The first Christians discussed fraternally their
doctrinal differences
Demonstration that discuss among believers about our
doctrinal differences is correct
All throughout the New Testament, we
see that all of the Apostles and even more so Saint Paul,
discussed
vehemently, but fraternally about their doctrinal differences, in
order to not carry the grave responsibility of preaching a doctrine that was
not correct even if he thought it was.
Paul
orders Christians to discuss with those that are in error. Nowadays,
Christians think that in order to be a “good Christian” religion should not be discussed. What we
shouldn’t do is fight, insult or offend, but the true Christian doesn’t do such a thing when
he discuss. Paul always advised his disciples and fellow brothers to
discuss about religion; and he himself constantly did so in the synagogues, the
Areopagus and wherever someone
contradicted the right doctrine. Paul, in speaking about how pastors should be, said the following:
“9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,
that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
specially they of the circumcision, 11
whose mouths must be stopped, who
subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre's sake.” (Titus
1:9-11)
There are many nowadays, who, in contradicting
this teaching of Paul, whom they say
they imitate, assure that the only
things that they have to do is “say”, without using arguments and without
trying to convince anyone, and flee
if someone contradicts them.
Paul discussed
with the Jews and the Gentiles, he
used arguments, tried to convince
others, etc., because he knew that he had the truth, that he had the blessed doctrine and by having it, he didn’t lack arguments nor the help
of the Holy Spirit. The ones who
avoid the discussions is because they lack all that Paul had plenty of.
Christians in the first century vehemently discussed their doctrinal
differences, but with fraternal love and justice
Therefore, it is not wrong to discuss, as is the opinion of some. To my way of thinking, it is good to discuss, as long as the one who is
discussing carries in his spirit the desire to convince the other about
something that he sincerely believes in; and as long as in his own spirit he leaves the door
of understanding open in such a way that the other one can convince him if the
other has solid arguments.
“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and
Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem
unto the apostles and elders about this question.” (Acts 15:2)
What happens many times is that people do not
discuss, but they fight with words, they try to offend,
irritate, humiliate their opponent and make fun of him, but a
true Christian does not discuss like that. The ones who proceed in this
manner are not discussing, but fighting, trying to defeat with
weapons not worthy of a just cause. To wield your own arguments,
even if at times it is done in a vehement, but never offensive way,
I don’t consider bad.
Why many don’t want to discuss
There are many reasons why many believers
don’t discuss their doctrinal differences. The main reason is a lack of faith. Some believe that God,
Christ or the Holy Spirit were the ones that inspired them with the doctrine
that they now believe; others pretend to believe such a thing.
Not only that, they do not dare to discuss with those that believe
differently, because they feel insecure. They don’t have faith, that if their doctrine is really from a
luminous origin, God, Christ or the Holy Spirit will give them
light, arguments and words to defend the truth. They don’t have faith in what Our Lord Jesus Christ
promised them in Luke 21:15, when He said:
“For I
will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15)
In
others what happens is that in reality they don’t believe the doctrine they
teach, they know that it is false, that they cannot defend it,
and therefore try to find any pretext in order to not discuss their doctrinal
differences.
There are still those who believe what they
preach, but are not sure, they know that they cannot defend their
beliefs and their inflated ego prevents them from discussing if
they consider that someone can demonstrate to them that they are wrong. In a few words,
they love themselves more than God and His truth. They prefer to hide
themselves in the pretext that the only thing they have to do is “speak
and flee”, and in this way they save their egos because they believe
that no one will find out that they are wrong.
None of them is going to admit that it is
because of these questionable reasons that they do not discuss. They are
going to put a better pretext.
Various passages where we see that the first
Christians discussed about their beliefs
There are believers that have erroneous
doctrines that are even heretical, which they absorbed at the time of
their conversion, when they could not yet reason about the Bible on
their own. Even though they do not have any basis to sustain their
beliefs, they wish to maintain them at any cost, because they are
afraid, but they don’t know what they fear if they lose that doctrine,
and that is why they don’t discuss about it. The healthy custom about
the validity of the discussions and argumentative disputes among believers can
be appreciated in the following passages.
“17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue
with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market,
daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans,
and of the Stoicks, encountered
him. And some
said: What will this babbler say? Other some: He seemeth
to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them
Jesus, and the resurrection.” (Acts 17:17-18)
“And he
reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded
the Jews and the Greeks.”
(Acts
18:4)
“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there,
but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.” (Acts 18:19)
“For he
mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing
by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:28)
“And he went into the synagogue, and spake
boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the
kingdom of God.”
(Acts 19:8)
“Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good.” (I
Thessalonians 5:21)
“16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy
3:16-17)
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you with meekness and fear.”
(I Peter 3:15)
In all of these passages, we perceive
that it was the custom of all of the Apostles to
discuss about religion with the believers and the non-believers. I do not know where many believers have come up
with such “disgust” for the fraternal discussion of our beliefs,
unless if it is the fear of their ego being hurt if their arguments are
erroneous. There are, however, those who their sect
prohibits them from discussing, so that the errors and heresies of these
sects are not seen.
“Discussions are like light, it only
bothers those that prefer darkness.”