Disputes

Disputes

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 Tim. 6:3-5.

We could ask this question: What could be included under the heading “disputes”? In short, the answer is: everything that does not lead to godliness. That is why someone who is not interested in godliness turns everything into a dispute. The result is only arguments and useless wranglings. We are to withdraw from such people.

Quite often people argue about whether infant baptism or believer’s baptism is biblical. You can hear a long ways off that they are disputing—they are wrangling about words. When the one person maintains that infant baptism is correct, yet he lives for himself, and the other person maintains that adult baptism is correct and lives for himself, we can ask ourselves: Who is right? Of course, neither of them are. Because the wholesome words of Jesus Christ are: that if anyone desires to follow Him, he must take up his cross daily and deny himself. The person who keeps to the doctrine that leads to godliness will soon understand from the Scriptures that baptism is the covenant of a good conscience concerning the death of our self-will—that the old way of life is buried and a new way of life is born. Rom. 6:3-5.

Baptism is not a subject of dispute for the person who seeks to lead a godly life. You can also hear that. When such a person looks into the matter, the result is not wrangling over words or arguments.

The revelation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. 1 Cor. 12:7. There is no advantage in having a Bible if the person lacks revelation of the Spirit. Therefore we see that people, in their conceit, can find support for all kinds of things in the Bible. Yet you will also notice that they are not particularly interested in godliness.

The apostle exhorts us by writing: “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” Heb. 13:9.

Many people come and say, “I have received light,” and then they start serving up many strange ideas. It was supposed to be food—nourishment for our spiritual life—but we should inquire about whether it has profited those who served it. Then we will quite often discover that they are puffed up, even though they know nothing. We also notice that whatever they come up with results in arguments, wranglings about words, and envy. They haven’t become more God-fearing because of it themselves, nor can it strengthen the others in their good fight of faith. Turn away from such people and rather cultivate new land.

Do not be led astray. If it had been a revelation of the Spirit, it would have been profitable. Then a need would have been filled. You would have been strengthened in faith so that you could steadfastly follow in Jesus’ steps. If there is no help to be had in that direction, then what do you want with all those things? It is all supposition and only serves to satisfy your darkened understanding. At best it can only lead to the knowledge that puffs up. 1 Cor. 8:1. Put it under the heading of “disputes” and let it go.

Paul says, “One thing I do.” He pursued perfection; he pressed toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He also says further: “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk on the same way.” Phil. 3:12-16.

Many people say, “Not all of us have advanced equally far on the way, which is why we don’t understand everything the same, so there has to be strife and disputing.” That is totally wrong. Paul exhorts us to have this mind, namely, to pursue perfection—pursue those things that are before us in Christ. Then we have a mature (perfect) attitude if we do not have any other desire or longing. God will reveal to us whatever it is that we do not yet understand correctly as long as we continue to walk on the same way. However, if we start to walk on a different way and start to seek honor or harden our hearts, with the result that we are not so careful when it comes to sinning, then we do not have the promise of having the right revelation, but we become a plaything for evil spirit powers. Therefore Paul says, “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Tit. 3:10-11. There is no point in explaining things to such a person. It is not because he doesn’t understand, but that he loves sin. Do not sow your seed among “thorns.” They turn everything you want to talk about into a dispute.