Avoiding Contention and Arguments
We are looking deeper into the works of the flesh, to understand them and thus more readily catch ourselves straying from the Commandments and engaging in what we are commanded not to. Strife and variance are the focus herein. Strife and variance inevitably occur when we engage in arguments and debates with carnal people. Variance, emulation, and strife define conflict with our fellow man, which we abstain from, being set apart. We often tell one another of these works of the flesh, so we remember the Commandment.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The children of the Living God are peacemakers. They abide in the Prince of Peace who now lives in their hearts and minds. Peacemakers make peace and obey the Commandments and do not engage in strife, contention, and arguments as the world does.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Any of our knowledge of the world’s wisdom or of Christ’s wisdom amounts to nothing if we do not bring forth love that is the keeping of His Commandments.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
The back and forth, tit for tat, accusing and excusing reasoning of our carnal minds has been crucified. It is put to death, being submitted unto the Father. We strive at all times to live in peace, if possible. We cannot control what others may do or say, yet we always obey the Lord.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
The simple Commandment is to pursue peace with all men. Obeying gives us no room to engage in strife and contention with others. We need to be alert and watchful not to be pulled into such contention unwittingly. Avoiding these exchanges and not wading into them is the straight-and-narrow way. It does not matter if they are about spiritual things or carnal things, we are avoiding engaging in strivings that keep us bound to the law of sin and death.
2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
If one does not receive our words and our actions that are consistent with the Commandments, and our correction, we don’t work against the Lord’s purposes. The Lord has blinded them, and to argue the truth with those who are blind and deaf is foolishness and sin.
Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Only the Lord can open one’s eyes in His mercy to receive the truth and take hold of the Gospel and embrace the Commandments. The truth is foolishness to the carnal mind, and we likewise are foolish trying to correct one who cannot hear.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Pro 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Knowing these things, we always speak softly, not in the wrath of man, but we also know when not to speak and hold our peace.
Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Pro 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Paul commands us to walk wisely with those outside the faith, being careful to guard our speech so we are not snared into sinning.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
The world loves strife and promotes it at every turn. TV shows and news formats routinely feature panels of people with differing viewpoints to spark strife and arguments for entertainment’s sake. Those in Christ are to have nothing to do with such error that only engages further the lusts and pulls of our flesh.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Our only striving is to be in entering into the narrow way of Christ by obeying all His Commandments, including this one to not strive with men. The struggle is within us in taking our carnal thoughts and pulls of our flesh captive to all the Commandments. Few are given to do this in this age, but with the Spirit of the Lord given to us, we are entering in.
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
To strive is to fight or to labor; the same Greek words in the New Testament are translated into all three English words. We are commanded to fight and labor but only for the Gospel’s sake. It is this meat that nourishes us and grows us in Christ, and moves us onward to maturity.
Joh 6:27 Labour [strive] not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
1Ti 6:12 Fight [strive] the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Being in the world but not of it, we have ample opportunity daily to obey or disobey the Commandment to not engage in strife and arguments. So how do we perform our duty of obedience in such instances? We strive, fight, or labor in the Spirit, taking our fleshly impulses captive to the obedience of Christ.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
We bear spiritual fruit when we remain in the vine, being anchored into the Holy Commandments. Christ is the vine, and except we stay connected, we are not bearing fruit unto righteousness.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Abstention or avoidance is the best course of action. The Lord was tempted many times in the Scriptures to engage in strife, contention, and arguments. He showed us the way as our example. Christ either said nothing or He spoke the Commandment to those tempting Him. This is party of dying to self, carrying our cross.
Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Mat 27:14 And he answered him never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.
The other approach is to answer with the Commandments, nothing more or less. For all three temptations of Christ, the answer from the Lord was the giving of the Father’s Commandment.
Mat 4:6 And the devil saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
The Apostles, likewise, when confronted by Pharisees to stop preaching, give the Commandment rather than engage in ongoing strife and contention.
Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
When our words are rejected and not heard, we do not stay and engage in strife and debate. We shake off the carnal reasonings, the dust, and move onward.
Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Far better to say nothing when we are tempted. We are not defending our honor or pride; we are dead to those lusts. We are obeying the Lord and willingly and gladly bear the reproach of the unbelieving carnal world, who speak evil of us for not embracing its ways.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
We are counting it all joy when these temptations come and we stand the test and do as Christ commands.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
In these last days, we learn to control our tongues and be wise about when and how to speak, if at all. We live quiet and set-apart lives and pursue peace with all men. Spiritual violence that is carnal reasoning is not found in the promised land within us anymore.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Mercy and peace be multiplied unto all the saints.