Hi Jerry,
I believe there is a great difference between quarreling about words and contending for the truth.
Christian apologetics is a much needed and honorable pursuit. It was in fact practiced by Paul and even Jesus, who were constantly arguing for the truth against the Jewish leaders. Paul also spent a substantial amount of time confronting false teachers and refuting their teachings.
Jude 1:3 I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct , rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction .
2 Corinthians 10:5 ‘We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’
I agree that it is a meaningless argument over words, if it's about a non issue liike genologies (1 Timothy 1:4), but even then, the remedy prescribed by Paul was to instruct them to do otherwise.
I think if the issue is a salvation issue, an essential of the Gospel, we ought to defend the truth tenaciously against false teachers. If it's a side issue that is not going to see people lost over it, then it isn't worth arguing over. No need to " major in the minors ".
With eschatology, I accept people of different views (there are 4 major ones). However, acceptance doesn't necessitate leaving them in darkness. It is a gravely important issue, since the anti-Christ system brutalizes millions of people, both spiritually and physically. Opposing this power and helping people escape it's deceptions (and physical harm) is a good thing.
What I see as not only dangerous, but ludicrous, is the system clearly identified as anti-Christ in scripture, is the very system people are allowing to drive their interpretation of prophecy. It points them to the past (Preterism), and to the Future (Futurism), making itself safe in the present, where it deceives, destroys, corrupts, and masqueraded as the representation of God on earth.
There is relatively little opposition, because most of Christianity is completely duped. Thanks to it's teachings, 95 % of people are scouting the horizon for some future anti-Christ (and fictional future scenario), while ignoring the wolf in sheep's clothing that frolics in their own backyard.
It would almost be laughable, if it's crimes against God and humanity were not so horrendous. From wars, to inquisitions, to doctrinal deceptions, to the rape and torture of children, to the amassing of obscene wealth and political power. It has committed atrocities for centuries and continues to do so, all the while claiming the prerogatives of God.
Our conversation ensued when I saw you post something on Facebook which said America is Babylon. We need not argue over that, since 1 Peter 5:13 equates Babylon with Rome, and settles the matter for us. Why impose our own interpretations, when the word of God interprets itself?
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Ken Rich
https://kenrich.me
updated by @ken-rich: 01/10/15 06:16:58PM