Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

It has been a while since I read of the importance of disagreement in the church. One book I read a few years back, “The Gospel according to Moses“, offered a discussion on the value of alternate opinions on topics of faith. The author’s argument in the book was that bringing up alternate ways of considering portions of Scripture is a healthy way of learning. Interaction with alternate points of view provides challenges to misconceptions and misunderstandings we may have of Bible truths, and allows for each disciple to think, ponder, and possibly self correct.

I say this is the best way to understanding a truth, instead of simply accepting a statement. Be exposed to teaching that does not allow you to be comfortable. Open yourself to what the Word is teaching, even in those portions of Scripture that are difficult, scary or suggest an alternate view of that which you have accepted. After all, if we have the truth, we should be willing to accept all challengers!

Prior to this though, a foundational truth needs to be established. As believers, we must humbly confess that the Word is the source of all truth, that it contains the message we are to follow, that the Word is a message we are to dedicate our lives to learning and obeying, and that the Word is deep, eternal, mysterious, puzzling and most of all, honors the Lord Jesus (and not us) in all it’s message.

The Word as the authority for our faith is foundational. Let the Word be the fire we need, the hammer it is!

In practice though, as modern believers, we tend to gather with believers that are carbon copies of ourselves. When we gather with those who think like we do, and allow one man to monologue the group into his understanding of the Word, I fear we may tend to go numb. We interpret group think as synonymous with peace in the church. It may simply be numbness.

Sadly, this condition of “group think” can also foster a culture of superiority, of thinking we have arrived, that other believers are wrong in some (or many) areas of faith. Alternate opinions are considered sources of confusion (or worse “of the devil”), and this surely is not God’s intent, is it?

Does not the Word speak of confusion as not from God?

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

We may claim alternate teaching as confusing, not because it is, but due to our own laziness, our mental unwillingness to be set off balance, to be challenged.

My point may be further defined in this. Is there any profit (spiritually) to be challenged in your understanding of the Word, of God, of Jesus and His mission?

Is there a possible downside to the modern concept of being “fed” the truth? Is the main source of truth for your life the same general understanding, the same viewpoint on the Scripture that is rediscovered every Sunday morning? Might there be benefit in finding a friend or teacher to challenge our understanding? Should we as believers consider the first truths we were taught to be the only truth?

1 Corinthians 14:36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

Test your own body of believers next time you get together. Do you find yourself sitting together, simply reinforcing already accepted truths? The same old truths spoken as all our eyes gloss over, slowly becoming detached to the challenge of understanding such a fantastic book, a message from God!

There is a difference between being told what to think, and being taught how to think.

We may justify our reluctance to be challenged by claiming we have the truth already (sounds boastful in my mind) and desire to maintain a “purity” of doctrine. When a sensitive topic or “difficult” verse enters a conversation, does the group chase it, consider it, dig into it, or does someone simply throw a verse reference at it and move on? I cannot count the number of times I have offered questions and was told to look up a verse later, only to find the verse had nothing to do with my question.

This test may also be misunderstood by my reader, for you may be thinking I am suggesting we reconsider the deity of Christ, or the eternality of God, or any other central doctrine the faithful have clung to through the ages. This is not what I am suggesting. It is more of the secondary doctrines, or those that are on the fringe that need to be considered, examined, and understood, (even if not accepted) as we grow into Christ. It is good to understand our brothers and sisters position in Christ, to have an attitude of teachableness, of humility, and of a willingness to consider their knowledge in the Word.

Personally, the first topic that I tripped over, and that was a test for the body I belonged to at the time, was the topic of tithing. Surely this is not a cardinal doctrine, (though for the church I belonged to at the time, it seemed to be equal in importance to the Atonement.) I have wrote on this topic before so I shall not bore you with the conclusion of the “discussion” on tithing with the leadership, but it did set a mind in me to not simply accept what one man teaches without searching out the Word, looking for answers, and allowing myself to be wrong in my faith.

Since then, I have adjusted my understanding of the Word in a number of it’s teachings, and am thankful the Lord has directed me as I learned. I am also very cognizant of the fact that I still have much to learn and could be wrong in areas I am “sure of”.

I needed to accept the possibility I was wrong in my faith in order to grow in my faith.

No matter, for if we are willing to listen to our brothers, without putting up a wall, without formulating a defense as they explain their position, and express a humility and desire to understand their point of view, much could be accomplished in the fractured church we exist in.

One of the most difficult exercises I have had to practice in this regard is to shut up and to listen! It’s really quite a challenge!

---

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

Come join us at Considering the Bible