In the midst of the Vietnam War AP
correspondent Peter Arnett wrote about the destruction of Bến
Tre City during a battle on February 7th 1968. He cited an unidentified U.S. military
official response to the question of why the village was destroyed. His answer
was simple, 'It became necessary to
destroy the town in order to save it'.
The paradox of this statement is only
explainable in the fog of war. It seems sometimes in the heat of battle the
real sense of purpose gets lost. I see this happen in our efforts to keep false
doctrine out of the church. In the battles against false teachers and in the
modern culture war, our desire to win overcomes the purpose of Christ. As the
battle grows, it becomes more about winning than teaching. The tactics,
language and attitudes become as odious as what we stand against.
Some while “contending for the faith” (Jude
1:3), have simply become contentious for the faith. They seek out arguments
and viciously tear apart those they find disagreement with. In their
zealousness, they lost the perspective of Jesus’ mission “to seek and save the
lost” (Luke 19:10). They may win the argument, but their victory harms the
church, and pushes the lost further into the world.
That kind of behavior is not what God has in
mind for his children. In 1st Peter 3:15 we read, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make
a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in
you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”.
Standing for the truth doesn’t mean we
have to knock down our opponents. We need to “speak the truth in love”
(Ephesians 4:15).
Comments
Post a Comment