As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“I’m so struck by… the way [Paul] budgets his writing of Romans, spends about as much space and time talking about getting along together in our churches as he spent explaining the doctrine of justification by faith.” - TGC
“Let’s consider the words of Christ when He was ‘dying on a hill.’” - P&D
“Starting May 4, we’re releasing a five-part video debate series featuring prominent Christian thinkers discussing some of the most divisive issues facing the church today… . we hope to model this—showing that it’s possible for two Christians, united around the gospel, to engage in charitable conversation even amid substantive disagreement.” - TGC
“Patience … . Remember we are not the Holy Spirit … . Trust the Spirit and pour over Scripture … Some truths are ‘first of all;’ in other words they’re primary truths” - Ligonier
“Lewis modeled disagreement in a variety of helpful ways. Sometimes, he declared that particular ideas were wrong. …Sometimes, he softened his words when others might have sharpened theirs.” - TGC
“Do I need friends from different ideological camps? These questions, of course, are relevant to Christians: should we also value friendships like this?” - TGC
Read Part 1.
If I polled my readers at this point, there’d probably be some who’d say, “I’m of Paul,” and others, “I am of Barnabas.” Whose side do you take? Before you decide, consider two things:
The apostle Paul appealed to the church in Corinth: “that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1:10). But Paul did not always attain to that ideal himself. In Acts 15:36-41, we read the sad story of a sharp disagreement between Paul and his companion, Barnabas. What makes their disagreement so disheartening is the division that resulted.
“Rhyne Putman’s new book, When Doctrine Divides the People of God, surprisingly helps us answer why fellow pastors might disagree about [shepherding] matters. I say “surprisingly” because the book analyzes doctrinal disagreements, not disagreements over matters of shepherding.” - Andy Naselli
“Surrendering our rights and agreeing to disagree is vital to the unity in which Jesus has called his people to live, worship, and serve him together.” - John Ellis
Discussion