DEBATING DOCTRINE

I once attended a small group that were moving in their walk as “Grace Receivers.” It was a great group, and I saw in them so much love that I believed was out of an overflow from a revelation of Christ’s love.

During the times I attended, there would always be someone asking what each other’s stand was on a particular doctrinal issue.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN WOMEN PASTORS?

DO YOU SPEAK IN TONGUES?

CAN CHRISTIANS BE POSSESSED?

WHEN WE ARE SAVED CAN WE LOSE OUR SALVATION?



Oftentimes, these discussions are for “intellectual calisthenics” and oftentimes it leads to disagreement, verse quoting, and eventually someone gets hurt or offended. Sadly, some Christians “bait” others into this debate, waiting to catch doctrinal gaps.

THESE DEBATES ARE REALLY NOT FOR ME (MAYBE NOT FOR ALL OF US? :-))

Sometimes when we debate doctrine we feel the need to defend the truth. To defend our beliefs. And with good intentions to defend Jesus. With all these good intentions, Christians find themselves very passionate, sometime offensive or even cutting.

When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane Peter took it upon himself to “defend” Jesus. In fact, Peter was offensive and cutting in the literal sense. What happened was Peter, cut off a servant of the High Priest’s ear.

Was Jesus happy? Did Jesus congratulate Peter for defending Him? Was Jesus proud of Peter’s effort to protect Jesus?

On the contrary, Jesus reprimanded Peter saying, “Put your sword in your place... or do you think that I cannot pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” By debating doctrine, we actually confine God to our own limited knowledge - to what we have heard or what we have read. God is God. Whether or not the person believes in God does not make God less real. He is the Creator of the Universe. Through His words, the Universe came to be. Our sun is a speck in the Universe. We are a speck in the Sun. and the Universe rests on His palm. He does NOT need us to defend Him.

Secondly, when Peter defended Jesus, he cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest. This is what happens when we get into debates. We “cut off” the hearing of others. People we are debating with will not be able to hear our message of Christ’s amazing love. By the way, what did Jesus do? He healed the ear. He restored the hearing! Hallelujah!

God sent His only begotten Son that through Him the world might be saved! That the righteous life we are not able to live - He lived. That the death that we deserved, He received. This is the Good News. This is the heart of our conversations with others! To speak Life to others.

He desires that we speak of His love to others. That the Good News that He sent His Son to redeem us and set us free. These are the words that He wants us to say. No need to defend doctrine - we just speak life to others.

The next time you find yourself being baited in a useless Doctrinal Debate, just excuse yourself that isn’t where you are supposed to speak (the Pharisees did this a lot, didn’t they?)

You will one day find yourself with a person who is asking you these things not because they want to debate, but they truly are seeking answers to their life that they have grown tired, weary and frustrated. And at this perfect time, the Spirit will use you to speak Life to this person, to speak about the undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor in the person of Jesus Christ!