Debating Debate

Now that the Lord is back dragging my sorry boo-tay out of bed early enough to real bible study again, I run back into, oh my Word, the TRUTH! (get it? Oh my Word?)haha

Anyway, so here I am working ahead in 2 Tim 2:14 the approved workman...and run into the old DEBATE issue. It has been a topic of discussion lately.

It has been said of me before and as of recent late, that I "like to debate". (yeah, you know who you are. We'll be talking about it later. Lol)Now, only a few know me at all...none here I would say probably. And I would bet that many of you could really say the same. That people don't REALLY know you. But what does that mean anyway? Heck, I don't know. How can one man know another man's mind? They cannot. Not really. All they can really know is our love, right?

Anyhoo...guess what? I do NOT like to debate. I fight against debating. I want to debate debating. Lol Wait-actually I DO like to debate...let me explain.

We shall use the defintions of debate offered up by Dictionary.com for our purposes. There are 14 definitions but we only need two.

1. a discussion, involving opposing viewpoints: to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like)

2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.

So here are two forms of debate.

I do not like to do the first and I do like to do the second. One could not be further from the truth and perhaps that is why it perplexes me that I am perceived that way.

But the other form of debate, sure! To 'argue' the postive and negative ideas or sides of an issue? Fun! And give me either side too...no problem. That is what debating is to me. And I do like to do it.

But to argue my point? Never. I mean it is never my INTENTION to argue my point...state the facts sure. But not ARGUE them. As most of you DO know, I much prefer to stay out of it! If I am even the least bit unsure of the fact, I will not oft state it. But if I am sure then stand I will. I have to! I'm CALLED to, in love. If I sometimes do not do it gently enough, I am truly sorry and will certainly watch that. Of course, I continually ask to stay out of the thing anyway. Because to me? The ensuing argument would become foolish...if one argues a FACT, then it is foolishness, yes? Discuss it? Sure. Teach it? Sure. But debate it in argument? Never.

So no, I do not like to argue the facts, it is pointless, is it not? But on the factual side of things I do not even have to argue. And again, do you have to argue facts at all? Me thinks not. They simply stand.

Back to 2 Tim...2:23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will.

To debate something for "fun" I would have to: not care about the issue, not have a stance on the issue and/or be able to see both sides of the issue and not consider one side factual or care if it was. Like: Which is the best candy bar Snickers or Twix. I would day Snickers, because it is FACT. (haha) But I do not care if it is fact or not so give me the Twix side and I'll debate it all the same.
But on 100% you know, like you know, like you know issues? Why argue? It's a fact. One believing it or not believing it is not going to change the FACT so if YOU want to argue it, leave me OUT of it. Lol

THe key to any good ability to teach I think, is to be able to really listen well and have a teachable spirit. One must be willing to LEARN new things. I LOVE when my mind gets changed about things. And it does. A LOT. But rarely on factual issues. Are they facts because I say so? Nope. The only facts I can stand on comfortably are God's Words. Fully understood, in proper contextual perspective and applied correctly.
Other than those, I know nussing.