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| You're of the Devil |
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| Written by David Gaddy | |||
| Friday, 19 March 2010 00:00 | |||
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So, you stand firm on an issue in the Bible and you have what you feel are valid scriptural references to support your view. But it just so happens that another brother or sister strongly disagrees with you on this topic because they also feel they have strong scriptural support for an opposing view. Then you begin reasoning together about the truths on the issue. (It is of the utmost importance to enter into this type of activity with love for one another and respect for each other. But far too many times this is not the case.)
Let's say you each have provided what you feel is compelling evidence for the truth in understanding, but the other party is still not agreeing. Many times people will then start quoting scriptures that do not specifically support the topic, but instead are intended to prove the other party is simply wrong because they don't care enough about the truth to understand it. This is my pet peeve, because anyone can use these same scriptures (out of context) against their brother regardless of what the topic is or who is really right. It serves no purpose other than to condemn others who do not agree with you. This is not the spirit of love. It is simply a boastful, selfish misuse of scriptures to say, "I'm right and you're wrong because I'm like Jesus in these verses and you aren't." Still not getting what I'm talking about? Let me give an example. For the sake of argument, I'm going to make up a controversial subject so as not to step on anybody's pet topics. (My point is not to debate any particular doctrinal issue, but to address how to deal with others when you do.) Let's say you believe the scriptures thoroughly condemn the practice of fishing in the rain, but you have a brother who loves to fish in the rain. He's been doing this awhile and has what he feels are compelling scriptures that not only give him liberty to fish in the rain, but they encourage him to do so. Now after many scriptures have been exhausted on both sides, you decide he's just too stubborn to hear the "truth" of your point so you pull out this verse: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." - John 8:43-47 Now stop and think about this for a minute. You just stopped trying to convince him that rain-fishing is wrong and went straight to, "You're of the Devil!" How does the rain-fisher react when he reads this? Hurt? Angry? Sad? Was this your goal? To anger them or hurt them? The point is, he could've just as easily used this verse directed towards you. (It would have been just as wrong, but just as valid.) Jesus, in this verse is debating with those who would not accept His divine nature. Do you put yourself in HIS place? Are you divinely inspired in your understanding? Do you not realize that you could be the one who is wrong? Such a use of scripture is bordering on blasphemy. Because you are using His words in vain. You are using His words to lift yourself up on a pedestal and to beat someone else down. You are using His words to do to your brother the opposite of what He commands of us: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Matthew 22:39b We have such a long way to go in our understanding of love. We sometimes let our desire to understand God's truth turn into a need to always be right or to prove each other wrong. I'm not saying it's wrong to disagree, but it is wrong to misuse verses to hurt one another or to unjustifiably anoint yourself as the better Christian. Let us strive to teach one other in love: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." - Galatians 6:1-3 [Emphasis added] This is just one example, but there are so many verses that get misused like this. It makes me cringe every time I see a desperate brother or sister resort to this. Here are some examples of verses I've seen taken completely out of context just to make accusation against someone who didn't quite agree with his brother. These verses are used to say, "You just don't agree with me because..." "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" - 1 Corinthians 3:3 "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" - Acts 13:9-10 These are just a couple of examples, there are many more. Please think before using a passage of scripture to accuse someone of being a less devoted Christian. Make sure the verses you use are in context and not pulled out for your own personal gain. Stick to verses that relate to the topic at hand. And most of all... love each other. Even those bad ol' rain-fishers. ;)
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