- Apr 14, 2007
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I remember being in a mixed small group at the church where I grew up. There was a couple there whose husband I knew well since I was three years old. He was always offering up answers to questions the leader would throw out. It's a good thing as some people were not always participatory, but we had a few who were. There was no lack of interaction, that's for sure. but Bruce would always take an adversarial stance, rather than offer up his own views. One day I asked him what he was doing with his approaches. He said, "I'm playing Devil's Advocate!"--proud as punch. Well that went on for a couple more weeks and then one of the members of the group who was also an elder at the time took him aside after group and told him to knock it off. He had good reason--we had a new believer in the group who was getting not only mixed signals, but he was asking a lot of questions and getting confused!
There is no good reason, IMHO to play into the hand of the evil one in such cases. Controlled learning sessions such as Bible school classes, yes, but there is always a risk of unintentionally planting seeds of doubt in brothers and sisters, and perhaps even keeping a seeker at bay.
No, the Lord is not honoured in it. It may be hard for some to speak wisdom, and of their convictions, and so easy to be opposite in views--why? For attention, as this man was? It is so much better for the sake of others to keep quiet. We are told by God to keep our speech wholesome. Playing Devil's Advocate is playing into Satan's hand and jeopardizing our own spiritual reward.
It is best to be known by others as one who speaks wisdom, and not folly, which is a far more excellent reputation in the Lord. Even to this day, having known this man since we were both three years old--I feel as though he isn't genuine in his speech. Not a good reputation, is it?
Titus 2:8
Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
There is no good reason, IMHO to play into the hand of the evil one in such cases. Controlled learning sessions such as Bible school classes, yes, but there is always a risk of unintentionally planting seeds of doubt in brothers and sisters, and perhaps even keeping a seeker at bay.
No, the Lord is not honoured in it. It may be hard for some to speak wisdom, and of their convictions, and so easy to be opposite in views--why? For attention, as this man was? It is so much better for the sake of others to keep quiet. We are told by God to keep our speech wholesome. Playing Devil's Advocate is playing into Satan's hand and jeopardizing our own spiritual reward.
It is best to be known by others as one who speaks wisdom, and not folly, which is a far more excellent reputation in the Lord. Even to this day, having known this man since we were both three years old--I feel as though he isn't genuine in his speech. Not a good reputation, is it?
Titus 2:8
Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
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