by a person like that. 

It's sad.

 

[Justin Adams]

To comment on the OP.

The various Rabbinic schools constantly argued. There were as many Judaism sects as there are Christian sects. Therefore I think God is on to us humans and how we deport ourselves. We are an argumentative bunch - let's face it.

Edited February 26, 2021 by Justin Adams

[Justin Adams]

On 2/25/2021 at 12:36 AM, Starise said:

In the end, for the Christian, God is still working in us all.

Yes o hairy one: thou doest speak words of wisdom. Been to a barber lately?