Using Alpha Power to Deal with Arguments

UV 2927/10000 Using Alpha Power to Deal with Arguments

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

2 Timothy 2 v 23

Scripture or Alpha power requires us to avoid arguments. In the book of Proverbs, it is written that the best place to stop an argument is at the very start of it just as the breach of a dam produces most damage. It could lead to a breach or irreparable damage to our relationships. Scripture describes different types of arguments that are vain, fruitless or useless: arguments with fools on irrelevant matters, arguments with a spouse, arguments with our children, arguments with rivals, opponents and enemies. None of these arguments are profitable or useful to anyone except to produce strife. Arguments rob us of our peace of mind and are a tool of the enemy who is described by Jesus as a “robber.” Arguments escalate into full fledged disputes, quarrels and harm relationships when emotions on both sides are involved. Arguments usually arise out of a feeling that one knows better than others. Our egos are involved and we do not want to lose the argument as if our very lives depended on the outcome. Instead, if we humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts and minds of the person or persons arguing, it would be more effective.

But Jesus had discussions and conversations with a variety of people including the learned and scholarly in the temple when He was barely twelve. The apostles too had debates and discussions with a variety of people- seekers, believers, doubters, persecutors, authorities. But the distinction between an argument and a discussion is that the former unlike the latter produces more heat and sound than light. Disciplining our minds to identify which is an useful discussion and which is an useless argument will keep us out of a lot of quarrels. We should avoid discussions on the minor or peripheral issues of faith and life and focus on the major issues. In discussions on matters of faith, we should prefer to win the person and loose the argument. Not only should we avoid arguments but we should act as the peace maker when a wordy quarrel breaks out in our midst.

Scripture also specifically exhorts us to shun profane or vulgar discussions, coarse joking. We are asked to be sagacious not salacious, approved by the Lord not popular with people. The tongue of the human is described as a rudder, our attitudes are the sails, our mind is the helm that gives direction to our lives, our anchor is Christ. Our words give direction and balance to our lives. The Alpha power of Christ gives us stability. In normal times, the anchor lies in the boat but when the boat rests in a harbour or in a storm, the anchor lies at the bottom of the water. It implies that we need to be accompanied by Christ when we are moving our tongues and when we are alone and resting as well as when we are confronting a storm- a quarrel or an internal crisis, we should fix our minds deep in Christ, our anchor.