{"id":10380,"date":"2013-04-07T10:47:51","date_gmt":"2013-04-07T02:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/?p=10380"},"modified":"2013-04-07T10:48:43","modified_gmt":"2013-04-07T02:48:43","slug":"winning-battle-losing-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/winning-battle-losing-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Winning the Battle, Losing The War"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t7 April 2013 by Lim Poh Ann-\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tOne may win an argument but it is useless if one loses a long-term relationship.<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tIdeally, two factions should be able to engage in healthy debate without any acrimony or ill-feeling*. But once the more mature party senses the argument is getting out of hand, it is better to stop the discussion. \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tThe reason is this: Some people tend to be emotional and attack others at a personal level. They are not able to focus on the issue in question.\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tOne may win the argument (win the battle) but it is useless if one loses the long-term relationship (loses the war). Friendship is to be cherished more than a desire to appear wise or correct.\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:17-18).\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tIt is important to grasp the fact that people, in general, tend to be opinionated by virtue of their upbringing (family or religious background) and exposure to different schools of thought.\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tAn issue can be seen in so many different ways. People tend to think they are right until another viewpoint is presented:\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\tThe one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him (Proverbs 18:17).\n\t<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tSo it’s better to be silent and listen to opposing viewpoints; not just wait for the other person to stop talking so that you can shoot your point at him or her. Like a parachute, our mind works only when it is open.\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tPaul’s instruction to young Timothy is noteworthy:\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\tDon’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth (2 Timothy 2:23-25).\n\t<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\tIf you sense an argument is getting nowhere – and, believe me, tempers can become frayed – keep your cool, smile and walk away as friends while you’re still able to.\n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t* Let us keep in mind this saying: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire. We may have to agree to disagree sometimes. \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n
\n\t \n<\/div>\n

\n\tDear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you. Amen.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \n<\/p>\n

\n\tReferences for pictures:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\thttp:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/argument+arguing+argue1.jpg<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n\thttp:\/\/dateline.ucdavis.edu\/photos_images\/dateline_images\/110810\/Voices_W6.jpg<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n\thttp:\/\/secretcontents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/bird-in-a-gentle-hand.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

7 April 2013 by Lim Poh Ann-   One may win an argument but it is useless if one loses a long-term relationship.   Ideally, two factions should be able to engage in healthy debate without […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10381,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[293,923,204,538,1178,77,891,1911,44,1910],"class_list":{"0":"post-10380","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-inspirational","8":"tag-christian","9":"tag-christian-in-malaysia","10":"tag-christianity","11":"tag-christianity-malaysia","12":"tag-church-in-malaysia","13":"tag-jesus","14":"tag-jesus-in-malaysia","15":"tag-losing-the-war","16":"tag-malaysia","17":"tag-winning-the-battle"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10380"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10380\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}