How to Respond to a Tale-Bearer
Doug Phillips has posted a wonderful article on his blog on how one should respond to a tale-bearer. In our technology driven culture, it has become easy to misrepresent and slander with little consequence. As a result, it is important that Christian men not only properly debate the issues but that they also realize that discussion of the issues cannot be had without a starting point.
As Christian men deviate from the scriptures as the source for honoring discussion the result is theological inaccuracy, slander, and disgrace to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This manifests itself often times through name-calling, and by writing-off other Christian men as 'cultist' without a wiliness to go to the source of debate and truly address the issues. Much of this cop-out mentality has been the direct influence of the feminist movement on the lives of Christian men, which has made men impotent to squarely define the issues and discuss them as men, resulting in two main responses by some in the church today:
1. The "let's just all get along" approach.
2. The "let's just all stab each other in the back" approach.
However, there is a third approach, one that is biblical and requires boldness to set forth:
3. A willingness to set aside surface issues of disagreement until we take responsibility to set the scriptures as our standard. This applies not only to resolving issues of debate, but more importantly, in setting forth a Christ honoring example in our relationship to the brother that we wish to debate, and the church that will be watching. Lastly, holding other brothers accountable when they do not live by this standard.
This is the essence of bold and manly discussion.
Doug Phillips has addressed this well in his article. I suggest you read it as a family.
As Christian men deviate from the scriptures as the source for honoring discussion the result is theological inaccuracy, slander, and disgrace to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This manifests itself often times through name-calling, and by writing-off other Christian men as 'cultist' without a wiliness to go to the source of debate and truly address the issues. Much of this cop-out mentality has been the direct influence of the feminist movement on the lives of Christian men, which has made men impotent to squarely define the issues and discuss them as men, resulting in two main responses by some in the church today:
1. The "let's just all get along" approach.
2. The "let's just all stab each other in the back" approach.
However, there is a third approach, one that is biblical and requires boldness to set forth:
3. A willingness to set aside surface issues of disagreement until we take responsibility to set the scriptures as our standard. This applies not only to resolving issues of debate, but more importantly, in setting forth a Christ honoring example in our relationship to the brother that we wish to debate, and the church that will be watching. Lastly, holding other brothers accountable when they do not live by this standard.
This is the essence of bold and manly discussion.
Doug Phillips has addressed this well in his article. I suggest you read it as a family.

