Generally, though, the "but" precedes something like, "Oh, sure, the Bible seems to say that but..." and then you'll hear why God didn't say it or "Yes, that's your interpretation but ..." and then you'll understand why you're dumber than a box of rocks while the wise ones have come up with a new and improved idea. That "new and improved" idea may be a new way of reading Scripture (as if the Holy Spirit failed all this time (John 16:13)) or it may be the reason why you ought to disregard Scripture altogether thanks to new and improved scholarship or even a new and improved revelation from God.
The Bible has a word for these "buts". It calls them "speculations". At least, my translation does.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5)Paul describes here a warfare in which we (believers) are engaged. It is not, despite well-meaning apologetics fans, a battle fought with weapons of the flesh. It isn't a fight of wits or better logic or newly uncovered evidence or the like. It is a spiritual battle which must be fought with spiritual weapons. It is with divine weapons against "fortresses". Those fortresses are "speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God." Make no mistake. That friendly fellow who wants to enlighten you about how God doesn't actually exist or that Scripture doesn't actually say what it clearly says is not friendly. He is a son of his father, the father of lies. So your well-aimed logic and evidence may seem reasonable, but it misses the fact that it's not a discussion, it's war. He's not mistaken, he's blind (2 Cor 4:4). And offering better arguments will not alleviate the spiritual hostility (Rom 8:7).
I'd like to point out that in this graphic description of a war fought against fortresses of ideas, Paul suggests that "the enemy" isn't only "them". It is us, too. Do you see that? His concern isn't correcting them; it is "taking every thought captive." You see, whether or not you realize it, you and I suffer from fortresses of speculations that stand against God. They are our own. Each of us needs to constantly be vigilant to be taking our own thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. So when you think, "God, that's not fair!", recognize a fortress in yourself to be overcome. When you think, "Christ would never do" followed by stuff that Scripture said He did do, see in yourself a lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.
This warfare is critical. If you are not constantly in the business of destroying your own fortresses of speculations raised up against God--not constantly taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ--you will find yourself a Benny Hinn arguing for a "name it and claim it" god who gives you all you want ... unless you live in Bangladesh, apparently. Or a Rob Bell who went from a respected pastor to denying Jesus's words about Hell to denying God's words about marriage and homosexual sin. Or a Charles Finney, beloved by Christians as the father of modern evangelism[1], preaching that justification by faith is a "theological fiction", that the cross of Christ could not provide for justification of sinners, denying Original Sin, and defending the ability of the evangelist to bring about a changed heart. This is a war with ourselves as much as with anyone else, in which we need to align our thinking with Christ as much as we face their error.
"They" need help. It's true. And if our weapons are simply science, logic, and evidence, we will find ourselves poorly equipped because "they" aren't fighting a battle of logic. They're waging spiritual warfare and our weapons need to be divinely powered. The problem is compounded by our own spiritual warfare in our own sinful hearts. So wage war first with your own errors. Use liberally with the Word of God illuminated by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 2:7). Because this isn't a civilized debate we're having; it's a fight.
Postscript
I wrote this a few days ago and then came across this quote from Charles Spurgeon. He is speaking about the love for the Word of God and our need to simply take hold of it.
If you will not eat the apples that grow on trees, you must not expect angels to come and bring them to you!While it is true that some Scriptures are difficult to figure out, the simple fact is that most is quite clear. The question then is will you eat the apples that are there, or will you wait for some angel to feed it to you? Will you say, "I can't comprehend it" and warn others away, or will you follow with, "Nevertheless I believe it" and change your own heart? Will you ask, "Did God say ...?"[2] or will you align yourself to it?
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[1] Did you know that Charles Finney was the originator of the "altar call"? It was he who pushed for the "Just come on down the aisle" approach in revival meetings, something most of us take for granted today.
[2] For anyone unclear on what I'm referring to when I say, "Did God say ...?", please refer to Genesis 3:1.
[2] For anyone unclear on what I'm referring to when I say, "Did God say ...?", please refer to Genesis 3:1.
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