Why Christians Fight (And How to Stop)
Are you tired of Christians who seem more interested in winning arguments than winning souls? You're not alone.
Paul had the same problem in Corinth. After laying out fifteen verses of solid biblical teaching about God's design for men and women, he essentially said, "If you still want to fight about this, we're done talking."
The Problem with Contentious Christians
Here's what's amazing - some of the most contentious, argumentative people you'll ever meet are sitting in church pews every Sunday. They're not looking for truth or reconciliation. They're looking for a way to win, a way to come out on top.
Sound familiar? I used to be like that. Maybe you have been, too.
In 1 Corinthians 11:16, Paul writes: "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
Paul's basically saying: "Look, I've given you what the Holy Spirit inspired me to say. Now let's not fight about it."
What Contention Really Costs Us
Proverbs 29:9 tells us: "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."
No rest. That's the unsettling feeling you get around certain people. Nothing's really wrong, but there's just no peace. You shouldn't be that person at work, at home, or especially at church.
The truth is, when we're contentious, we're thinking about ourselves instead of the body of Christ. We're more concerned with being right than being loving.
The Solution: Unity Over Being Right
Ephesians 4:2-3 gives us the remedy: "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Here's what this looks like practically:
- Stop trying to win every argument - Some battles aren't worth fighting
- Consider the church body - Your unity matters more than your opinion
- Choose love over being right - Long-suffering and forbearing aren't just nice words
Remember, you're going to disagree with people. Your spouse won't see everything your way. Church members won't agree on every detail. That's normal. What's not normal is making contention your custom.
What's Actually Worth Fighting For
Don't misunderstand - there IS something worth contending for. Jude 1:3 says we should "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
Fight for the gospel. Contend with lost people about their need for Jesus Christ. Argue with the world about the truth of God's Word. But don't spend your energy fighting with other believers about secondary issues.
When someone gets saved and visits your church, they shouldn't see Christians bickering. They should see the unity and peace you promised them when you shared the gospel.
The Bottom Line
God's Word will challenge you. It's not designed to make you feel good about yourself - it's designed to change you from the inside out. When you read something that convicts you, don't get contentious with God. Just submit and obey.
As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19: "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God."
The external stuff doesn't matter as much as loving obedience to Christ.
🎧 📖 Want to dive deeper into this life-changing message?
This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful expository preaching on biblical unity. For the complete verse-by-verse Bible teaching and to hear the full context of these truths, I humbly encourage you to listen to the entire sermon. You'll be blessed by the thorough exposition and practical application of God's Word.