Choosing Your Battles Wisely

Likewise, there are lots of reasons an unbeliever can "invite Jesus into their heart" other than faith alone in the saving work of Christ alone. So ask yourself one more question. What sense does it make to carefully quote the Bible verse by verse to the unbeliever about why they need to be saved, and then when it comes time to actually show them how, when it comes time for the most important part of the gospel, you tell them to do something that can be found nowhere in the Bible?

My point here isn’t to go off on a tangent and discuss the true gospel message. I could give several sermons on that topic alone. Rather, it’s that a professed Christian such as "Brother Jim" will argue about what Bible version a Christian should use, but doesn’t try to share the gospel correctly in the tracts he hands out.

The bottom line is, which is more important? Even if he were right about his "King James only" viewpoint, he’s not being careful about something that is far more important, that is, what someone has to do to be saved. The issue of "salvation" has eternal consequences for the unbeliever. The issue of what Bible version I use falls way behind that in priority.

In the end, what good is having the "right" Bible version, it you’re still sharing something as simple as the gospel wrong? What good is having the King James Bible, if you die and go straight to hell after you’re done reading it, because you "invited Jesus into your heart" without ever believing that He died on the cross for your sins?

So the topic of this message, "Choosing Your Battles Wisely," concerns just how we as Christians can decide when to discuss or not discuss what we believe with a fellow Christian, especially one who differs with us. This is not often an easy thing to decide, but I’m going to share some Biblical and practical principles that might help you decide.

PRINCIPLES IN CHOOSING YOUR BATTLES

The first principle taught in the Bible is,

1. DON’T ARGUE

Most of us know not to argue with an unbeliever while sharing the gospel. We’re told why in 1 Cor. 2:14-16:

1 Cor 2:14-16

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. NAS

Jesus knew not to argue with unbelievers, as we can see in an incident from Mark 8:11-13:

Mark 8:11-13

11 And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.

12 And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."

13 And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. NAS

The Pharisees were not interested in questioning Jesus because they had an honest, humble desire to know Him better. Their intent was just to argue with Him, and Jesus knew it. I love Jesus’ reaction at the beginning of Mark 8:12, where He responds to them by "sighing deeply in His spirit." How often, when we try sharing the gospel with someone who only wants to argue with us, do we "sigh deeply in our spirits"?