Arguing about Arguing
The Bible is full of different perspectives on various topics. I’ve said this before, but it always bears repeating. Contradictions and disagreements between authors in the Bible don’t undermine the sacredness of the text any more than theological debate makes the church something other than the Body of Christ. We can disagree, but our unity is preserved by the grace of God, even when we don’t see it. Similarly, the Biblical authors can disagree, speaking to us differently at different moments in time, but the Scripture still remains the written word of God. I start with this preface because I want to focus on one such disagreement today, though this may only have the appearance of a disagreement. And, to make it even more interesting, this apparent disagreement is about disagreement.
Romans 14:1 says, “Welcome those who are weak in faith but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.” Someone might hear this and focus particularly on the second half of the verse and come to believe that arguing over opinions is a bad thing. It certainly seems like Paul is condemning the practice. Elsewhere, we hear the Bible advocate for gentleness. Psalm 133—a short one, go ahead and read it—praises living together in unity. Furthermore, being a fairly argumentative person myself, I have had Mother Teresa’s humility list quoted against me. It says things like, “Give in to the will of others,” and “Give in, in discussions, even when you are right,” and “Avoid curiosity.” Certainly, there is a thread within the Bible that is also woven into the full history of the Church that suggests that we avoid arguments. We should focus on unity and set aside quarrels. Last blog post, even I suggested that if we lived as if the end of the world were upon us, we wouldn’t fight over little things.
All that being said, that isn’t the only thread we can find woven into the word of God. The prophets didn’t quietly give in and follow along with what was happening in their day. They spoke out, proclaimed God’s word and God’s judgment against evildoers. Last week, we heard the urgency and importance placed upon this work in Ezekiel 33. Jesus certainly carried on this tradition, arguing with the religious leaders of his day and even clearing out the temple. Jesus was certainly gentle around children, but he also didn’t give in to leaders who were wrong or misleading.
Obviously, there isn’t one simple way to behave in all situations. Sometimes, we need to be quiet and listen, allowing people to have their way and supporting them however we can. Other times, we need to claim our space and cry out for justice, correct theological misconceptions, and set boundaries against people who would trample us without a second thought. The challenge is determining which route is correct to take at any given moment. When do we cry out and when do we listen?
The first part of Romans 14:1 may provide the necessary context. Paul isn’t saying that we should never argue. Paul is saying that we should avoid quarreling when it comes to welcoming those who are weak in the faith. In Romans 14 and 15, Paul is addressing a problem that is either actually happening or that Paul fears will happen in the Roman church. Some people have fully embraced the Gospel message and no longer feel like they need to follow specific legalistic dietary restrictions. They should be able to eat whatever they want, whenever they want. Others are less certain about the message Paul is preaching. They are cautious in their faith. Not quite willing to give up all of their spiritual disciplines, they continue to abstain from certain foods and fast on certain days. The problem is that those who fully embrace their new found Gospel freedom may be causing trouble for those who are clinging to the whole law. If you genuinely believe that eating meat from the market could pollute someone because it could have been sacrificed to an idol, then it would hurt you to see a fellow Christian eating such meat. You would be worried about their souls. You would wonder if they are truly a Christian or just pretending. It might send you into an internal crisis. Their behavior may cause you to have doubts. Paul argues that those who have fully embraced the Gospel and feel free to do anything, should restrict themselves, not because they need to for their own salvation, but simply because it would benefit those around them. Paul isn’t saying that those who are “weak” in the faith should get over themselves and stop worrying. Rather, Paul is addressing the “strong,” those who are confident in their faith, essentially saying, “These people are on the precipice of faith. Be patient and loving with them. We don’t want our strength and confidence to drive someone away.”
The important note here is that Paul condemns quarreling particularly in this situation because it would hurt those who are struggling to fully grasp the Gospel. The permissiveness of debate depends on strength and power. Paul certainly isn’t always so kind to his own interlocutors. In his other letters, Paul argues hard, even aggressively for the sake of a clear understanding of the Gospel. When Paul is going up against people who are loudly proclaiming that he is wrong, he isn’t afraid to write forcefully. Similarly, Jesus argued with the well educated scribes, Pharisees, and priests of his day, but he didn’t berate children who approached him.
The truth is, there are times when we need to stand up for what we believe in. When people say misleading things about God, proclaim bad theology, or simply hurt people with their power in the church, we need to cry out against these things. We should oppose prosperity gospel preaching. We should cry out against discrimination and intolerance in the church and in society. We should speak boldly against war, violence, and Christian nationalism. When the church is standing up against powerful voices in our world that undermine God's Gospel message, we hope that the Holy Spirit will awaken the church’s prophetic voice. However, we also pray to know when a gentler voice is needed. Sometimes, quarreling does nothing but make someone feel nervous about their own faith and their place within the church. Unfortunately, sometimes the very people who need reassurance are also saying the worst things. The reason they are speaking out with such strong messages is because of their own anxieties about their faith and belonging. The best response isn’t clear in such situations, and so we must approach with humble discernment of the Spirit and walk away extending grace to ourselves and others. Again, the reality is terribly complicated. The Bible doesn’t give one easy solution for how to live and behave. However, we can trust that God’s Spirit will guide us to say what we must when the time comes, and God will forgive us when we fail to listen to the Spirit at work.
