Polemics

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Polemics is probably the most overlooked Christian discipline that is vitally important to all believers, and especially those who are leaders in the church. The word "discernment" is the most helpful thing in understanding what polemics are, but there is more to polemics than discernment.

Discernment is something that all Christians should have. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans as being more noble-minded because they didn't just take the Apostles word for it, they compared all that he was saying to what was written in the Word of God. There are countless warnings and imperatives for the Christian to follow concerning false and even heretical teaching. Discernment is a gift from God for those who are believers, but it is also something that all believers can learn, grow in, sharpen, and use.

Polemics takes discernment and uses it as a magnifying glass to examine what is taught or said in the name of God. You could say that Polemics is like apologetics turned inward, focused on defending our faith on the inside of the church rather than defending our faith against the world. It is probably the most hated discipline within the church because in order to practice polemics you must call out false teachers and false teaching.

Polemics gets a bad reputation because it is often used without love or wisdom. If polemics is practiced without love or wisdom you will only do more harm than good. It should be used to help God's people and unite them not break them down and confuse them. In understanding that polemics must be practiced with love and wisdom in order to edify the people of God, also understand that the very nature of polemics is critical. But that is okay because God not only expects us to be critical in the right way, but He commands for us to be.

It is good to attempt to find the source of a problem prior to formulating a resolution. And Polemics, in many ways, is a solution to a great problem. The great problem can be traced back to pride, preference, sin and compromise.