Friday, June 11, 2021

FMF: Disagree

Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants. (2 Timothy 2:23-26, NCV)


I'm graduating college today.  Well, as much as any one "graduates" in a school district that is still closed for the pandemic. One of the most important things I've learned over the past two years is to agree-to-disagree with others in my educational community.  Sometimes I disagreed with classmates on trivial things.  Did they matter?  No, so it was easy to let it go while getting to know them. Other times, disagreements were more substantial.  I'll never forget the professor who taught adamently against racism and in the same class said that "Mexicans like Impalas."  Did I disagree with her blind hypocrisy?  Absolutely.  Was I ever going to change her?  Never.

Yet, when it comes to matters of my faith community, the agree-to-disagree situation is more challenging. In Paul's letter to Timothy it's clear that he's not talking about trivial things; he's talking about important issues that believers were letting the devil use to "gain a foothold"  in their spiritual walks, as Paul writes in Ephesians 4.  Paul doesn't tell the leaders to argue with them until they realize the error of their ways. His instructions are to be gentle.  To be kind.  To be patient.  To let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does becuase only God would be able to let them see the truth.



* * *
This post is a prompt from Five Minute Friday
and was written in approximately five minutes.
For more information, visit fiveminutefriday.com.
* * *

9 comments:

  1. it's hard isn't it? I'm having that struggle with a friend right now who is promoting heresy, and I'm trying to figure out how to counter balance what she says to a larger community as I know I won't change her. Tough to figure out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We must agree to disagree,
    lest conflict become heavy;
    you like Fords, but as for me,
    I'll always take a Chevy.
    You look to pre-Trib rapture,
    and I'm a mid-Trib dude,
    but it would be nice, God's capture
    'fore Tribulation could intrude.
    You voted for the other guy;
    guess our votes canceled out!
    In this ointment there's no fly,
    and no need to shout...
    but Miller over Schlitz? You fool!
    This calls for pistols, and a duel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I used the same verse, what powerful, biblical encouragement to handle disagreements with love.
    Congratulations on your graduation! Prayers and blessings for God to guide your paths and bring many blessings to your life.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is an excellent verse for today's prompt, and I am blessed by your thoughts, Amie. I am currently having a Facebook discussion on the "agree to disagree" idea. Your words from Paul are good reminders for me in this situation. (Karen FMF #6)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congrats on your college graduation! I definitely agree with you about being gentle. We cannot save another human, after all.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is such a great Bible verse on this topic, and I love your point about being gentle and patient and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on your college graduation!! Completely agree with you about not changing others on opinion. Deirdre FMF#2

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations on your graduation, Amie! And great post! I like the reminder that it is God that changes people's minds and it is not all our responsibility to persuade them.

    ReplyDelete