Polemic Theology: How to Deal with Those Who Differ from Us

by Roger R. Nicole

Introduction

It seems strange that one should desire to speak at all about Polemic Theology since we are now in an age when folks are more interested in ecumenism and irenics than in polemics. Furthermore, Polemic Theology appears to have been often rather ineffective. Christians have not managed in many cases to win over their opponents. They have shown themselves to be ornery; they have bypassed some fairly important prescriptions of Scripture; and in the end, they have not convinced very many people--sometimes not even themselves! Under these circumstances one perhaps might desire to bypass a subject like this altogether.

We are called upon by the Lord to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). That does not necessarily involve being contentious; but it involves avoiding compromise, standing forth for what we believe, standing forth for the truth of God--without welching at any particular moment. Thus we are bound to meet, at various points and on various levels, people with whom we disagree. We disagree in some areas of Christian doctrine. We disagree as to some details of church administration. We disagree as to the way in which certain tasks of the church should be pursued.

If we are careful to observe the principles that I would like to expound in this article, we may find that they are valuable not only in the religious field but also in the realms of politics, business and family. Who does not encounter from time to time people who are not in complete agreement? Whether it is between husbands and wives, parents and children, co-workers on the job or fellow members in the church, it is impossible to live without disagreement. Therefore it is good to seek to discover certain basic principles whereby we may relate to those who differ from us.

There are three major questions that we must ask; and I would like to emphasize very strongly that, in my judgment, we need to ask them precisely in the right order:

(1) What do I owe the person who differs from me?
(2) What can I learn from the person who differs from me?
(3) How can I cope with the person who differs from me?

more here: [url=http://www.founders.org/FJ33/article3.html]Polemic Theology: How to deal with those who differ from us [/url]

Wow i have arrived !! finally a home! An actual thread where i am welcome!!
Where do we start???

Lets throw out some possibilities;

raising the dead

Laughing revival

Brownsville revival

Intimate worship

Any takers?

David

Laughing revival

phil

Wow i have arrived !! finally a home! An actual thread where i am welcome!!

Just curious, have you read the entire article? To me, it would seem that by the time one gets to the end of it, one's zeal may be a tad bit tempered. :-o

Diane

If we have unbiased hunger for truth combined with insatiable appetite for the presence of God.

This makes for interesting "discussion" of heavenly things.

Our ability to step outside the box is our ability to see our destiny fulfilled

David

Our ability to step outside the box is our ability to see our destiny fulfilled

Not if the "box" in question is sound doctrine.

Lets throw out some possibilities;

Raising the dead, laughing revivals? Friend, I agree we should throw these out. Why bring them into play here, why even make an issue of Brownsville when you know the disputes, the strife and confusion and divisions such topics will cause in the forum? Why don't we instead discuss love and patience and righteousness and humility and what God is really desiring to be exhibited in His children? Raising the dead is nothing, laughing like a fool is nothing, being thrown down to the ground is nothing...it's even [i]worse[/i] than foolishness if we have not the fruit of the Spirit and all we want is to use these phenomena to generate debates.

I tell you, there are some here who are growing weary of controversial topics being brought up merely for the sake of controversy.

Outside the box,meaning the religious box.
meaning legalism,
meaning if I dont think like the consensus I must be wrong.

I suppose the Anna baptist chose their religion just to be contentious?

You cant show me a single patriarch that thought "inside the box"

David

I really cant see how a revival where thousands are saved and set free......How can such a thing not cause controversy?

How in the world are you going to have any move of God that is not going to separate and offend many.

Just salvation in itself causes sever fracture and division.

The apostles were commanded not to speak of their king

I will answer as they "how can I not speak of the things I saw and experienced"

David

Paul West , maybe you should stop and think before you correct.

Remember ,this is a revival website.the Brownsville revival was one of the mightiest revivals the U.S.A. has seen

I'm Glad to hear you know my thoughts and intentions better than I do.

And i do see yours.

you say raising the dead is nothing?
You say people being slain in the spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit is nothing?

What else does the Holy Spirit do that offends you?

David

I suppose the Anna baptist chose their religion just to be contentious?

The Anabaptists did not have a perverse obsession with signs and wonders and outward manifestations like laughing and tongues and falling down and whatever else. Have you read their London Confession of Faith of 1646? It's the most sober, biblically-sound collection of statements I've ever read. This was the Anabaptist charter and you never once get the impression they were thinking "outside the box" unless you took into account their tenet concerning infant baptism.

The "box" you mention, the true box is a holy life in Christ Jesus, a humble, charitible life of prayer and meditation, of growing in all knowledge and wisdom and grace in God's ways. We ought to never leave this "box"; it is the others who are outside and need to come into a proper, wholesome standing in Christ. Charismania only runs surface-deep, and anyone who takes up the challenge to walk soberly in Christ is soon called beyond the gold dust and laughing.

Most believers have never even surrendered their life to God or read their Bible from cover to cover or wept over the lost...and yet these same want to go into funeral homes and raise the dead. This is akin to a four-year old fastening a blue beach towel around his neck and pretending he can fly like Superman; the desire is there, but the power to actually fly isn't.

The deeper your knowledge grows in the ways of God, the less alluring the hunt for signs and wonders become. The sign you seek rather becomes the daily inner working of Christ in your spirit, the wonder becomes the testimony of that progess actually being worked out! The most wonderful miracle you can behold is the unseen one God secretly works within as you become fashioned more and more into the image of Christ.

Paul West, your insults and belittling.....I hope you are doing that for yourself because those things dont impress me.

Too bad you see the working and power of the Holy Spirit with such disdain.

do you also see Elisha catching the mantle of Elijah as a cheap superman trick?

the 5 wise virgins were wise due to the fullness of their lamps.

the oil is a type of the Holy Spirit.

But why would someone forbid or belittle anyone seeking oil?

David

Paul West, your insults and belittling

Friend, how have I insulted and belittled you?

I've been thinking about your definition of the box, and I think yours is more like the Ark. The people in the Ark were alive (still\\already), because of faith.

No, I am not talking about faith. I am talking about the mind of Christ and living in a right relationship with God, free from any polluting doctrine or the need to engage in disputatious topics for the sole sake of polemics.

This was the original premise of our discussion, but I do understand your point.

The deeper your knowledge grows in the ways of God, the less alluring the hunt for signs and wonders become. The sign you seek rather becomes the daily inner working of Christ in your spirit, the wonder becomes the testimony of that progess actually being worked out! [b]The most wonderful miracle you can behold is the unseen one God secretly works within as you become fashioned more and more into the image of Christ.[/b]

Very reassured to read this bit indeed!I perceive this as one's truly"...growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ..." Also,Christians must not neglect the importance to read/study the entire Bible from cover to cover life-long. Without the diligence in learning The Living Word through the entirety of The Written Word daily, one could easily be misled, by all/any sorts of "signs and wonders". Satan can produce signs and miracles , distort the Word of God, but only God the Spirit can work miracles in the spirits of those who are the called and who love Him.

Thanks,mamaluk

What is:

seeking oil

polluting doctrine

What a perfect opportunity to apply the principles put forth in the article, "Polemic Theology"!

Looking forward to real-live application in the future brothers David and Paul! You are both precious in his sight, and without a doubt have something valuable to teach us all regarding the process of dealing with polemic issues. I trust that you will find the article most helpful.

May the Spirit enable and bless you.

Diane