QT 31 Oct 16, 2 Pet 2:1-3, Wolves within

2 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV) — 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

NOTE: Peter promises there will be false teachers among you. So, they are not outside teachers whose teaching is misleading people, but teachers within the church. They secretly bring in destructive heresies--these are truths that destroy people rather than build them up in the knowledge of God. They use sensuality, and an unique "insight" that blasphemes truth (they know better). They are greedy and gain from their false teaching either financially or in pride and status. God promises to bring destruction upon them, which is why it is so important as a teacher to be constantly evaluating what we teach. The best protection is constant immersion in the word of God, and a deep and abiding relationship with the savior. We need to be on the watch for new ideas that have no basis in scripture, and especially if they violate other areas of scripture. The bible is the standard for truth in all cases.

QT 27 Oct 16, 2 Pet 1:9-11, Not growing, then the person is so nearsighted, he is blind to his salvation

2 Peter 1:9–11 (ESV) — 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

NOTE: The qualities (verse 9) are Christian growth areas (vs 5-7) that are achieved through a relationship with Christ centered on the word (vs 4) of God. Peter's portrayal of a Christian who is not growing ought to be a wake-up call for any believer--"so nearsighted, he is blind." On the other hand, if we practice (live) these qualities, the promise is that we will never fall, and that there is a reward in Heaven. I like the linkage between reward and not forgetting that we have been cleansed from our former sins. In my mind, that is the great beauty of the reward, it is a way to communicate to God "thank you" for such an unbelievable gift. I will not have anything of myself to say I deserved it, but I can say thank you by living in a way that brings God glory and honor here on earth.

QT 26 Oct 16, 2 Pet 1:5-8, The cycle of Christian growth

2 Peter 1:5–8 (ESV) — 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: The "reason," is the need to escape the corruption in the world. The tools are the promises of God, his word. The process is spiritual growth, a recipe that requires both the power of the Spirit (not mentioned here but mentioned in other passages) and human effort. And the process is cyclical, because one quality leads to another; and also because the author says that "if the qualities are yours and increasing," suggesting that even from the beginning step of faith, we are to increase more. So we are always or should always be in this cycle of growing our faith, then virtue, then knowledge, then self-control, then steadfastness, then godliness, then brotherly affection, and then finally love. As we discover weakness in our life, one of the interesting insights is that the problem may be on the preceding quality. So if I am struggling with brotherly affection, then maybe I need to step back and work more on godliness. I need to meditate more on the implications of this idea. Finally, when we are growing, the promise is that we will not be ineffective or unfruitful.

QT 25 Oct 16, 2 Pet 1:3-4, Granted the word to escape the corruption of the world

2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

NOTE: Observations from this passage suggest Peter is reminding us of our resources, our purpose, our tools, and our goals. Considering that this is his second letter, he may be responding to the persecution that he said we would experience. Peter's focus is still on the eternal and not physical, as evidenced by phrases such as the "partakers of the divine nature" and "escaped the corruption in the world." Much like the first book, where the word was our spiritual food, here we are "granted … his precious and very great promises." The word of God is our key to becoming partakers of the divine nature while we live on earth. The word needs to be our lifeline. The word needs to be our focus. This world will tear us down if we do not find an anchor in God's word. As believers, we absolutely need to be in the word of God on a daily basis -- THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE. The word of God is an absolute necessity to escaping the corruption of this world.

QT 24 Oct 16, 2 Pet 1:1-2, Leaders and laity have equal standing with God

2 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

NOTE: I don’t usually spend much time in the greeting, but in scripture, all scripture is God-breathed …. So, I wonder if Peter is making a couple of subtle points which may turn out to be important later in the letter. His first letter showed a depth of thought which was not evident when Peter followed Jesus during his earthly life. The thirty plus years have added wisdom to his soul. Here, Peter says that the recipients have obtained a faith of equal standing. This is key, because religions want to separate the leaders from the laity, and put some "holy" crown upon leadership. But Peter reiterates the scriptural truth: in Jesus, we are all equal before God. Secondly, a truism for all believers is that grace and peace is multiplied to us as we deepen our relationship with God. And that primarily happens in the word, in prayer, and in applying God's word to our life. It is true of leadership as well as laity. The secret of the Christian life is that we are all accepted in the savior, but that our relationship is deepened by time with God, and obedience to truth. We can grow in our relationship with God but we cannot grow in our favor or standing. The latter is completely the work of Christ.

