Avoid Controversy

Published: Dec. 3, 2020, 8 a.m.

Sometimes I meet people who just love to argue. They are not particularly interested in what I have to say, but just make a controversial statement and invite me to defend my position. No way! I’m not going to get dragged into that.  Interestingly, Jesus Himself did a bit of a sidestep in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. We read in John chapter 4 that she rather argumentatively pointed out that her ancestors worshiped God there on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews said God should be worshiped in Jerusalem. Rather than digging into history to argue the matter, Jesus merely focused on the act of worship itself. He pointed out that who and how she worshiped was more important than where. Lately, I have been bringing up the cross of Christ when someone tries to drag me into an argument. That precious cross is where our faith begins and ends. Jesus died and then rose from the dead. He lives today. In fact, He has promised to live in anyone who will accept His gift of salvation and acknowledge Him as their Savior and Lord. That is the best news that we can share with someone. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This is Luis Palau.