Joe,
Amen and Amen; to your so very important post. We as believers ought not to seek compromise but earnestly
contend for the Faith delivered of God. Families are anything but blissfull understanding units, my siblings number
8, my wife's siblings number 11. Add mother and not present father (death in both cases) and we have quite an
assembly. We of course "being spiritual
have no strife" (Not), far from it rather we deal with the cloak of
many colors daily. It is a revelation to see how my brothers and sisters (sibs and spiritual) are so much alike
(mostly carnal, sometimes spiritual).
We are likeminded in our zeal for the Word and Truth because God called us first. Our preparation in each case for
the day is different as the body has different parts for different functions. I believe that the work we are being
prepared for individually makes us likeminded but multi and diversely talented just so. Your wise counsel to look
beyond the object of our disagreement to the subject is quite correct. Loud and sometimes heated discourse is
only useless if we close our minds and hearts to everything but our own understanding.
Last but First is to remember when discussing the Scriptures:II Timothy 3:16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:
I Timothy 5:18:
For the scripture said, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.
I Peter 2:6:
Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that
believes on him shall not be confounded.
II Peter 3:16:
As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which
they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
George.