QT 21 Oct 16, 1 Pet 5:12-14, Babylon represents a worldview that opposes Christianity

1 Peter 5:12–14 (ESV) — 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

NOTE: The "she" mentioned here is the church in the city, which is common in the writings. Babylon represents the worldview that is opposed to Christianity. John will use Babylon similarly in Revelation as both a physical location and also as a worldview. This is not say that Rome, where Peter was probably at the time, will be the future physical Babylon. It certainly is possible, but that would be reading too much into the passage. In some ways, Peter is repeating his previous argument. There is a worldview that is opposed to us while we live upon this earth, and he (Peter) is right in the middle of it. Today, he could have ended the letter similarly if he lived in New York or San Francisco or London or Paris. They are centers of a worldview that is ignorant and foolish in regards to the Christian faith. They consider it strange that believers do not join in with them in their activities. They don't know why we hold onto something they have reclassified as outdated and myth. They certainly don't want to know that there is a logical basis for faith or that the supposed myths have evidence to support them. They are foolish and so they wish to remain ignorant. They prefer to hang around people who believe as they do and heap abuse on those who hold onto an ancient and outdate worldview. They are the Elite! They stand above it all. And my heart breaks for their foolishness. Lord, open their eyes once again. Show them mercy. But I also pray, Come Lord Jesus, Come.

QT 19 Oct 16, 1 Pet 5:7-10, Life will be hard, but God cares--give him those worries

1 Peter 5:7–10 (ESV) — 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

NOTE: Peter has just called us to be prepared for, in fact not to be surprised of, suffering. It is going to happen, especially if we are the witnesses we should be for Christ. The world will hate us, but since this world is not our reward or home, we don't have to be concerned, we have a far better home awaiting us. So, in a last summary thought, Peter tells us not to worry. Of course, worry is natural and even normal, so we are told to cast all of our anxieties on him--God cares for us. We do need to be careful though. The enemy wants to destroy our witness. He will bring pressure on us and pain, but not at all unlike the suffering that is being experienced around the world. We will suffer, but we will be called to our eternal glory in Christ. Our lives will be restored, confirmed (as valuable), our new bodies strengthened, and we will be established in a new world. We can't imagine the future, but the promise is that it will be worth it.

QT 18 Oct 16, 1 Pet 5:5-6, When we are proud, we end up fighting God

1 Peter 5:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

NOTE: The elders are to show humility to the body, and the youngers are to show humility to the elders. And to emphasize this point, God says that he opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. If I am trying to do something for my glory or pride, I will find myself fighting against God. If I really want to do something for the kingdom, I have to be humble. For myself, that starts with always giving God thanks for successes. Secondly, for myself, it is acknowledging what God is doing in the situation. God should always get the praise, not me. God has given me gifts and abilities, but they are nothing without him working through me and I am nothing if he hadn't chosen to give those gifts. I need to get the focus off of me and onto him. I do not want to do ministry where I am fighting God.

QT 17 Oct 16, 1 Pet 5:1-2, Leaders are a unique witness

1 Peter 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

NOTE: At first glance these verses do not seem to fit in the context of the whole letter. Peter has brought his argument to a close in chapter 4. He has focused on suffering, our witness, our opposing worldview, and that our reward is in heaven, not here. We appear to move to some general instructions that are not specific to the theme but applicable in any discussion. The elders are the leaders of the church, and Peter was also an elder. They witnessed Jesus's suffering and they carry the hope for the future that allows them to live in this life as an foreigner and stranger. But they have an additional job, besides being a witness for Christ that lives under a different worldview, they have the responsibility to care (shepherd) the body of Christ. Even though it is a responsibility, they are to do it willingly and out of love. It is both a responsibility and a privilege. It is not done for material gain or prideful gain. And, that also is different from the way world leads or expects others to lead. In the world people have authority in order to exercise authority and to place themselves above others in importance. But that is not the way the church works. So, in one sense, the application of 1 Peter to the leaders is similar as to the body of believers. Life differently. Serve as an example of humility and love to the body.

QT 14 Oct 16, 1 Pet 4:12-19, We are here to be a witness to the ignorant and foolish

1 Peter 4:12–19 (ESV) — 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

NOTE: This seems to be Peter's summary argument. Don't be surprised if you suffer for having a Christian worldview and belief. It is not strange and it is to be expected. Jesus suffered too, because he upset the apple cart of Jewish religious belief and culture. Our judgment, if it is a judgment, is nothing compared to how God will judge the world for their unbelief. But the common theme of this letter remains, our witness, that is how we respond to insult, trials, and untrue accusations, is of utmost importance in changing the mind of the ignorant and foolish. They do not want knowledge or facts, but they can't ignore a life, especially a life lived for God.

