Consider the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:

2 Timothy 2:24-26

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)

Amazing words from a man who faced as much opposition as a person could. There are a few things to draw from this passage.

First, know the truth of God. Implied in this passage is that we know God’s word. Paul is speaking to someone who is able to recognize wrong from right. Paul is instructing him about how he should act when responding to those who are recognized as doing and saying wrong things. Later in this letter, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Paul reveals that it is the Bible which gives us this kind of knowledge. Know the Bible, know what it says, and be convicted about the truth of God’s word. Later in this post I will mention a sermon by John Piper on this same subject but drawing from Romans 14:1-9. In those sermons Piper says Paul expects Christians to get an opinion, to get a conviction. Do not be satisfied with uncertainty and ambiguity. Know the truth so when you see evil and falsehood, you will know it for what it is.

Second, respond to falsehood. Paul tells us how to respond to falsehood because he expects us to speak up when wrong is being said or done. Do not be silent when you see minorities oppressed. Do not be silent when widows and orphans are mistreated. Do not be silent when people are taught that God condones any behavior that makes a person happy. The list could go on. When you see something wrong taking place, be ready, willing, and able to respond! There needs to be wisdom involved here, that we respond as those who are wise as serpents and gentle as doves, but in some way we must give a response.

Third, respond to falsehood with peace. Do not be quarrelsome. Do not be unkind. But be kind and respond in love to all people. This is a message everyone on the web needs to hear. It is so easy to be unkind and some of the most unkind people on the web are Christians who have come across someone that disagrees with them. I don’t have to cite examples – you know what I am talking about. Paul does not want to see this behavior. He does not excuse this behavior. As Christians we often feel justified in our ire. After all, we are dealing with the word of God! Shouldn’t that lead to righteous indignation? Well, it should lead to a response demonstrating love and kindness.

Fourth, Paul does not limit this instruction to those who have minor disagreements. He does not say that we should be peaceful just with those who disagree about the music during the worship service, but that Calvinists are free to be rude to non-Calvinists, etc. Note the context, particularly the following passage. Paul goes on to talk about those who preach outright heresy and speak only to entertain the desires of the people. It is with these people in mind that Paul says that we are to be kind to everyone. With all people and all kinds of disagreements – regardless of the issue or how large the disagreement is – you are to be a peacemaker. If you are to be kind to blasphemers, certainly you are to be kind to your brother.

God is not honored by your anger. God is not honored by your rude words. God is not honored when your actions display hate and violence, not love and peace. It is true that proclaiming the truth will often lead to opposition and division, that the word of God will even split families. Even knowing the consequences, we are called to proclaim the truth. But we cannot ignore the teaching of Scripture that we are always to proclaim the truth in love, showing kindness to those with whom we disagree. Do not like the quarrelers of the world.

I mentioned Piper earlier. Every weekday Desiring God Ministries posts half of a sermon from their archives of messages preached by Piper. Lately they have been working through Piper’s series on the book of Romans. One of those sermons came from Romans 14:1-9. Rather than link to the two halves from the radio program, I commend to you Piper’s original sermon, titled Each One Should Be Fully Convinced in His Own Mind. In the sermon Piper calls for Christians to get a conviction, to be committed to the truth of Scripture, to defend their beliefs, and yet to live at peace with those who disagree.