Debating Arguers

Those who love to argue are self-absorbed, their entertainment is to frustrate others in debate and win over them through intimidation and mocking.

If discussion or debate is not based on learning a solution or increasing knowledge, then it has no value for emotional and Spiritual growth.

All discussions ought to be for the purpose of learning and resolving not merely winning over someone else. If winning is the purpose then it is best to stop the discussion until the one who contends for the prize stops their foolish arguing and wants to learn and share truth.

Discussion ought to be enjoyable for both parties to engage in intelligent conversation based on truth.

I have heard debates that make both parties look absolutely foolish. They will say the silliest things that are irrational to frustrate the other person, nothing is about truth but it is about agitating the other person, it has no purpose except to cause frustration.

I avoid these kinds of people. When someone walks into a room with an angry demeanor, a saunter in their walk, and a lack of graciousness on their lips, I leave the room.

There is reason to feel sorry for such people, they have no confidence or they would have no need to demean and mock others to elevate themselves, they are sorry specimens.

We know someone is not born-again when they live a lifestyle of anger and superiority. God removes these sinful traits from those He changes into a new creation.

When we have become born again the Holy Spirit comes to live in us bringing with Him the fruit of His Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

We do not have to try to have these traits they are a part of us, and they are our automatic response to every situation. If we slip up and act badly we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and apologize quickly to resolve the hurt we caused. Those who live a lifestyle of anger and argument thinking it is legitimate to act this way, have never been born again. They remain in their sin without conscience over it. Sadly this mentality in our culture is growing and being treated as acceptable by many. God told us to get away from them, these people will never listen to the gospel having no desire to be changed by Christ.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Difficult Times Will Come

"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

Many of these debaters who are in love with themselves will claim to be Christian, as God said in verse 5, they "have a form of godliness" but are not saved. We are told to avoid these people.

If we are praying for them and they come around at some later time desiring to know Christ, then we can speak to them about Him, otherwise, we must obey God and avoid them.

Life is Wonderful and Enough for the Born-Again Believer

So many people are making up their own ideas about God and His principles that most Christians today believe things God never said and never commanded.

Recently I heard once again the phrase; "Have your fun first before having children." Nowhere in Scripture does God ever say such a thing. If we are this enamored with fun then we are not mature enough to be married and raise a family.

First God must take the pleasure mentality out of someone to be able to take marriage and children seriously. Those who have waited a long time to marry because they wanted to play are not very likely good spouses. Since they delayed responsibility so long it becomes a part of their bone and sinew, they will never mature enough to take life seriously. Most of these people remain immature their entire lives, angry with anyone who might get in the way of their play and adventures.

1 Corinthians 13:11

"11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [a]became a man, I did away with childish things."

1 Corinthians 3:1,2

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ…

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

The pleasure mentality is based on selfishness, a need to win at everything, boast of triumphs, and appear special for doing what doesn't matter at all in the Christian life.

We see in our church gatherings this play mentality in the music, the hype, and the lazy casual clothing demonstrating a flippant rebellious child-like attitude toward worship. To the child play is everything, decorum is abhorred, excellence is resisted and mocked while lack of diligence is elevated.

Hedonism is rampant in this culture. Hedonism being the pursuit of all kinds of pleasure. When pleasure is the dominant response to life then good godly sense is absent.

Ecclesiastes 2:1

"2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity."

The pleasure seeker does not sew seeds of righteousness for others to grow and progress in holiness. This pleasure seeker is hostile to anyone who instructs them to stop pursuing pleasure and begin the work of an evangelist, a father, or a mother who instructs their children in righteousness using the Bible as the instruction book.

Those who love Christ with all their heart will interpret everything they see and do according to the principles and commands of Christ.

A pleasure seeker speaks non-stop about their adventures throwing in a little twisted scripture to justify their desires to indulge themselves. They do not apply God's Word to what they do, they make up their own ideas to justify their pleasures.

When we become mature in the Lord He removes from our hearts the pleasures of the world and replaces them with the pleasure of work, evangelism, speaking, and writing about Him to anyone who will listen. We love to look at the leaves in the fall and praise God for His creation. We love to see the deer walking through our yard with their babies. Everyday life is good enough for the authentic born-again believer in Christ.

Our pleasures as born-again believers are in the simple lovely things of life such as a walk in the park, gardening, and creating things to be used for our families and for others. Our delight is in life itself as it comes to us daily. There is no need for adventures beyond our daily life because all is such a joy when we love God.

Even our hardships are filled with joy as we anticipate gaining strength through trials.

James 1:2-8

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

As we work through trials trusting Christ we gain wisdom. Christ always goes through our difficulties with us, we are never alone.

Pleasures almost never teach anything, they are all bound up in self-promotion, boasting, and temporary useless feelings of grandeur. As soon as the pleasure is over those who do them must do another one because the feeling is fleeting and must be repeated, it is never maintained. The feelings in pleasure are not sustainable, another adventure must occur to have the feelings all over again. But our joy in Christ never leaves us no matter what is happening.

I have found that the delights of everyday life are enough to keep my joy and peace continual, no matter what is happening. The joy of the Lord in the Born-again believer never stops even through difficulties and tears there is that deep abiding joy and expectation that God knows what He is doing and even when it hurts He is protecting us and guiding us into a deeper walk with Him.

When we live for Christ life teaches us!!!!