June 27

2 Timothy 2:23–24 (NIV84)
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

When I was a young man in Christ, I sought arguments out. I loved to argue – ah… I mean debate. It was fun! Sometimes I would even argue what I didn’t believe just to enjoy a spirited argu---debate. It sounds so much better if we call things like that a debate. It sounds scholastic! (How about a discussion?!) The reality of this is that arguments produce quarrels. Quarrels have no place in the body! We can have a theological difference or even a practical difference of opinion, but to enter into a bitter dispute about it is carnal. It produces a fleshliness within one or both of the parties. I am sure that there are some people who can handle a discussion about differences of opinion, and Paul is not talking about that, but that discussion has to be done in love and with the care of the other person in the forefront of your mind. That is not just to say I care about them being so wrong and I am trying to straighten them out, but a lovingness in the way we go about it. With kindness and gentleness we are to instruct people who oppose us, and not just oppose us, but even those who are in the wrong so much that they have been taken captive! That means that we can’t look to “whip” someone in an argument or “set people straight” with the truth. There is here, as there is elsewhere in the Word of God, and undercurrent of love, kindness and care that we MUST display towards others, even when they oppose us and are in the wrong.