Is It OK For Believers To Debate?
I recently had a conversation with a friend where we discussed a Christian’s involvement in politics and what it would look like to be Christ-like in that context. He suggested that a particular politician’s conduct did not lead to confidence in that politician’s own claim of being a believer, specifically because of his participation in debate. My friend was not saying it was because he debated, but how he debated, which I assume nobody would find disagreeable. But it did make me wonder in general: Is it ok for Christians to debate?
There’s a temptation in me to substitute a different word (calling it a “discussion” instead of a “debate”) in order to find a loophole. Because nobody would say Christians couldn’t have discussions? Think of a couple who says “we aren’t fighting, just having a disagreement” as if it’s shameful for couples to fight, or “I’m not gossiping, just sharing my grievances about another,” when those grievances most definitely color how I view someone. We are playing word games to justify our behaviors so we can bare to look ourselves in the mirror at the end of the day. I don’t want to do that. I want to look at the word in its face so I don’t end up justifying sin by calling it something different.
My immediate hesitation with debates comes from 2 sources: First gut feeling, and second the bible.
My Gut Makes Debating Feel Wrong
Over the years I have stayed away from controversial topics because I thought that it would hinder my gospel witness. There is perhaps a universal gut recognition that debates/controversial topics can feel aggressive and/or offensive, and so the natural reaction is to want to avoid them. Society has a lot to say about the offender or oppressor, and we would not want to be on that side of the public eye. The logic goes that by engaging in debates I would offend people and thus be disqualified from witnessing to whole groups of people.
I find, however, that this sort of thinking has led to a generation of timid Christians. As much as we recognize debates can lead to discomfort, I think we also recognize that debates are hard to avoid especially when it comes to something as offensive as the gospel (yes offensive. try telling the average person they are a sinner and will go to hell for it). Most people fear sharing the gospel because they fear debates (imagine how much easier it would be to share the gospel if no one had any problem with it and there was no worry of your beliefs being challenged).
This leads me to having to give a definition of debate. I would define it as defending a belief and challenging another. Because we are called to defend, I argue that we cannot avoid debates. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
We are told to “be prepared”, “make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope”, all with “gentleness and respect.” I argue that making a defense is the natural start to a debate, unless you make a statement and expect nobody to respond (you could run away after making your statement to not allow a response, which I’d find amusing). We are told to be prepared, so to a degree we should expect the need to make a defense. It should go without saying that this should be done with gentleness and respect.
The Bible Makes Debating Feel Wrong
My second hesitation is a direct follow up. While 1 Peter seems to support debates, a few come to mind that suggests the opposite. Perhaps the most famous is Titus 3:9: “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” The immediate words that pop out are “avoid foolish controversies”, “quarrels”, “law”, “unprofitable and worthless.” This seems to be directly talking about debates to which I agree. It’s unambiguous that Paul is telling us to avoid them. But this is where I believe proper context is necessary.
Zooming out a bit we see inside verse 8 “I want you to insist on these things, so that those who believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” The “things” are referring to being “heirs with Christ” mentioned in verse 7, and that’s Paul’s main focus and what he is insisting we focus on. If we zoom out a bit more, Paul was writing to Titus, who was commissioned to establish order in a church on the island of Crete. This church was filled with corruption and false teachings that were leading to divisions in the church. We can see in verse 10 “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” Paul is admonishing anyone that causes division.
Putting all of this together, the way I interpret this passage is that Paul wants us to focus on the gospel of grace and to avoid debating over peripheral things, like genealogies, which can cause division and distract from the gospel. He wants us to keep the main thing the main thing and avoid anything that would distract from it. For this particular church, it was debating.
But Debating is Not Wrong
This does leave us with a practical conclusion. I do not think 1 Peter and Titus are in contradiction. 1 Peter tells us to debate (defend) if it means uniting people under Christ. Titus tells us to avoid debates (quarrels) if it means dividing people from Christ. What it comes down to is intention, as most of these types of issues do.
My friend had issue with how the politician looked like he only cared about winning a fight and not about souls. And I agree with my friends assessment, to a degree. I do agree that people should not debate for the sole purpose of winning the fight, thus feeding our pride and “putting the other in their place,” leading to the problems presented in Titus.
I do think, however, we are called to fight when necessary. Jesus serves as a great example. Jesus always fought against anything that prevented people from worshipping. Him flipping tables was a fight against the corruption in the temple that prevented people from entering the temple. Him dying on the cross was the spiritual fight that defeated death. In the same way, there are times when we are called to fight whenever there are things preventing people from worshipping God; whether it’s fighting against a particular idea (truth is relative), a misconception about who Jesus is (either never existed or is not the savior), or to dispel a misconceptions of what Christians are (narrow minded bigots). These lead to the kind of fight called for in 1 Peter.
My conscience is clear on three accounts. Biblically, I haven’t seen any scripture that outright bans having debates (and in fact tells us to expect it). Logically, I think it is impossible to avoid (the act of objecting would result in a debate, leaving you with a contradiction). Missionally, I think there are situations where it is needed (in order to remove certain barriers to the gospel).
Of course, as is the purpose of this blog, I welcome response and to hear your opinions and experiences. Let me know if you agree with my assessment or if I misstepped somewhere (but then wouldn’t we be debating about whether we can debate?
