Controversy is Inevitable
For those of you who have read my blog for any length of time, you know I like good discussions. I think that in-depth discussions on issues from a Biblical perspective is healthy, challenging, and motivating. It forces me to think, search the Scriptures, and talk to my husband. It helps to further shape my worldview. And, I hope it causes you to do the same as well.
I know some people don't like controversy. Most of the time, I don't either. But, in this day and age, controversy is inevitable. We cannot just sit on the sidelines. We cannot just blindly accept or tolerate sin in the name of "love."
Yes, we should love. Yes, we should overlook. Yes, we should forgive. But, we should also be holding up every area of our lives in the light of Scripture. We should be examining everything and asking "What sayeth the Scriptures."
In light of that, there are often controversial subjects brought up on this blog. It is not because I just want to pick a fight or because I am overcritical. Maybe it might seem that way, but in my heart, I really just want to challenge us all to think through things Biblically.
At the same time, this blog is not just about confronting the culture. I want to be encouraging, equipping, and edifying other women. I want this blog to be a place of beauty, of blessing, of refreshment. Sometimes we need to battle the evil head on. Sometimes our best response is just to live a God-glorifying life in our homes and to focus on raising our children to do the same. I'm still learning to find the balance.
If you disagree with the conclusions I've come to, that's okay. I'll still love you. :) If you feel that I am in sin or being inconsistent, I hope you will love me enough to come to me and share that with me. I have much left to learn. I am working on cultivating a meek and quiet spirit. When someone comes and shares an area in my life where they feel I need to work on or something that I believe which they believe to be unbiblical, I want to listen and learn. I can't promise I'll always agree with you, but I will listen and pray about it and talk to my husband.
Let us "provoke one another to love and good works." Let us "sharpen" each other and spur each other on to live a more holy life in the sight of God! May we always be striving to be "set apart" to glorify the Lord!
I thank God for each one of you who have been such a challenge and encouragement to me! God is using you to conform me more unto His image.
I know some people don't like controversy. Most of the time, I don't either. But, in this day and age, controversy is inevitable. We cannot just sit on the sidelines. We cannot just blindly accept or tolerate sin in the name of "love."
Yes, we should love. Yes, we should overlook. Yes, we should forgive. But, we should also be holding up every area of our lives in the light of Scripture. We should be examining everything and asking "What sayeth the Scriptures."
In light of that, there are often controversial subjects brought up on this blog. It is not because I just want to pick a fight or because I am overcritical. Maybe it might seem that way, but in my heart, I really just want to challenge us all to think through things Biblically.
At the same time, this blog is not just about confronting the culture. I want to be encouraging, equipping, and edifying other women. I want this blog to be a place of beauty, of blessing, of refreshment. Sometimes we need to battle the evil head on. Sometimes our best response is just to live a God-glorifying life in our homes and to focus on raising our children to do the same. I'm still learning to find the balance.
If you disagree with the conclusions I've come to, that's okay. I'll still love you. :) If you feel that I am in sin or being inconsistent, I hope you will love me enough to come to me and share that with me. I have much left to learn. I am working on cultivating a meek and quiet spirit. When someone comes and shares an area in my life where they feel I need to work on or something that I believe which they believe to be unbiblical, I want to listen and learn. I can't promise I'll always agree with you, but I will listen and pray about it and talk to my husband.
Let us "provoke one another to love and good works." Let us "sharpen" each other and spur each other on to live a more holy life in the sight of God! May we always be striving to be "set apart" to glorify the Lord!
I thank God for each one of you who have been such a challenge and encouragement to me! God is using you to conform me more unto His image.
posted by Crystal Paine at 1:32 PM
16 Comments:
Crystal, I guess I never thought of your posts as controversial, but maybe that's because I agree with you most of the time. :>)
I think reading a blog is as personal as visiting in one's home. If I go to your home, I expect you to express your views and if I didn't agree I would enjoy a discussion without getting offended or angry. And if you came to my home, I would think you would act the same way.
Even Christians never agree on everything. My husband and I have been married for nearly 25 years and usually agree on most things. But at the moment we're in the middle of an issue where we are taking opposite sides. But we're being loving about it. I'm sure it will all work out in the end, as long as we keep God at the head of the issue.
Crystal, I too don't really think of your posts as controversial in how they come across to me. But I know that some of the discussions that occur can be to those who don't agree.
I think you handle it in a loving and truthful way. If you don't agree, you say so...but not hatefully. I think that your post should give those who might think you are trying to be contentious, a better understanding of you.
I keep coming back here because I like what you have to say and I often agree. Not only that, but you make me think and consider what I believe. Is it biblical? Am I honoring God? Am I letting my husband lead? These are questions that each of us need to consider. Thank you for making me think.
Crystal:
You have done a fabulous job of striking a balance between provoking Christians to think and act based on loyalty to Christ. Controversy is one thing, contention is another. I have never seen contention here on your site. I do believe your gentle and meek spirit shine through. I want to encourage you to keep up the good work. I love your blog!! It is very edifying. When we clothe ourselves with Christ, speaking on sensitive issues can be done in a loving, edifying way. You certainly do this. On the other hand, I have noticed others who clothe themselves with pride and my how contentious they can be. You do not fall with in this category.
