Before you read this, if you have not had your quiet time with the LORD of Lords yet, please come back later. I don’t want you to read my blog if you have not done your devos yet. Seriously. “If we are to be Spirit-filled as we engage others in online dialogue, discussion, and debate — we need to first immerse ourselves in prayer and in the Word.” (Nathan Busenitz)

Having said that, the Holy Ghosted led me earlier to Titus 3:9 where Paul exhorts his young disciple to, “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”

I just read and commented on Challies’ intriguing article which asked, “Is Error in Doctrine Always Sin?” I never truly wrestled with this tough question, but I am now. And yet at the same time, I am also reminded of the nature of the conversations that I have with others in the blogsphere–some Christians, some not; some are Calvinists, some are not; some go regularly to a church, some go to a church that some evangelicals would not call a church.

Quite frankly, I do not find myself engaging in enough discussions about the things that matter to me–namely, theology and doctrine. There is much discussions going in the Reformed blogsphere that I have not joined in on–like here and here! (Though, I know some of you have already skipped reading this post ’cause of how boring this jibber-jabber seems!)

Reflecting on this, I am somewhat disappointed at my day-to-day schedule which does not allow me to read enough Scripture, not enough Christian books (let alone finish my shelf-full and bedside table full of books I have not finished or started), and not enough time to listen to mp3 sermons and seminary classes that were taught last year! As much as am I do participate in conversations on my blog and respond to posts on other blogs, I still wish I could read & respond to more so that my mind could be sharpened more. Those of you who are reading my blog, and especially those of you who have made comments, have indeed helped me in sharpening my mind of biblical discernment.

But nevertheless, I am tremendously far from where I want to be in my study of who God is and what He has done.

I often am scared to death when I talk to or listen to pastors and theologians whom I consider heroes of the faith, those who I look up to as a student of His Word. The more I read their work, the more I listen to them speak, and the more I correspond with others about the faith once for all delivered to the saints — the more I realize how unlearned, uneducated, ignorant and unlearned I am. I have to admit, I sometimes think my orthodoxy is not orthodox enough and my humility is not humble enough. I’m still trying to find my own voice in the midst of God’s and everybody else’s voice! When I courteously respond to somebody’s comment on my blog here, I wish I could be able reply like Dr. Moore, Mohler and MacArthur one day — they do so quickly and succinctly with a Christian world view and with biblical support. For I do aspire to the office of overseer, it is certainly a noble task that I desire.

And thus, I need your prayers, brothers and sisters. I do not ever want to become like those who are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” — we must continually talk, discuss and encourage each other about the issues of Christianity that all do matter. Though some, to a higher degree and others, a lesser degree. We should (as Mohler would say) perform theological triage and choose carefully the discussions we should have and the battles we should fight and the disputes we should avoid.

There are issues of primary importance, tenets of historic, Christian orthodoxy that must always be defended. However, there are also secondary and tertiary issues that we should debate and argue biblically with other Christians, and even between others who are like mindedly Reformed — matters that are not merely theoretical but rightly theological and theocratical. Meanwhile, there are at the same time issues that can very well bring about pointless, mindless discussions about spiritual controversies that ignite into quarrels and fights; these kinds of irreverent babble should be avoided at all costs for they will lead people into more and more ungodliness and spread like gangrene! (2 Timothy 2:16-17) We should always strive to arrive at a knowledge of truth; we may not like it or agree with it but it is imperative that we try to get there… and if not today, at least sometime soon, in the near future! If we don’t even try to come to some sort of agreement, it would just be a waste of time to jib-and-jab at things that don’t matter eternally.

With our consciences bound to His Word, we can and should regularly agree to disagree and still be united together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ and Him crucified should should always be center of our faith, for everything we do in obedience to Him should subsequently point to His substitutionary atonement for our sins. However, here in our discussions on issues of the faith, the Apostle Paul reminds me again, and I want to remind you of the same:

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Romans 14:1

One day in the future, all of us will have to come before the Judge of All and give an account of ourselves to God. We must not let our brother or sister slip into complacency or laziness, not caring about what they believe or stand for. We should help each other in our spiritual pilgrimages . Whenever we come together, whether in person or on the web, may each one of us bring evidences of grace to share with each other–a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. “Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)