What's Your Point?

Every day when I log unto Facebook I see new controversial posts. On these various postings many may ‘like’, share or comment after. Daily we are bombarded with opinions, arguments, theories, philosophies of men and we often find our time being consumed in viewing videos, reading notes and trying to make sense of what the author may be saying.

Should we listen to Hip-hop? Is dance really for the church? Is this man/woman really a prophet? Are we supposed to attend Gospel concerts? Does this or that really glorify God? Should we wear this and that?.... and the questions go on. Most times what may have started off as a simple question or video post by one person often turns into what I call an unnecessary debate, with invalid information and heated exchange of words. The fury rises and the battle begins as all participants try to justify their opinion through irrelevant examples and misused scriptures in a forceful manner.

It then creates a mental divide between participants and in the end the dominant bible quoters take over and show off ‘who knows best’. It brings some form of glory and pride to themselves and it’s evident in the way that ideologies are conveyed as posts continue.

While this is the typical home screen on Facebook for Christians these days, I must admit that there have been constructive posts. I was reading recently Timothy and Paul’s warning of heresies in the church. The church at Ephesus was plagued with them and threatening the church at Colosse, (much like we do with one another). The teaching then was that in order to be acceptable to God a person had to discover certain hidden knowledge and had to worship angels

Col 2:8 and 18 shows this...

8. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

18. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

While reading this it was rather self explanatory, they were more motivated by their own interests rather than that of Christ’s. My study bible put it in these words,

‘They embroided the church in endless and irrelevant questioning and controversies taking precious time away from the truth. We must stay away from religious speculation and pointless theological arguments. Such things are harmless at first but they sidetrack us from the central message of the Good News. It expends time we should use on sharing the knowledge of Christ and it doesn’t help others grow in the faith. Avoid anything that keeps you from doing God’s work.’

I couldn’t have said it better and this is exactly how I feel when we go at each other’s throats. I too was once involved, heated and ‘ready fuh dem’ when anyone made a post that was contrary to WHAT I BELIVED. In the end I began to see how I was going after showing off what knowledge I had rather than genuinely sharing about Christ.

It feels good doesn’t it? The ability to convey, express and communicate a point so eloquently and with authority and have others siding with you. It can go to your head! I write like that because I've lived it for a time.

When I began to realize that it was no longer about God but for recognition I decided to take a back seat and let the Word work in me.

‘Let wisdom and a Spirit of discernment prevail’ I had to tell myself.

In 1Timothy 1:3-7 it reads

3  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer

4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Does this look like you or someone you may know? These are DANGEROUSLY subtly people (false prophets) that seek to also get saints to themselves rather than that of Christ. We can recognize them when

1. They teach things contrary to the Word of God. (1 Timothy 1:3,6,7 and 4:1-3)

2. They promote divisive and trivial controversies instead of HELPING people to Christ

3. They aren’t concerned about personal evidence of the presence of God in their lives, they rather spending time on meaningless discussions and bringing down others (Timothy 1 1:6)

4. Their motivation is to make a name for themselves (Timothy 1 1:7)

The first teachers wanted to become famous as teachers of God’s law not comprehending the purpose of it. The law isn’t a list of commands for every occasion to believers but to show unbelievers their sin and bring them to Christ. Romans 5:20, 21 , 13:9,10 and Galatians 3:24-29

We need to be STEADFAST in the Word of God. We have argued so much that we miss what God was saying to us in the first place. We go off on irrelevant tangents and become tangled in our own web of carnal thinking. We have to know God (and His word for ourselves). When we now have knowledge of His word we can apply it to our lives and do so DAILY, and yes teach it to others.

In essence what I'm saying is not to absolutely disregard discussions etc., however bear in mind the manner and the way in which we engage in them. Rather than being condemning and loose the conversion of the lost (which translates and a defeated purpose), we must portray the points or opinions in love and break down the matter into an more understandable, pertinent and relevant form.

Written by :

Esther James

 

Features - Opinion