QT 12 Oct 16, 1 Pet 4:9-11, If the Body of Christ uses their gifts for good, we can tear down the misconceptions of the ignorant and foolish

1 Peter 4:9–11 (ESV) — 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

NOTE: In context, Peter's letter has focused on the temporality of this life, the importance of being a witness, and the suffering we may experience because of our different worldview. I think the latter point (our suffering for a different worldview) is what this section expands. If we are suffering because we stand out, we need the body of Christ to support us. As believers, our common defining characteristic should be love ("they will know you are my disciples by your love"). But the key value of the body of Christ is that we each have specialized gifts. We are not just a collection of persons with a common belief, but we are unique and special in terms of what we can do to build up the body of Christ. In a certain sense, the body of Christ is both a sanctuary (for the believer) and a tool of outreach. We can do so much more together. And the body, in and of itself, can also be a witness for Jesus Christ. When we reach out during times of disaster employing our God-given gifts, we are also breaking down the misconceptions of the ignorant and foolish. They have tried to destroy Christianity by providing ignorant and foolish arguments, that at times defy logic and basic scientific principles. But our actions as a body, more so than our apologetic arguments (based on logic, philosophy,  and science), can do more good in changing the view of the unbelieving population toward Jesus, the church, and the word of God.

PONDER:

1) Part of the reason for ministry is to support our mutual outreach. For some of us, we are not involved and need to be involved in ministry to support each other. For all of us, we need to be reaching out to our community. How am I doing?

2) How can I use my ministry to support outreach?

3) How can I do better in outreach -- how can I identify with Jesus? How can I share my testimony of salvation? How can I serve a neighbor and established a connection?

PRAYER: Father, I want to serve you. I know that serving the body is how I can serve you. I want to be in the right ministry that supports and builds up the body. I also want to reach out to my neighbors and be a witness for Jesus in the places you have placed me. Give me grace and strength to follow through on those commitments. Amen.

QT 11 Oct 16, 1 Pet 4:8, Love him even if he will not love you back

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV) — 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

NOTE: We can do a lot of stupid things and there is no guarantee that a person will forgive us. But we can do one thing (besides confessing) which will please God, improve our witness, and quite possibly change the relationship we have with the individual we hurt, and that is to love the person. How do you love a person you have hurt, who won't have anything to do with you, even after you've apologized or attempted to apologize? The first thing is to regularly pray for the person. I can't think of anything more loving than to pray for someone. The second thing is to always defend him and talk of him glowingly. Yes, he hasn't forgiven you, but you don't need to mention that since that would be gossip. Third, you need to wait upon the Lord for an opportunity to serve the person. If you are really committed to loving, you will think of a way to serve him, maybe without him even knowing. Who knows what God will do if you are committed to love.

QT 10 Oct 16, 1 Pet 4:7 The degree of our acceptance of this world's culture directly affects our fellowship with God

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV) — 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

NOTE: Most believers through history have felt they were living close to the end times. And actually there is nothing inconsistent with that thinking. It is based on a doctrine of imminence, that is, the Lord's return is imminent and we should live as if it is going to happen at any moment. Additionally, Jesus said that no one knows the time or hour of the Lord's return. While we can never lose the love of God or our standing as children of God (we are adopted into God's family upon faith), our prayers can be hindered by our sin. The world, the culture, that finds it so bizarre that we won't join in with them in their sin, tries to tempt us to live like they live. But, in many ways, their life includes many sinful activities. And sinful activity affects our fellowship with God the father, and consequently then, our prayers. We become ineffective to the greater degree that we become like the culture, because this world view (this culture) is opposed to God in nearly every way possible. Like Adam and Eve, they are opposed to his rule or authority. They deny him as creator. They deny his instructions on how to use our bodies or how to live life. Falling in with our culture severely corrupts our relationship with God. Thankfully, there is confession and repentance for the child of God, and mercies that are new every day (Lam 3:23).

QT 7 Oct 16, Gal 3:1-5, Do we really understand how great God's love for us is?

Galatians 3:1–5 (ESV) — 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

NOTE: It is important not to dismiss Paul's urgency and emotion to a Type A personality or an overly aggressive style of relating. Paul has already related a public rebuke of one of the pillars of the church, Peter; he has implicated Barnabas in the same fault; and his opening comments are unique among his letters in the absence of any good or encouraging comments. Now, Paul calls the Galatians foolish (a mindless person) and bewitched (tricked by black magic). Next, his imagery of Jesus brings up the importance and key point of his whole argument -- why do you think Jesus had to die? Or what did Jesus die for? The Christian life is obtained by faith (our justification) and lived by faith. We certainly can please God with our actions or works, but we cannot obtain any more favor or love from God than what we obtained when we put our faith in Christ. We cannot lose that love or favor. We are his children now, adopted sons and daughters, and joint heirs with Jesus. We do live life on this earth to do his work and to glorify him. We are here to be witnesses. Our actions do affect our reward and can hinder or help our prayers, but NOTHING changes how much God loves and favors us. No matter how deeply we might disappoint God or fail him, his love for us remains. That should be a comfort, and a great motivation. How amazing and deep the love of God that nothing can separate us from it! We must never ever think we can earn it by works or actions -- God forbid. Else, we don't really understand how great that love really truly is.

