Comments on: Pride again rears its head.

By: chips

chips — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:23:57 +0000

Well since you all are excellent debaters, maybe propose to yourself in a few upcoming known to be heated debates to not debate. Ok so I know that’s far fetched for all of you but I guess what I mean is to take a step back before entering the battle ring to determine the best course of words and of heart.

remember asking God is always the first step to anything.

By: Dale Sackrider, II

Dale Sackrider, II — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:07:26 +0000

Well – I would say that the situation here would be using the ‘gift’ of debate to service the sin of pride. I am certainly guilty of this… I say – don’t despise the gift, simply work to weld it to serve God and not ourselves…

By: Jason Fisher

Jason Fisher — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:57:45 +0000

I suppose it would depend on what Scott meant when he said ‘God made you that way’. The skill to influence could be a gift but the lack of humility (a gift of the spirit) would not be.

By: Scott Harvey

Scott Harvey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:25:13 +0000

Dale’s point brings up an interesting question, though; that is worth pondering.

By: Scott Harvey

Scott Harvey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:33:09 +0000

My thoughts are based on my personal opinion and obersvation of Jesus in the scripture. I wouldn’t say that I know I’m 100% right on this, but it’s what the Lord has been showing me; so here goes.

Jesus identified the differences in personality traits among his disciples and coached them accordingly. Look at how he dealt with Peter, as opposed to Thomas. And there’s a reason that the tag “Sons of Thunder” was used, right? He didn’t call them to repent of their internal personality traits and giftings, rather he worked with His disciples based on who they were and what they were most gifted to do.

We readily see this with artistic talents in society, do we not? A singer can use his or her natural talent to sell sex and debauchery on the radio, or he or she can glorify God with it, and lead others into His presence through worship.

By: Dale Sackrider, II

Dale Sackrider, II — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:59:14 +0000

While my pride appreciates your final humility (since I was the one you were debating with), I agree that the desire to BE right often clouds our ability to remain humble and DO right.

Why can’t the gift/curse of debate be both from God and a result of our fallen nature? Our fallen nature requires different skill sets than our eventual perfect nature – hunting and farming are a couple of skills/talents that I would argue weren’t needed before the fall of man and won’t be needed in the afterlife but are still gifts from God. Can’t the ability to influence minds with skilled debate fall into the same category?

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:16:26 +0000

If you would download firefox it comes with a spell check for anything you type online.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:15:31 +0000

Why would you be sure it is a gift from God and not a result of our fallen nature?

By: Scott Harvey

Scott Harvey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:32:17 +0000

P.S. There is not spell check functionality on this thing, so my apologies for the grammar issues above.

By: Scott Harvey

Scott Harvey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:30:27 +0000

I had to go through a similar experience with my son this past week. I posted a blog on myspace about it. Your situation and character (which mirrors mine) is that you’re a gifted debater, you enjoy that debate process and you hate being wrong.

Under the surface I have to believe that since God made you (us) that way, it must be a gifting from Him. The challenge is learning how to yeild that gift to His Lordship so that it can be perfected unto His purposes.