By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
Biblical speech must be gracious and gentle when contending for the faith; yet disagreement persists due to sin, ignorance, or conflicting worldviews, not merely poor communication.
In today’s ‘tolerant’ and ‘don’t judge’ atmosphere, when discussing biblical things, if the other person blows up it’s often seen as a failure of communication on our part. But in many cases it’s not.
Though we can’t account for how other people respond, there are many Bible verses given over to what kind of speech we are to employ. Here are just a FEW! Even if we discourse with other people in all the ways prescribed, and perfectly too, some people still respond with anger. But the verses below do show us how we are to conduct ourselves when we contend for the faith.
- Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips (Ecclesiastes 10:12).
- The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools (Ecclesiastes 9:17).
- A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:1-2)
- A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)
- Anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:22).
- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
- Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6).
- But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).
- With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be (James 3:9-10).
- Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19).
- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
- Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:15).
- Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19).
- Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1).
- He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:25).
We know that Christian disagree, true Christians. Famously (and for all time, lol) in Philippians 4, Euodia and Syntyche could not get along with each other, and Paul urges them to live in harmony, and he asks the other members of the Philippians church to help them in this.
So even if we employ all the wisest and grace-filled words in witnessing, or even if we are a true Christian, there might be a disagreement between members, and civil discourse can fail. Let’s look at-
Why Christians disagree
Of disagreement, I’m frequently asked, ‘If two people are Christians and read the same Bible, why do they disagree on what it says?’ It’s a good and valid question. Here, Professor Herrick outlines three reasons why in his view, Christians disagree.
He was Professor and chair of the Department of Communication at the Christian institution Hope College, partner with the Reformed Church in America. He retired, then passed away in 2024. He stated from his article What Do We Mean By “Civil Discourse”: A Biblical Model of Managing Disagreement the source of disagreement.
Three Sources of Disagreement-
Disagreement is a fact in our lives, and it is a fact in the Bible. But though we use the term disagreement to describe a failure to see things the same way, the sources of this failure vary. That is, not all disagreement is of the same type. So, why do people disagree in the Bible?
One type of disagreement arises from sin. In Corinth, for example, one or more members of the Christian community lived sinfully, creating disagreement between that church and Paul.
Second, disagreement can arise from ignorance.
Third, disagreements can arise from what I will call a clash of worldviews. … For example, in Acts chapter 19 (vv. 8-10) Paul encounters the leaders of the synagogue at Ephesus, and various other people who embraced worldviews that were flawed in one way or another. Christ was not at the center of these worldviews, and so he was not viewed as the Messiah or redeemer of a fallen world.
As for the second reason disagreements arise, ignorance, Paul mentioned those often. He said ‘don’t be ignorant’ over spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1). Paul said don’t be ignorant about eschatology. (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Paul also said not to be ignorant of satan’s schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11). And what are some of the most vociferous theological arguments about? Eschatology and spiritual gifts. Ignorance of the Bible’s contents itself also factors into this reason why Christian disagree.
Worldviews. Any worldview that excludes God will be wrong about the source of truth, morals, righteousness, etc. Any Christian where Jesus is not at the center of their worldview, will also be incorrect in a number of ways.
Herrick says at the root,
Having analyzed the source of disagreement as entrenched immorality, how does James adapt to his audience, and what sort of discourse does he employ? James seems to assume that you don’t conduct a dialogue with people who are given over to a vice; they will only defend their involvement in the sin in response to an invitation to dialogue, and they will ignore instruction.
How well Proverbs confirms this thought!
Proverbs 15:31-32
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. / He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
Proverbs 27:6–
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
It incumbent upon us to ensure we are following the Bible’s instructions for good speech, and that we are as clear from sin as we can be, both before we witness, and as we fellowship with believers in real life and especially online.
Final next part 3 will look at solutions to disagreement.
the-end-time.org 