Kingdom Ready Blog

Upon considering the truths in Philippians 2: 1-8, I am struck by what humility looks like in practical fellowship among believers. Paul obviously did not confuse boldness of speech with contention and strife. Being united in the same love and being focused on a single purpose, according to these verses, means applying painstaking carefulness to avoid doing anything out of “selfishness or empty conceit”, “competitive rivalry or in the conceited desire for empty prestige”, “rivalry or personal vanity”, “selfish strife or petty ambition”, “faction, nor yet according to vainglory”; etc. (There are other good translations of this phrase.) This carnal attitude of rivalry and ambition is in stark contrast to the humble servant’s heart of deeming others as more important than himself. The ultimate example of a humble, “ambition free” attitude is the selfless mindset of the Messiah (v. 5- 8 in the context.) He was never lacking for boldness, yet he was not contentious.

Why is all of this so vitally important? Well, for one thing, “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing,” according to James 3: 16. Certainly, acting out of the “competitive spirit” rooted in earthly, natural, demonic wisdom will fail miserably in an effort to glorify God.

In spite of such clear warnings, it seems, at times, that many Christians think that debates among themselves or with unbelievers will achieve something worthwhile. For example, when conversations among believers over controversial issues (or even about simple areas of possible disagreement) are filled with sarcastic “put downs”, “I’m right; you’re wrong” innuendo, “tit for tat” Bible verse exchanges, all used to undermine other points of view, how can God be possibly honored?

I write this as someone who needed to repent of using zealous, “Biblical” (according to my skewed mindset) pushiness to silence those who disagreed with me, sadly, for many years. Only by God’s grace was I able to see it and have my heart healed.

One reality that strikes me is that I have never been convinced of anything via the spirit of debate. I imagine that is true for most people. Rivalry is conducive to the festering of hardhearted obstinacy, not to any “soil softening” influence toward meekness. Once again, strife can only produce that which is according to its root nature: the earthly, natural, demonic result of disorder and every evil thing.

People truly change when there is a deep realization in their hearts before God regarding the things that need changing, not when feeling coerced by another’s intellectual ability to argue while using Bible quotes in a “snappy” way. No matter what we do or say, no person can really come to Christ unless he or she is drawn by the Father who sent Christ (John 6: 44.) Does that mean that our evangelistic efforts are useless? Does it mean that our efforts to correct erroneous thinking among the Christian family are futile? No, but it does mean that our work of “sowing and watering” is secondary; it is to be humbly subservient to the Father’s “giving of the increase.”

Does our evangelistic zeal, coupled with correct knowledge, dynamic techniques, accurate perceptions about errors, etc., cause a person to change from darkness to light? Not really, if we view our role with humility. In fact our zeal is more of a hindrance than a help, if it is infused with the impatient ambition to clamor fervently in challenging the understanding of others, (no matter the Biblical merits or lack thereof in the ideas of others.) Once again, what is the result? …disorder and every evil thing.

When believers get caught up in the carnal fervor of the spirit of debate, maybe it is time to slow down and listen to others carefully and prayerfully before responding at all. After all, whatever happened to the exhortation (in James 1: 19, 20) about being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, since man’s anger does not, in the slightest, produce rightness with God? If one’s words are quickly, arrogantly and presumptuously geared toward dismissing another’s sharing of a perspective (that may or may not be valid); how would such a “knee- jerk” response build up someone instead of tearing him/her down? How do hasty rebuttals show “considering others as more important than oneself?” How is proving one’s “rightness” helpful in building faith within the body of Christ?

If a man is overcome in an error, with what kind of attitude should spiritual ones try to restore him? Why is gentleness necessary in order to avoid falling into temptation when one endeavors to help another? (See Galatians 6: 1, 2.)

How is the Lord’s bond- servant supposed to behave toward those who are in opposition? Why do the Scriptures so emphasize that a true minister must not be quarrelsome, but, in contrast, gentle, patient when wronged, kind to all, and able to teach? In the context of II Timothy 2: 24- 26, it is so that “perhaps God may grant them repentance.” God alone can do this. He alone can lead them to “the knowledge of the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” Our attitude is to be carefully submitted in obedience to the humble avoidance of ambitious rivalry, so that we don’t get in the way of God’s workmanship in other people. How dare we throw obstacles in God’s path through our carnal compulsion to react with impatience and pride?

We all have areas of imperfection, areas in which we can grow. Have any of us ever matured to overcome a weakness due to being humiliated through self- righteous “put- downs”? Are any of us ever helped through the witticisms of those who loftily disdain us? Does being treated disrespectfully make us want to change, even when we are wrong about something?

What if certain people refuse to listen to our gentle efforts to help them respond to the Scriptures, whether such people be unbelievers, immature believers, or those who zealously misrepresent the faith? Do we then give them a “shock and awe” beating with a Biblical hammer? No, the end never justifies the means when godliness and love are at stake. Believers are to be careful not to cast pearls before swine, while maintaining a non-judgmental mindset, according to Matthew 7: 1- 6. There are people who should be respectfully left alone, but not in the sense of shunning them with hostility. One can lovingly pray, after humbly sowing seeds and watering, that eventual wake-up calls for repentance be heeded, even if, at present, certain words of life are rejected in certain situations. Silence, when appropriate, can be vital in the commitment of believers to avoid the pitfalls of rashness and pride. What will never bear godly fruit is the spirit of ambitious rivalry from which misguided ones, even with good intentions, try to badger others into “seeing the light.”

When believers engage in debates, chalked full of condescending quips, derogatory name-calling, and outright “bullying,” I personally fail to see how God could possibly be honored.

Selah.