QT 6 Oct 16, 1 Pet 3:21-22, We are so undeserving of such a great salvation

1 Peter 3:21–22 (ESV) — 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

NOTE: Just as Noah and his family were rescued by passing through the waters in the ark, so we as believers in Jesus Christ are saved by baptism, a both physical and spiritual process. The physical aspect of baptism does not save us, but it is commanded by the Lord Jesus and is a picture of the spiritual aspect of baptism. When we put our faith in Jesus, our sins are buried with him, our current spiritual bodies are raised again with an indwelling Holy Spirit, and our future bodies will be raised from the grave to an imperishable shape. Belief in Jesus is our spiritual baptism where we are reborn by the spirit, with a promise of a future rebirth of our physical bodies as well. Jesus death also gained us access to God, pictured by the tearing down of the curtain, which separated the people from the ark of the covenant. We are no longer separated from the ark. Jesus is our ark who carries us away from death and judgment because he took our place in court and paid our penalty for our sin. God did this all for us, and it was not because we deserved, because we didn't, but because he loved us. How amazing!

QT 5 Oct 16, 1 Pet 3:18-20, Jesus' death is our ultimate example of suffering for doing the right thing

1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV) — 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

NOTE: Focusing on verses 19 and 20, I should start out by saying that there are many different views as to what Peter meant. I will use the most straight-forward, common sense view, which is also a good principle in any use of hermeneutics. I think the flesh and the spirit are used most often to differentiate life on earth to life after death. When Jesus died, he descended, just as every single person in the OT did. He proclaimed the gospel to both sides of Sheol. To those in Hell, they failed to believe, it was a final sentence. To those in Abraham's bosom or paradise, he led the spirits out to Heaven, their new home. Those still in Sheol will be resurrected but not to life, rather to judgment, what is called the second death. In contrast are the eight who believed and boarded the ark, passing through the waters, which figuratively (next verse says "corresponds to") equates to baptism, or putting your faith in God, and now more specifically, putting your faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross for salvation. How did this happen? Because Jesus suffered for what he did not do, setting for us the ultimate example.

QT 5 Oct 16, 1 Pet 3:18-20, Jesus' death is our ultimate example of suffering for doing the right thing

1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV) — 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

NOTE: Focusing on verses 19 and 20, I should start out by saying that there are many different views as to what Peter meant. I will use the most straight-forward, common sense view, which is also a good principle in any use of hermeneutics. I think the flesh and the spirit are used most often to differentiate life on earth to life after death. When Jesus died, he descended, just as every single person in the OT did. He proclaimed the gospel to both sides of Sheol. To those in Hell, they failed to believe, it was a final sentence. To those in Abraham's bosom or paradise, he led the spirits out to Heaven, their new home. Those still in Sheol will be resurrected but not to life, rather to judgment, what is called the second death. In contrast are the eight who believed and boarded the ark, passing through the waters, which figuratively (next verse says "corresponds to") equates to baptism, or putting your faith in God, and now more specifically, putting your faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross for salvation. How did this happen? Because Jesus suffered for what he did not do, setting for us the ultimate example.

QT 4 Oct 16, 1 Pet 2:15-17, The beauty of faith is that we can choose to respond differently

1 Peter 3:15–17 (ESV) — 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

NOTE: Over and over again, Peter has emphasized our behavior to unbelievers and to one another. We will be misunderstood at times, but the key is how we respond because that is what shows our witness even stronger. It is not about being right or winning the argument; it is about doing right and winning the person. It is okay to suffer and be mistreated--that will happen to a child of God. It certainly will happen when we disobey laws of our country, but it can happen for no good reason. These are opportunities to be gracious. We have Christ in us. We have the power to choose a different course. We are no longer slaves to our sinful self. We have a choice, and that is the strength of our witness to others.

QT 3 Oct 16, 1 Pet 3:13-15, Defending the faith with kindness and respect

1 Peter 3:13–15 (ESV) — 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

NOTE: Peter's opening argument is that, for the most part, if you are zealous to do what is right, there is little chance of harm, either from an employee or another person. But, in fact, there are people who, for reasons of sin, do want to harm you to make themselves feel better or more important. But the promise of God, is that if you do what is right and suffer for it, you WILL BE blessed. And so, we don't need to fear the person or worry about what that person might be doing. In fact, our actions should lead to opportunities to defend the faith. But not in an emotional argument--that is not the way believers defend our faith. That is the way the world argues religion and politics with sharply heated emotional debates. For the believer, first, be prepared. We can't answer every argument and we don't have to. We can calmly say, "that is an interesting point; I am not an expert in that area and I would need to do further research to answer your statement. What sounds good, is often not as good as it might sound." Second, and if we do have the answer, then we give our reasons, but we do it with gentleness (calm and kind) and respect (absolutely no derogatory or accusative speech). Let's reason biblically and not as the word argues.