by: Stephen Weber

“Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.” (Colossians 2:8 The Message)I love debates, and I love discussions.  I thrive on it.  How far, however, can one go with a discussion?  How long should we persist in “endless arguments that never amount to anything”?

The answer to this all depends on the person.  As I said, I thrive on debate.  When I find another who feels similarly, we can go on for hours.  When we are done, however, we are still okay, still friends.  We don’t allow the discussion to come between us or our faith.

Fundamentalism is the return to the fundamentals, or foundations, of our faith:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)

“…[I]f Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins….  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:17,20 NASB)

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ” (John 3:17 NKJV)

Us who enjoy it–debate.  Those who do not–you do not have to!  Christianity is not founded on a set of complicated and debatable concepts, but on one simple truth.  Christ is raised.  Much is important, and knowledge can surely strengthen our faith in the One who has saved us, but we are saved even in our disagreement.

Cry with the disciples, “Who then can be saved?” (Luke 18:26) and live as though punishment is inevitable.

Believe with Paul that “by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:8) and Christ’s resurrection is enough.

“What I mean is this, that each one of you [either] says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ.  Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13 Amplified Bible)