It's 480 B.C. and Xerxes army is attacking Greece. At this point, Greece isn't so much a nation as it is a group of loosely connected city-states. Leonidas, King of the Spartans, takes 300 (yes, it's a cool movie, even if it is a little bit historically inaccurate) of his bravest warriors to Thermopylae, and they fend off Xerxes army of thousands for quite some time. Unfortunately, they die. But they didn't fail. Their bravery inspires and encourages the Greek city-states to realize how much they need each other if they are going to have any hope of standing against Xerxes. So, they come together under one banner. Sparta is the obvious leader of the battle on land, and Athens is the obvious choice for directing the naval portion of the battle, but, for some undetermined reason, there is unrest in following Athens naval leadership.

Athens is faced with a decision: They can be a strong military leader on water, and risk civil war, or they can choose to not lead and follow Sparta's leadership on the water. They choose the latter. They realized that a civil war would do significantly more damage than Xerxes could ever hope to do. The result was two major victories, one in Salamis and the other in Plataea, and Xerxes was driven from Greece. (Derived from Herodotus' Histories 8.)

I think, sometimes, we as Christians find ourselves in a similar situation. We tend to focus on our difference, and we quarrel and have mini 'civil wars', while all around us the work of the Kingdom is needing done, the battle rages on around us, and against us. But, who's going to listen to us when we finally pick ourselves up off the ground covered in dust and each other's blood from our own fight? Where is the unity? How can we fight the enemy when we are busy fighting amongst ourselves?

James, one of the authors of the New Testament, puts it this way:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3, ESV)

Titus tells us:

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:8-11, ESV, emphasis mine)

And Paul encourages Timothy:

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-5, ESV, emphasis mine)

I really think that having discussions is ok. I also think that no matter what happens, we are all bound to have slightly different perspectives on our doctrine. Scripture is alive and it impacts all of us in different ways! There are very definite times when people cross a line and are in need of biblical correction. There are also other times where we need to agree to disagree and keep pursuing the work of the Kingdom. We each need to work out our own salvation. I also think there is a time for discussion and a time to keep it to ourselves.

I have said some things over the past few weeks that, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, have led to, what I believe to be, foolish controversies. I count myself as the worst offender. In an attempt to share my perspective, I became more wrapped up in discussion for the sake of discussion, rather than the work of the Kingdom. But, I think if we are honest with ourselves, we will find that, whether we have done it here or elsewhere, we have all been guilty of this. We haven't kept the most important thing the most important thing. (I don't know who said that "most important thing" bit, but I think it might have been C.S. Lewis.)

What's done is done, the best we can do is pick up and move forward. I see no reason to continue the discussion in a public forum. However, if you take serious issue with what I have said, please feel free to email me at concerns@jeremiahotis.com and I will be more than happy to hear your concerns in a more private forum. I also apologize for propagating this "quarrel about the law". It really is unprofitable. It's time to do something worth doing, rather than trying to be right!

I have turned the comments off on the posts, but I don't intend to delete the posts or the pre-existing comments. The publc discussion is now over on this topic, at this site. If anyone continues to comment regarding the closed posts, I will be forced to move you into moderation and review all of your comments prior to letting them go live. I really don't want to do this. I mean, I really really don't want to do this. But, if the unprofitable discussion continues, I will be left with no choice.

If you feel that I am in error, and you feel strongly enough about it, you are free to contact me at the above listed email address. I will be happy to listen to your concerns. I'm not perfect, and, as much as I like to think so, I really don't have it all figured out. But, I'm trying, and I don't intend to stop trying to grow and mature and develop. Together, we can all keep each other balanced.

So, let's get back out there and make disciples. Let's get back together in unity and stop arguing. Let's express both the imago dei and the missio dei.

Looking forward to the conversation and the work...

joe

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