2020-04-27 Coffee with Chris - Useless Debates

The speaker discusses the importance of avoiding pointless arguments, especially on platforms like Facebook. He advises to refrain from engaging in discussions that won't change anyone's mind and can lead to misunderstandings. Instead, he suggests having meaningful conversations with people directly or focusing on Jesus and loving others. The speaker acknowledges his own mistake of getting into an online debate and emphasizes the importance of thinking before speaking. He encourages fixing thoughts on positive and uplifting things and suggests addressing online issues only if necessary and if one is the right person to do so. Good morning and welcome to Coffee with Chris. Today I wanted to talk a little bit about Titus 3 9 where he says, do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. This is from the New Living Translation, puts it a little bit, a little bit plainly, I would say. And for me, where this hits home is as we're stuck at home and as we're searching through Facebook, there's a lot of people that probably are getting on their nerves right now. I know there is for me, saying a lot of crazy things, whether it be related to the circumstances of our day right now, or, yeah, I won't go into that, but we each have, we know the triggers in our own hearts, our own minds, that are things that frustrate us. You know, if that means get off Facebook for a bit and do something else, if that means you do have to unfollow some people that really just get on your goat, do it. Just avoid those foolish discussions. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't have healthy discussions about real issues. First of all, I'm just going to let you in on a little secret. You're never going to do that in a Facebook comment section. Never going to happen. People's minds will not be changed in online forum. It's very rare, if ever, and tone can be misunderstood. If you really want to have those meaningful discussions, phone somebody up. If they're not somebody you're close enough with that you would do that, then why are you having this discussion anyways, right? And it works beyond just online, right? It happens with those around us too. It's so easy to get ourselves, to drag ourselves into useless arguments about things that don't really matter, you know? And ultimately, the only thing that really matters is Jesus and loving one another, showing his example, and a big part of that is not getting sucked into pointless arguments. You know, Jesus didn't really waste his time trying to convince the Pharisees of things. He plainly stated the truth, and then he moved on. And I think we have to be able to remember that. And I'm speaking to myself, because full disclosure, I got into one of these useless debates online just yesterday. I looked at it and I was like, maybe I shouldn't have said this, that, or the other thing. Well, I can delete my comments, but the thing is, a bell cannot be unrung. Maybe you can delete your comments, but people have already read them. Maybe you can unsend that message, but people have already read them. The best thing to do is just don't say it. Just don't say something you're going to regret in the first place. Think before you speak. I know this is a hard thing for me and my extroverts, but I often speak before I think. And so we have to think about what we're going to say, and then say, and whether or not that's worth it, and whether or not we're just starting an argument. And let's focus on the things that speak life and joy and build people up. In Philippians 4.8 we read, and now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. And the thing that is the most excellent, the person who is most excellent and worthy of praise is Jesus Christ. Let's think on those things, the admirable, the lovely, the things that build up. And let's discuss those things with each other instead of, you know, starting an argument. If you see something that really bothers you online, think to yourself, does this need to be addressed? Do I need to be the one to address it? Because even if it's something that may need to be addressed, you might not be the one that that person is going to receive that from, because you don't really know them that well. Does it need to be addressed? Do you need to address it? Can you just move on and put some positivity out there instead? A few things to think about today. Anyways, good for you guys. God bless.