Ligonier Ministries has posted an excellent article which can help us think through how to speak and write about issues that are controversial within the Christian church. Some important values as I write articles for The GeoChristian include that I would communicate with grace and humility, that the body of Christ would be edified, and that non-believers would be pointed to Christ.
The article is Consider Yourself by Burk Parsons. Here are a few excerpts:
Controversy exists because God’s truth exists in a world of lies. Controversy is the plight of sinners in a fallen world, who were originally created by God to know the truth, love the truth, and proclaim the truth. We cannot escape controversy this side of heaven, nor should we seek to. As Christians, God has rescued us out of darkness and has made us able to stand in His marvelous light. He has called us to go into the darkness and shine as a light to the world, reflecting the glorious light of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And when light shines in darkness, controversy is inevitable.
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The difficulty comes when we try to discern truth from error in the church of Christ.
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“What will it profit a man if he gains his cause and silences his adversary, if at the same time he loses that humble, tender frame of spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made?” — John Newton
Parsons then offers ten questions to help us determine if and how we should engage in controversial issues. Some questions that are most applicable to our debates about Earth science include:
1. Have I prayed?
2. What is my motive?
3. Am I striving to edify others?
6. How will I treat the person with whom I disagree?
9. What is my ultimate goal?
10. Am I focused on God’s glory? (Are we serving God’s kingdom or our own kingdom?)
Doing these things, and doing them well, is more important to me than the age of the Earth, flood geology, environmental responsibility, or a host of other topics that surface from time to time here on The GeoChristian.
Grace and Peace
GeoChristian 
Thanks for posting this and your reminders in the past about how we are to dialogue on these things. I am reminded of your post in December on “Speaking the Truth in Love” and meant to comment then that it was very timely. I had to go back and look at my own words as I found myself getting too wrapped up in a number of discussions at the time. That helped me to get a better perspective again. This is yet another reminder of that which I know but often forget. Joel
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Thanks Joel. I have to remind myself of these things often.
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Thanks for another excellent posting!!
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Burk Parsons did most of the hard work of writing. It is up to us to do the hard work of loving one another even in the midst of controversy.
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Good post
please read and comment
http://eternaldiginity.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/real-dimension-of-man-and-woman/
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