Fretting and Fuming

We sometimes make mountains out of molehills when it comes to our faith. We jump out of our seats to defend an interpretation of a minor point in scripture that, in the overall truth of Christianity, is probably not worth fighting about. We fret and fuss and fume at our brothers and sisters in Christ, often causing hard feelings that may never go away, over trivialities. Is championing our personal opinion really worth the cost to our relationships with other believers?

Don't get me wrong. The Bible is crystal clear about the major issues such as sin, redemption, etc. To uphold these truths and not waver from them is vital to our faith. But we need to realize that some of the minor issues, while having a clear purpose for being included in scripture, may not always have their true meaning revealed to us at present by the Holy Spirit. We see through a glass darkly for now and trust that all will be clear to us as He wills and in His timing, even if we have to wait until Heaven to have our questions answered.

Our purpose in life is to live in a way that brings honor and glory to God our Father through the life-changing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no room in such a high calling to be majoring on the minors.

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to "avoid foolish questions."

--from Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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