DAY 29 DECEMBER 2014 Theme: AN ARGUMENT THAT BLAZES OUT SUDDENLY CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE. [ECCLESIASTICUS 28:11 GNT]. ECCLESIASTICUS 28:8-12 8 If you stay out of arguments, you will not sin so much, because a hot temper gets them started. 9 It is sinful to break up a friendship by creating hostility among people who get along well together. 10 The more fuel, the hotter the fire. The more stubbornness, the hotter the argument. And the stronger or richer people are, the angrier they can afford to become. 11 An argument that blazes out suddenly can lead to violence. 12 You can blow on a spark to make it glow, or you can spit on it to put it out. Either way, you do it with your mouth. [GNT]. Were a generation full of rationalizations; we rationalize even the irrational. We try so hard to rationalize arguments even in the academia, the supposed revered institution of learning. People say we disagree to agree and thats quite right, but is that really to mean that we are to argue? Arguments, characteristically, have this usually unannounced toga of militancy. Everyone is making assertions in harsh tone without shifting grounds, and the earth beneath is blazing all over with tumult like that of a sick belly. Theres such an arrogant but shameful show of ego. No one is listening to the other. Insulting language is handy and decorum is thrown to the winds. Ambers of hate are fanned into flame, for people are generally displeased and hurt that their respective viewpoints (with their entire personalities) are disparaged or disregarded. Violence is not far-fetched where arguments abound. Debates may be seen as a departure from arguments, in that debates are often regulated by impartial arbiters or respectable participants based on well-established principles guiding such debates. But even this is not Gods ideal. Believers are not to be given to long-drawn debates and endless arguments which availeth not; they are to hold forth principled, fruitful discussions in all love and gentleness. We may have differing intellectual positions and levels of understanding, but our willingness to listen before we speak and to learn as we listen to one another can carry us through and bring us a great way. We must let each one take turns to speak, we must speak only of necessity, and we must all listen to ourselves and to one another. One person should say what he thinks of the matter at hand and the other should also give his opinion; everyone must share his knowledge and acknowledge what he has learnt. There may be points in our discussion which are still quite obscure to our minds and understanding, but we can humbly and patiently make these proper subjects of further prayer and reflection. We must guard our faith and integrity jealously; we cannot afford to undermine our relationship with God and our relationship with one another under the pretext of any discourse. The Christian Church of the apostolic era experienced the very things we discuss today. Where the Apostles of Christ held forth discussions with the pagans, it was usually when these pagans started arguments that violence broke out against the Apostles. [ACTS 13:44-52; 14; 15:1-35; 17; 18:1-17; 19:21-41; 20:1-7; 23:6-11]. The Apostle Paul himself had his own personal experiences (even personal faults) to recount of the futility of arguments and so by both speech and conduct, he was completely unsparing in his condemnation of the vain habit of arguments which neither benefit speakers and hearers nor promote Christ. [ACTS 15:36-41; 23:1-5. COLOSSIANS 4:10. 2 TIMOTHY 4:11. 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5, 20-21. TITUS 3:8-11, 14. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13; 3:1-11]. The Christian Church has had the one big lesson to learn ever since. Just recently, I took copies of my new book to the bookshop. Just then a man was brought up of Satan to openly tongue-lash the book and the author, not knowing the book and the author. Seeing the youthfulness of the author as it appeared on the cover, he started, I graduated from UNN 15 years ago and if I wanted to, I would have done something like this. I stood silently and listened keenly by the side, not wanting to cause suspicion of my identity. So he continued rather boldly, Most of these authors are hungry authors. I asked one recently why he should write on Christianity when I know he read Home Economics in the University. At that point, I asked him if he knew that one man who has been credited with some two or three books in the Bible (including a gospel accounts) was actually a Fisherman who didnt even go to School. He dodged the question and not paying attention at all, he hissed, this person writing on prayer doesnt even pray. How do you know sir? I asked rather politely. What the Holy Spirit knows, I know, he answered with a dint of arrogance. (I feared that he might have blasphemed). Has the Holy Spirit told you about this book too? I asked back. Again, he dodged the question. Sensing he was feeling embarrassed at the honest biblical puzzles I posed to him and wouldnt even listen, I said as I walked away, I dont know everything myself; Ill go ask God to give me more wisdom. Back home, I prayed against every contrary spirit that was working against the marketing of the book (in the Church and in the Society) having worked against its launching even same. That same evening, I learnt the man came back to the shop, bought a copy of the book and went his way, still vexing. For my part, I laughed and I praised the God of Heaven. Believers are not supposed to make and cause arguments which are nothing else but vain; they are to conduct meaningful, fruitful discussions. When conversations are full of grace, peace is sown and goodwill is harvested.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:12:54 +0000
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