“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)

No. I will not agree with you, fellow believer, simply to avoid a debate. Debate is good among those who believe. Debate is what institutions of higher learning should be all about. Doctrine is thereby purged, tried, and strengthened as spiritually mature men and women genuinely interested in rightly dividing the Word of truth study to show themselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). Exegesis is work and not science. God is an infinite continuum of possibility. Who is foolish and conceited enough to believe that only one point of view can encompass the totality of God’s mind or explain His ways exhaustively when His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9)?

We need to repent of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Romans 12:3). The government of the United States and church leadership alike would do well to remember that it is much more mature and productive to intelligently argue a point respectfully instead of drawing lines in the sand, refusing to acknowledge the validity of opposing views, and labeling those who don’t fully agree with us imbeciles, heretics, and fools. We seemed to be more forgiving communicators, more forgiving and respectful of others, prior to adolescence than we are now as adult disciples of Christ. How can this be? There is much to be said for the productivity of early church councils such as those which took place in Nicaea and Constantinople. Do we really need another twenty-thousand Protestant denominations in America today? How do people with opposing worldviews view such disharmony, finger pointing, and angst among those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus prayed that we be one as Father and Son are one within the godhead (John 17:21-23)? In what hour will Christ’s church expend at least some effort toward caring enough to participate in answering this prayer of unity? Is there more than one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5)? God forbid.

Lord, help me to build more bridges than I burn during this stage of my earthly imperfection. Help me to seek Your face with sincerest humility while respecting those who might never see as I see, hear as I hear, or believe as I believe. Help me to cherish those who challenge and refine my trust in You and the purity of Your holy Word. You have commanded me to love my neighbor as myself and to regard the entire world, not only those who agree with me, as my neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Help me to bear the discomfort of rejection, sneering, and scoffing I am sure to endure as I wait confidently upon You, Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

© 2009 Brian L Hunter

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Who is God?

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)

What the world definitely does not need is a second coming of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 22:29). The first round was quite enough. Thank you. Heartless, self-righteous judgment and condemnation is not what the New Covenant through the Blood of The Lamb is all about (Romans 8:1-39). Fighting words? Really? Whether I refer to God’s Word as the Torah, the Bible, the Word, God’s revelation of His mind to man, or Jesus has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the intimacy of my relationship with Him. Coincidentally, He answers when I call whether I refer to Him as Yeshua, Wonderful, Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, God in Three Persons, Messiah, YHVH, Yahweh, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, Ancient of Days, El Shaddai , or Jehovah. While people devoid of the mind of Christ are busy pointing fingers and arguing over divisive cultural facts and denominational insecurities which are entirely insignificant in the schema of God’s redemptive work, Satan, the author and finisher of the works-based salvation concept, is laughing his way all the way to hell with the souls of many and having his way in the world. When will we wake up and begin to participate in an answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in the seventeenth chapter of John’s gospel (John 17:1-26)? God’s people are one people. “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1 NLT) Selah.

 
Note: I admonish true disciples not to be enslaved by translations. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:4) This initial post has been a response to http://www.logosapostolic.org/bible_study/RP506JehovahYahweh.htm Please remember that we cannot believe everything we read on the Internet. :)

© 2013 Brian L Hunter