How do you know when a dispute, a discussion, an argument, or a fight becomes “foolish”?

-
English: Resurrection of Christ
English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The object of Christianity is not to sin less, but to glorify God more. It is not to somehow stop ourselves from doing the bad things we really want to do, but to find ourselves craving to do what pleases God.

Titus 2:13, 14 — … our great God and Savior Jesus Christ … gave Himself for us, that He might … purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
The way of the cross is the way of potent tenderness. Jesus had all power, yet He came to serve, not to be served. Paul says that “in lowliness of mind” one should “esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3).

Titus 3:2 — … to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Titus 3:8 — … those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works .…

“Good works” become bad only when we try to use them to earn the favor of God. In their proper place, however—as evidence of the salvation God provided us through grace—they remain crucial.

Titus 3:9 — But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

How do you know when a dispute, a discussion, an argument, or a fight becomes “foolish”? When God is in these things, even the interaction itself tends to reflect God’s love and truth. When He isn’t, it’s just plain nasty.

Stanley, C. F. (2005). The Charles F. Stanley life principles Bible: New King James Version (Tt 2:11–3:9). Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles.

Related articles

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking in tongues for today - Charles Stanley

-
Image
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. … And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 28, 30—31 The Lord Jesus Christ had come and gone. The church—newly birthed—was in a transition time. The new covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders; therefore, there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. The new religion, in its infant stages, had no Bible, few leaders, and absolutely no support from the government. Astounding that it survived, isn’t it?  How in the world did it survive with so little going for it? Power. Not just a force, but mighty, visible power. Th...
Read more

What is the glory (kabod) of God?

-
Image
2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Scripture places a high value on God 's glory, and it is not hard to figure out why. Since the inherent glory of the Lord is something that He will not share with others (Isa. 42:8), we know that His glory is something that He prizes highly; indeed, He prizes it more highly than anything else. We should, therefore, set the glory of God as the goal and overarching emphasis of our lives. Whatever we lose for the sake of making the Lord's glory known will be worth it when we see the dazzling light and beauty of; the divine glory (28:5; Rev. 21:23). Glory has to do with light and beauty, but those aspects do not sum up what the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word kabod , which is translated into English as "glory," has the root meaning of "weight" or "heaviness....
Read more

The Holy Spirit causes us to cry out: Abba, Father

-
Image
Pentecostés. Óleo sobre lienzo, 275 × 127 cm. Madrid, Museo del Prado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To bring out the same truth in another way, Paul says God sent Jesus (as a Man) to live under the Law in order “to redeem those under law, that we [Jews and Gentiles ] might receive the full rights [adoption] of sons” ( Galatians 4:5).  By “full rights” or “adoption” he means entering into the privileges and responsibilities of sonship. He uses it also of the sonship of Israel (Romans 9:4). Galatians 4:1, 2 indicate that the son and heir of a wealthy family in Paul’s day would be treated as a slave until he became of age.  Then he would receive the adoption, that is, all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belonged to an adult member of that family. Adoption was also used in the modern sense, so that Gentiles who were not sons of Abraham became true heirs, true sons of God , by faith.  Jesus died, not just to save us from the fires of hell, bu...
Read more