2:99 – Healthy Debate Is Healthy

#faithbites #faithjourney debate

One of the complaints I hear, and I’ve said it myself, is that we can’t have healthy debate any more. It’s you agree with me or your Satan spawn.

I posted one if my pet peeves on Facebook and had a great discussion on it. Some agreeing, some not, and others having fun with it. It was truly a good conversation. Likewise, I was at a meeting tonight and we had a lengthy debate about budget, budget process, and finances. For someone people, they love this, others, not so much. We had discussions on many issues and many sides. While there was disagreement, we were all working towards a common goal and the benefit of all. This was healthy debate.

We are not meant to be identical nor are we meant to agree on everything. We can disagree and not be disagreeable.

Scripture

• Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. – Acts 18:24-26
• But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Reflection

As we see in Acts, Apollos debates the word of God with Priscilla and Aquilla. They don’t say he was wrong or belittled him, but rather explained it more adequately. Likewise in 1 Peter, we see that we should debate and give answers to others but in gentleness and respect.

I am far from perfect and often wrong. I love getting into debates and learning from people. We just need to be better at debating issues and not people.

Charge

Do you debate with gentleness and respect or daggers and attitude? We are go back and forth between these extremes. Next time you want to debate something or question someone, thing about what you want to say and how it could be interpreted. Write it down and revise it. You will have a much deeper debate and build a better relationship.

Prayer

Lord our God, remind us of how to disagree but not be disagreeable. Help us to debate in a hesktthy manner where we are all respected. Give us the knowledge on how to interact with each other in respect and gentleness all the days of our lives. In your name, Amen.