Just today, on this forum, God presented me with an interesting side-by-side. I spent some time on a thread I started, arguing against Sola Scriptura, in what was becoming a somewhat heated argument on the subject; from there, I checked out a blog entry from another user I follow, left an encouraging note, and she quickly replied with a sweet little thank-you.
A debate against other Christians, and some God-inspired love for another Christian, side-by-side. This hit me immediately after commenting on her blog post; I looked up at God, and said "There's something you want me to learn from this, isn't there?" Here's what it is:
A healthy debate over Sola Scriptura, or any other theological controversy, is certainly a good thing. We're all trying to follow Christ here, and we have different ideas of how to do it, so debate over these issues is a good conversation to have.
But what's more important? What are the two greatest commandments? Love God more than anything, and love your neighbor as yourself--Jesus Himself told us that. Leaving that comment on her blog post was certainly a way of loving my neighbor.
I'll still be arguing Sola Scriptura; I'll still get involved in debates; but in the end, it's the love that matters.
A debate against other Christians, and some God-inspired love for another Christian, side-by-side. This hit me immediately after commenting on her blog post; I looked up at God, and said "There's something you want me to learn from this, isn't there?" Here's what it is:
A healthy debate over Sola Scriptura, or any other theological controversy, is certainly a good thing. We're all trying to follow Christ here, and we have different ideas of how to do it, so debate over these issues is a good conversation to have.
But what's more important? What are the two greatest commandments? Love God more than anything, and love your neighbor as yourself--Jesus Himself told us that. Leaving that comment on her blog post was certainly a way of loving my neighbor.
I'll still be arguing Sola Scriptura; I'll still get involved in debates; but in the end, it's the love that matters.