The Body is Not a Baby

GodWords Newsletter #101

Thank you very much for your support! ❤️

Two women came to wise King Solomon with a dispute. Each tried to convince him that a particular baby was hers… and he was supposed to choose which of them would take the baby home. To settle the matter, he ordered that the baby would be divided between them. Yeah: they were gonna cut the baby in half.

One woman thought that was a good idea. The other clearly loved the baby and was willing to give him up to save his life. In that moment, it became clear to wise King Solomon how he should rule. Solomon knew a thing or two about human nature, and that helped him settle the dispute with compassion and justice.

We need this kind of wisdom today… maybe more than ever.

This dispute between mothers reminds me of the many, many disputes between Christians. We’re not arguing over an actual baby. Instead, we argue over whose opinions about God and the Bible are better:

• Which version of the Bible is best

• Whether women can be pastors

• The age of the earth

• Whether we can lose our salvation

• The nature of predestination

• The order of salvation

• The timing of Jesus’ return

… and so much more.

With all due respect to everybody involved, most of these discussions are nothing more than distractions. They keep us entertained while we’re busy NOT MAKING DISCIPLES. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all about good theology. I like a robust discussion as much as the next guy. Robust discussions aren’t the problem.

The problem is that we’re like the woman who lied to Solomon. We’re willing to cut the Body of Christ in half… to separate from our brothers and sisters because we think they’re wrong about non-essential issues.

Yes, those are ALL non-essential issues… and there are more where those came from. Nobody is going to Hell because they read a version of the Bible you don’t like. God isn’t going to condemn the people who get the age of the earth wrong. You may be right about the rapture, but Heaven will be filled with people who disagreed with you.

Most of the disputes between believers boil down to a clash of opinions.

It’s ironic that the people most concerned about getting it right are, too often, the ones getting it exactly wrong. We’re willing to argue endlessly about the tiny details in Scripture but miss the bigger picture… we miss the solution to these disputes, found throughout the New Testament. The first century had almost as many disputes as the twenty-first, so there are plenty of examples.

What did believers argue about back then?

• Some had a favorite teacher… like Peter, or Paul, or Apollos.

• Euodia and Syntyche wouldn’t stop arguing.

• Customs about sabbaths and shellfish created conflict.

• Some argued about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

Obviously, conflict happens… then and now. Do we see a wise solution in each of these situations? We do. What’s the common solution to all of these conflicts? What has God, in His Word, told us to prioritize?

UNITY.

In each case, the arguments were about non-essential matters. The point is not that these things are unimportant.. but that they’re LESS IMPORTANT THAN UNITY. Paul’s words to Christians in Corinth express this perfectly:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.

Let me be even more clear:

• The very fact that we divide over the age of the earth means we’re defeating ourselves.

• The very fact that we divide over the timing of Jesus’ return means we’re defeating ourselves.

• The very fact that we divide over free will means we’re defeating ourselves.

• The very fact that we divide over the order of salvation means we’re defeating ourselves.

Yes, what we believe matters. Yes, there’s only one right answer to each question. Yes, we should divide over actual heresy from false teachers. Yes, mature believers should study the Scriptures and learn what they say… but let’s not cut the Body in half while we’re at it.

I love you all.
❤️

When She Prayed for a Blue Velvet Dress
Jana didn’t want her daughter to be disappointed, and learned a lot about prayer along the way. Good stuff.

Truth and Falsity About God, Part 2
Dr. Doug Groothuis continues his very good discussion on what we can know about God. Highly recommended.

Siri Won’t Help You Move a Couch or Post Bail
No, Artificial Intelligence will not make a good companion… no matter what the fancy and expensive commercials tell you. We were made for each other.

Having Real Friends in Adulthood—and Other Miracles
Sometimes it seems we’re destined to be alone, even in a crowd. Fight the urge to stay home. Find a friend. Then another. Decide to open up a bit and let good people in. When it happens, you won’t regret it.

GodWords: Should Christians Smoke Pot?
I was there when Colorado became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana. I thought it was a bad idea at the time, and the results have proven my concerns were legit. How should we view this increasingly-popular activity?

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We talk of the Second Coming;
half the world has never heard of the first.
– Oswald J. Smith

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He Won’t Let You Go: The Kry

An oldie but a goodie… simple and straight-forward, worth putting on repeat.

Lyrics and links at Awesome Christian Music.

He won't let you go
The moment that you say
Come and live in me
Take me all the way

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