Recently I have found myself in disagreement with
some friends about interpretation of scripture. This is something I have to be
very careful about because I love being right. After a lifetime of reading the
Bible, and sometimes actually studying it, I’m pretty vocal with my opinions.
So this disagreement has given God an opportunity to remind me that I’m not the
expert - He is.
I’ve had to dig into the
Word to see what it really says about the issues we’re disagreeing about. I’ve
had to look up verses to read them in context and I’ve had to research what
others have written. I’ve also been reminded that even orthodox teachings must
be supported by a correct interpretation of scripture.
This has been good for me
and I look forward to how God will continue to work out the disagreements with
my friends. But these two verses are a reminder that while disagreements about
doctrine must be resolved, we have to do it as the citizens of heaven my
friends and I are.
Above all, we must conduct ourselves
in a manner worthy of the good news about Christ. We must stand together with
one purpose and one spirit. Our purpose is to fight together for the faith and
to worship God forever.
Studying the Bible is
important to our growth as Christians, and getting it right is necessary to
protect the faith. In our discussions, I think my friends and I are fighting
for the faith. But Paul says the faith is the Good News. We can’t get so bogged
down in points of doctrine that we forget the core truth.
The Good News is about
Jesus.
The faith is about Jesus.
Above all, we must remember
that we were saved by Jesus; we are His children.
The only reason the
scriptures and how we interpret them matter is because they are about Jesus.
My prayer is that the
Spirit of God will help my friends and me to remember we share the Good News
about Jesus.
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