Why is it that some people seem to have an innate desire to be right all the time? It’s not enough that they themselves believe they are right but they insist that everyone else be in agreement. Unfortunately, not all Christians can be excluded from this group. We can also have a tendency to be that way too.
What is our contribution when we are not only right, but everyone has acknowledged it? Does it make us superior, smarter, or holier than the other individual or have we allowed ourselves to take the bait of the enemy? Why do we “put our ugly on?” I think that sometimes we’re so bent on hearing those words “Oh, you were right!” that we lose sight of the entire reason we’re in discussion in the first place.
Conversations about religion are a prime example... Does God really exist? Every good Christian is just dying to let people know the answer to that. And rightly so, after all “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). After all, that is exactly what the Great Commission is all about, right? I mean, we are called to make sure everyone hears the life and soul saving words of God, but many of us become so indignant at the thought of someone challenging our beliefs or insulting Christ that we end up forgetting the entire purpose of the discussion and it ends up being all about who’s right and who’s wrong. The motivation moves from a simple sowing of seed to “I’ll save you from damnation if it kills me!” Is this how we lay our lives down? Eek.
As the Apostle of Love (John) so eloquently said, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Not everyone believes the same truth, but the Truth is born of our actions and reactions. This is where the testimony comes in. No one can disagree with us when we talk about how Jesus changed our lives. It’s not even up for discussion. There is no right or wrong. We tell our story. It’s as simple as that. People can take it or leave it, or ask pertinent questions that we should be answering in respect, remembering that Jesus loves them as much as He loves us. We are no more special to Him than they are. Ouch!
We were grafted into the vine in order to bear fruit. The fruit of patience, kindness, gentleness and humility are always in season. Love never fails. Discussions about the existence of God for the sake of winning an argument are not fruitful. Discussions about the existence of God in order to save a life are fruitful. We don’t get to make their choices for them. Love is not rude. It doesn’t boast. It bears all things and endures all things and doesn’t always have to be right.
