Too often I think more highly of myself than I ought:

 

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

I look at two opposing viewpoints among other professing Christians.

Especially when it is a matter that I believe doesn’t directly affect me.

Or when I think that I know their two positions without really searching it out.

Either way, in my mind, I trivialize both their positions.

I then brush it aside, ascribing their entire position to either traditions of men or simply their personal preferences.

When the truth at times is that to one, or both, of them, it is a matter of faith and doctrine.

To them it is a critical issue, and which way one believes may not only be important to them, but what if it also is to the LORD?

When I trivialize their positions, I’m in a sense, in my mind, treating them like little children.

I come across as supercilious, with a condescending tone.

It is as if I act so superior, looking down upon them, like toddlers, simply bickering over immature, emotional nonsense.

Like I had somehow matured way beyond them, that I could easily discern what they were saying was mere childishness.

How dare I?

How many brothers & sisters have I hurt that way?

If I had studied it out before opening my mouth, I might have discovered that one, or both, have valid concerns.

 

For example, the discussions between TULIPs and Arminians:

In my ignorance & immaturity, I used to act like I was above both sides.

I would consider their arguments, as no more than emotional rants, due to holding on to their denominational traditions.

Well guess what I finally discovered after many years?

Both can make extremely powerful scriptural arguments for their positions.

Also, I used to think that it doesn’t really matter, what one believes on those five points.

Really? Where one is with those, greatly effects their attitude & role in evangelism & missions.

Also, believing that one could lose their salvation, greatly affects their lifestyle & relationship to the gospel.

Also, the belief in who really chooses who, also determines how we would lead someone to Christ.

There is a lot more at stake here, but I only showed a few, to demonstrate my folly in trivializing their discussions.

 

Another, recently is being done by others (i.e. this one I didn’t do, but it helps make the point).

Some are trivializing the different views on the Lord’s supper.

They look at the two opposing views, say Baptists & Pentecostals on one hand, and Catholics on the other.

Treating their disagreements to petty childishness, rebuking them instead, to be like Jesus, and to love one another.

On the surface it sounds like such a noble gesture.

However, Catholic doctrine leaves no room for the Baptists & Pentecostals to consider an abomination, that which they believe is actually Jesus.

Conversely, Baptist & Pentecostal doctrine leaves no room for the Catholics to commit idolatry.

In no possible way is this a trivial matter.

Even history bore that out.

Back in Smithfield, London, during the reign of Bloody Mary, there were people burned at the stake for this very thing.

For example, John Rogers was burned for heresy against the church of Rome.

He had been found guilty of not believing the Catholic doctrine of “the real presence” in the communion.

So were many others burned for the same thing, refusing to recant, instead willing to face the flames.

For someone to believe that something is so critical as to burn a person at the stake, is no trivial matter.

Or for someone to believe that it is better to face the torment of the flames, than it is believe the other doctrine, is also not trivial.

Then somebody, today, without really studying the matter, with one wave of the hand, trivializes the executions of all those people.

That is such a terrible thing to do.

 

When we do things like this, we may think that we are acting as the more mature Christian.

Instead of demonstrating maturity, tolerance, and Christian love, we demonstrate, rather, immaturity and ignorance.

If we haven’t really studied the matter out, it would be far better to not speak on the matter.

Especially when our comments demean those involved and make light of what went on in their lives.

Even when we may have studied it somewhat, we still should take heed as to how we condemn.

On the receiving end, we also need to take heed.

We need to take heed how we even listen to, or read, when someone else condemns the discussions between pastors of different denominations:

 

I Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

 

Sure, we could try to say that we can receive an accusation against an elder if he is not in our local assembly.

Or we might get around the scripture, when we can convince ourselves that he may not really qualify as an elder.

 

I’ve been guilty of all the above.

I also am afraid that I may be yet still guilty of this again sometime.

                        Gino