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“We need the humility to stop pretending we have infallible knowledge of other people’s motives, especially when we engage brothers and sisters on the social-justice controversies of our day. It’s better to ask people about what makes them tick (or ticked) rather than assume it. That’s part of what it means to obey Scripture’s command to ‘be quick to hear’ (James 1:19).” - TGC

Discussion

Wed, 01/27/21

So well said.

Another excerpt.

Posturing Is Not ‘Contending’

Don’t get me wrong. There are some bad ideas making their way into the church. There is real racism, real Marxism, and other deeply anti-gospel-isms we must stand united against. Exposing false ideologies that take people captive is a mark of biblical love. The Bible doesn’t suggest, it commands us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

When we practice the Newman Effect, though, we’re not contending for the historic faith. We’re just conforming to the splintered and self-righteous spirit of the age.

Our times are obsessed with “fighting” but too many have a very narrow idea of what “fighting” is. Persuading is fighting effectively. Accurate, on-point, unexaggerated cricitism can be fighting effectively. Jeering and booing and mudslinging do nobody any good.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.