How to avoid an argument?

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Hi DMcFadden.

I agree with you on controversy often causing heat and no light. Truth should be presented in a gentle way, yet there does come a time when we need to take out the Sword of Truth, not only to defend ourselves, for we have the shield already, but to attack the lies of the Devil, for how is God's Name Glorified if we stand back and say nothing while His truth is being opposed? Yet I do agree that we should strive for peace with all men, as much as we are able to ourselves.:think:

No argument here. The problem is that the wrong people try to be "gentle" and the other group of wrong people try to be "prophetic truth tellers." Most Christians I know are too quiescent, using the excuse of gentleness. On the other hand, most of the ones I see being confrontational are just plain abrasive and obnoxious. If they were not Christians, they would be irritating and alienating pagans.

Maturity comes in knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
 
Hi DMcFadden.

If I understand you correctly you are saying that there are 2 people who are in error concerning their understanding of God's Word, and that the one thinks he is right(the prophetic truth teller) and the other one also thinks he is right, by being "gentle" in how he speaks to the "brother in error".

If that is what you mean then I agree that the character of both is often false. The one is not truly gentle and the other not truly earnest for truth.

I think the first step then for the obnoxious one is to humbly ask God to show Him the Truth in the Scriptures and seek it by prayer and good cousel, like a Matthew Henry commentary.
 
I don't like what Luther said in his statement about the Jewish people,

"And, writing about the Jews . . .
Therefore we must not consider the mouth of the Jews as worthy of uttering the name of God within our hearing. He who hears this name from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow **** at him when he sees him and chase him away. And may no one be merciful and kind in this regard, for God’s honor and the salvation of us all, including that of the Jews, are at stake!
Luther, M. (1999, c1971). Vol. 47: Luther's works, vol. 47 : The Christian in Society IV (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (47:286). Philadelphia: Fortress Press."

I can understand that it is often irritating to hear Jews who are not Christians using God's Name as if they knew Him, but are we to treat them as dirt because of that? We must pray that the Lord would show them the true God in Jesus Christ. Men are blind and we should have compassion on them, not disrespect them.
 
I don't like what Luther said in his statement about the Jewish people,

"And, writing about the Jews . . .
Therefore we must not consider the mouth of the Jews as worthy of uttering the name of God within our hearing. He who hears this name from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow **** at him when he sees him and chase him away. And may no one be merciful and kind in this regard, for God’s honor and the salvation of us all, including that of the Jews, are at stake!
Luther, M. (1999, c1971). Vol. 47: Luther's works, vol. 47 : The Christian in Society IV (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (47:286). Philadelphia: Fortress Press."

I can understand that it is often irritating to hear Jews who are not Christians using God's Name as if they knew Him, but are we to treat them as dirt because of that? We must pray that the Lord would show them the true God in Jesus Christ. Men are blind and we should have compassion on them, not disrespect them.

You want to read the whole extract. I won't post it here in case it offends, but he pulls no punches. :luther:
 
I don't like what Luther said in his statement about the Jewish people,

"And, writing about the Jews . . .
Therefore we must not consider the mouth of the Jews as worthy of uttering the name of God within our hearing. He who hears this name from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow **** at him when he sees him and chase him away. And may no one be merciful and kind in this regard, for God’s honor and the salvation of us all, including that of the Jews, are at stake!
Luther, M. (1999, c1971). Vol. 47: Luther's works, vol. 47 : The Christian in Society IV (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (47:286). Philadelphia: Fortress Press."

I can understand that it is often irritating to hear Jews who are not Christians using God's Name as if they knew Him, but are we to treat them as dirt because of that? We must pray that the Lord would show them the true God in Jesus Christ. Men are blind and we should have compassion on them, not disrespect them.

You want to read the whole extract. I won't post it here in case it offends, but he pulls no punches. :luther:

Warning OT from Original Post but following up on Martin Luther and Jews
We have an arminian friend who brought that up last week of why our soteriology views are wrong because of Luther's views of Jews, that he held latter in his life. :scratch:. We are talking sound logical reasoning
here.:rolleyes:
 
Dear James N. Walling,

Don't you think that your dear Arminian friend might have a point? I am not Arminian, and I feel rather offended by Luther's strong tone. How is throwing **** at Jews going to help bring them to Christ? It doesn't seem to fit the picture of witnessing in gentleness and respect.
 
No ones behavior in one area does not invalidate the truth he taught in others. If that was true we couldn't believe 90 percent of scripture teaches. David and Paul the murders, Matthew the thief, when you look at the heroes of the faith, their lifes were not exemplary. This type of reasoning is a logical fallacy.
 
Hi Wallingj

Thanks for the reply. I am sorry, I misunderstood you. I was just sympathizing with the Arminian friend because it can seem that Luther's soteriology was wrong on the Jews because of some of his statements. Yet, your point is valid. Luther was not a perfect person, nor Calvin, yet we are not to reject their work where it agrees with Scripture no matter how much they may have diverted in other places with regard to the manner of speech and also the content of it. Sorry again for the confusion, and thanks for the good point.;)
 
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