Crystal, I agree with both huskerbabe, and sommer. I don't find your blog very controversial at all. I find it encouraging, and insightful.
I came across your site a few months ago, quite by accident(I didn't even know what a blog was). I took special interest in your article about marriage being a blessing not a bondage! Now I read your blogs almost daily, and even though I don't comment very much, I really appreciate your thought provoking posts. Reading your posts has helped me realize what it means to be a woman from a Biblical stand-point (hence the title "Biblical Womanhood Online"lol)as opposed to what the societal stand-point is.
I just wanted to thank you for always sticking to your convictions, even if others find it "controversial" at times.
I agree with your post.
I don't understand why some Christians think we should 'all agree' when we have very different beliefs! How can two walk together except they be agreed? For me, knowing that many, many people have died for the things I believe in won't allow me to accept as 'okay' the exact opposite of that. The truth is much to dear to let it be pushed aside as not as important as 'love'.
Well said! I, for one, am happy that you post about "controversial topics" because sometimes they challenge the way that I look at things...and that's good! It's also very encouraging to see that other people (i.e. you, for one) believe similarly to what I believe on those topics that many people disagree with me on...so thanks! I enjoy your blog very much!
Crystal, in light of that sweet post, I was just wondering...is there an e-mail you've forgotten to reply to?
I agree with everyone whose posted. These issues are not controversal, they are real, real to the Christian and we discuss and give our opinions in an honest manner. So, Crystal, prayerfully keep up the great work as the Lord leads. He knows each and every one of our hearts and what's on our minds, and what needs to be strengthened in our walk with Him. Blessed day!
Yikes. I'm sure my comments have at times brought the controversial aspects of certain posts to the fore, but it's honestly never occurred to me to see controversy as a bad thing. Maybe it's because I'm a lawyer in an adversarial system, but I tend to think that the confrontation of two differing views to be an endlessly fascinating and useful exercise. At my last office, we used to have a tradition called "Controversy Friday," when we'd all go out for drinks after work and hash out a lot of the most controversial issues in our country, a lot of the same ones discussed on this blog. People looked forward to Controversy Friday all week!
I, too, would agree with many of the comments above, and would only add this: Iron sharpens iron. I believe that if God would use us as warriors in His Kingdom, He would have us be in the world, but not of it. That is going to spark controversy unavoidably. It will be offensive to some people. There is a necessary offense to the Gospel, that being the statement that we are sinners in need of God's saving grace, and that we cannot save ourselves. That message is offensive, because it is not the American way, but it is most necessary.
The other thing I should like to mention is that, indeed, the Bible does say we are to be like-minded in Philippians 2. We should grow towards an agreement on all things, and what we agree on should be whatever the Bible says. But there should be no merely human coercion involved with that. That was the mistake of the Spanish Inquisition. No, by prayer, Bible-reading, preaching, argumentation, debate, etc., are we to come to a like mind. The Holy Spirit will work in connection with those things.
In Christ.
I enjoy the discussion. No one is ever going to agree 100% of the time, but that makes it interesting. It's nice to have perspectives and learn things I didn't know before...
Cheers!
Crystal, your words about the "controversies" you sometimes offer for debate are inviting- so why do you continually express such annoyance when the conversations really get going- ("I'm not planning to let The End of the Spear discussion dominate my blog..")?
Thank you for the sweet comments, everyone. You brightened my day!
Anonymous, I don't mind the discussions at all, just don't want them to overrun my blog. :)
I agree with your comments on this issue, Crystal. I appreciate the insightful comments you offer on my blog when a discussion is underway. My main consideration recently has been the manner in which I have handled controversy. God wants us to "speak the truth in love" and to proclaim His truth with "meekness and fear." I think I fall short in the "love" and "meekness" departments sometimes. I want to boldly and rigorously assert the truth, but I don't want to get in over my head with arguments I do not grasp, and I don't want to assert my arguments in an inappropriate way.
Another thing I have considered recently is how far to push issues when people disagree with me. Sometimes the comments extend to 50, 60, 70, or 80 comments amongst just a few people. There seems to come a point when I just have to decide not to debate anymore. If a person won't listen and rationally, Biblically deal with my arguments, what good is the discussion? The problem is that I want to try to refute every falsehood I see. Perhaps this is just pride or a desire to assert my own supremacy as a debater.
Anyway, just thought I would add my thoughts about this. Having been in several intense discussions on my blog, this issue has been on my mind a lot recently. I agree that we should not let controversy "overrun" our blogs. Thanks again for your post.
Thanks for taking time to comment, Caleb. Keep up the great work and insightful commentary on your blog.
As a Muslim, I find your blog to be very interesting. It is amazing how much the 2 religions have in common with regards to marriage etc. In my faith, women are equal to men, but different, and were created for different things. Your blog reminds me sometimes to let my husband "lead".
I see no controversy. What I see is Conservative Thinking which bothers some people, I think.
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