Tragic
It's a pitiful circumstance when an intelligent, fruitful and passionate debate is cut short because people involved start hurling insults and smears against their opponents.
In formal debate circles, it's known as ad hominem attack.
In the real world, it's called a cheap shot.
In the world that Christians should be inhabiting, it should not take place. Sadly often it does. Too often. It's hypocritical and unloving, and should not be part of our discourse with each other, and less, with unbelievers.
I just wrote something close to a 15.5 page argument against gay marriage, trying to be fair, civil, and charitable, because I thought the argument was worthwhile. However, my would-be opponent no longer desires to offer his input or pursue it, because defendants of the traditional definition of marriage (Christian--at least some. Hopefully most of the guilty in this scenario aren't. It would make me feel better--not that my feelings are the issue) privately messaged him hurling slurs and invective at him in a most cruel manner.
This is inappropriate, and in every way violates the Gospel instructions of speaking the truth in love!
As one of my old youth pastors, Pastor Randy Burt, used to say, "People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
So yeah, if one thing really pisses me off, it's hypocrisy. I mean, seriously, what kind of person tries to convince the other of the truth by saying the most inflammatory personal attacks they can think of?!
I usually hesitate to chime in when someone says, "Doesn't Jesus just want us to love each other?" because usually that's a code-phrase for, "Deny the truth because it offends me." But Jesus does indeed want us to love each other. That means, yes, loving them enough to be truthful with them and to confront sin when we see it--but it also means to respect them and treat them with the same dignity that Jesus would have treated them with!
In formal debate circles, it's known as ad hominem attack.
In the real world, it's called a cheap shot.
In the world that Christians should be inhabiting, it should not take place. Sadly often it does. Too often. It's hypocritical and unloving, and should not be part of our discourse with each other, and less, with unbelievers.
I just wrote something close to a 15.5 page argument against gay marriage, trying to be fair, civil, and charitable, because I thought the argument was worthwhile. However, my would-be opponent no longer desires to offer his input or pursue it, because defendants of the traditional definition of marriage (Christian--at least some. Hopefully most of the guilty in this scenario aren't. It would make me feel better--not that my feelings are the issue) privately messaged him hurling slurs and invective at him in a most cruel manner.
This is inappropriate, and in every way violates the Gospel instructions of speaking the truth in love!
As one of my old youth pastors, Pastor Randy Burt, used to say, "People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
So yeah, if one thing really pisses me off, it's hypocrisy. I mean, seriously, what kind of person tries to convince the other of the truth by saying the most inflammatory personal attacks they can think of?!
I usually hesitate to chime in when someone says, "Doesn't Jesus just want us to love each other?" because usually that's a code-phrase for, "Deny the truth because it offends me." But Jesus does indeed want us to love each other. That means, yes, loving them enough to be truthful with them and to confront sin when we see it--but it also means to respect them and treat them with the same dignity that Jesus would have treated them with!
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity
Will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love
By our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other
We will work side by side
We will work with each other
We will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity
And save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love
By our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love
posted by Gregory at 8:54 PM
1 Comments:
Amen.
~Dave~
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