Elevating Culture Above Christ is the Danger

Many people say they don't want to debate when there is disagreement. Sadly, it shuts down communication so that the one who will not discuss things does not have to evaluate their own thinking. They use the excuse "I don't want to debate" to shut down any honest and rational communication that might shed light.

I don't "debate", which has the connotation of discussing for the purpose of winning. I enjoy honest, open discussions, looking at all sides to be able to come to an agreement and always with Scriptural backing.

 
1 Corinthians 1:9-11 "9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. 11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household, have informed me that there are quarrels among you."

There is only one way to agree, and that is to look at Scripture, leaving out all traditions of men to study what God said in His Word.

 
In our modern Christianity, most have been trained to never correct someone else out of fear of their feelings. Feelings have become more important than honest, open discussion.

 
When the culture has been raised to protect their feelings more than a desire to learn, they will be hypersensitive to any form of correction. Since the people are full of pride, they resist correction as though it were the new evil. It is the reason the school system is failing, giving good marks to children for trying, rather than for achievement.

 
The culture has become less intelligent and more obstinate than ever before because of the propensity to withhold proper teaching and challenges that force someone to try harder or to evaluate their own way of thinking.

 
Children now believe they know everything; any correction at all makes them angry. They assign bad motives to those who tell the truth to help them grow. They gossip, lie, and punish anyone who attempts to explain why there was a correction.
In short, the culture has become more irrational, less contemplative, and highly vengeful.

 
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But understand this: In the last days, terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,"

1 Timothy 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron."
Acts 20:29-30 "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them."

Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive."

Division is created when scripture is ignored in favor of worldly cultural Christianity that elevates errors above the truth while punishing those who bring the Word of God as the evidence of truth.