Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:9
I have been guilty of this kind of behavior. It is in my nature, my flesh nature, to need to be right and to have others accept that I’m right. Of course when we are talking about the creator of the universe, I feel that my cause is righteous, so I’m all the more bent on convincing you of my viewpoint. Never mind that we are arguing about dispensationalism, or some other word that I can barely pronounce, I am going to fight because I am right. God wants me to fight!
Our flesh is profoundly deceptive, convincing us that we are motivated by God when secretly, it is our pride that is at stake. I have things figured out and you have to see them my way. I, my, mine… We are not defending God at all, but rather, we are focused on self and using him as an excuse for our prideful behavior.
It is a tough discipline to ask if I am focused on God or self. Are my words drawing others to God or am I just trying to convince others that I am right? We can so easily be drawn into arguments that may make us feel smart, but they do not make us closer to God and they do not draw others closer to God.
I need to constantly ask, are my words born of God or self? If I am convinced that I am on God’s side but I am behaving badly, then I need to reevaluate my own honesty. God does not ask me to sin for him. I sin for self.