Blaine wrote: > IT IS THE CONTENTION THAT LACK > OF AGREEMENT CAUSES!! This is of > Satan I would say. How would you categorize > contention?
The concept of contention is complicated. Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but a sword, and to set various family members at discord with one another. Nevertheless, he brings peace when people receive him. When people reject him, contention results. Now there is a work of the flesh that is contention also. A contentious spirit is of Satan. However, this does not mean that if I preach Jesus and people become contentious that I am of Satan. My preaching might cause contention, but it is because of the rejection of my preaching that the contention is stirred up. Note that lack of agreement does not necessarily cause contention. Whether or not contention results depends on what the implications of disagreement mean and the character of the person hearing the disagreement. If someone disagreeing with me perceives that I think that they are going to burn in the lake of fire, they might become contentious over that. However, another person might not become contentious over the same disagreement. Again, as I said previously, this concept about contention is complicated. Joseph Smith caused a lot of contention with his polygamy, his shady banks, with the selling of his new Scriptures, with his use of military force against the town newspaper, and with his running for President of the U.S.A. However, I suspect you would not consider him of Satan for all this contention he caused. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
