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Articles
Busting Heads
I was talking with a brother the other day, and we were talking about wrong attitudes among some of our brethren. He made the comment that some have the attitude that to be sound we just need to come to church regularly and "keep busting heads." No doubt that we must "fight the good fight of faith," I Tim.6:12a. We must do as Jude exhorted, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." vs.3. We will at times be involved in disputes with those in error, "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. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." Acts 19:8-10. Yet the manner and attitude that we have in contending for the faith are important. Are we trying to win people to Christ or simply win the argument? Are we seeking to contend or be contentious? Is there love in our hearts, in our words, in our tone? Paul said, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Eph.4:15. Again, Paul said, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." I Cor.8:1. Love will edify, but knowledge, not tempered by love, has a tendency to puff up, make us haughty, and snotty in our approach with error and sin. I think this is what our brother was deploring when he spoke about those who seek to "keep busting heads." We can fight a good fight in seeking to win people to the Lord, or we can fight an ugly, repulsive, carnal fight by "busting heads." I tend to think that we need to follow this advice, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves," 2 Tim.2:24-25a.
