2007-10-21 18:39:25 · 9 answers · asked by Virginia B (John 16:33) 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To contend is to bark a warning.
To be contentious is to bite without first warning.
The Bible tells Christians to contend: 'Contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude verse 3). The right way to do it is as follows: 'Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that... you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries.' (Phil 1:27-30) Righteously contending for the faith entails conflict and suffering. It has to be done in God's power, for his glory.
The Bible says God contends with his enemies: 'The Lord said, 'My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.' (Gen 6:3) 'For I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.' (Isa 49:25)
Christians must contend without being contentious.
2007-10-21 21:57:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Contend - v.tr. To maintain or assert: "The defense contended that the evidence was inadmissible."
Contentious adj.
1. Given to contention; quarrelsome. See Synonyms at argumentative, belligerent.
2. Involving or likely to cause contention; controversial: "a central and contentious element of the book" Tim W. Ferguson.
2007-10-22 01:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by SafetyDancer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey sister:)
This is a very good question:)
Well.. to contend for the faith within the context of the verse of Jude 1:3 is to struggle for the Faith. There is a good cross reference in 1 Timothy 6:12
" Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on the eternal life to which you were called and have confessed the good confession before many witnesses"
This faith is not the subjective faith as our believing, BUT the objective faith as our belief, referring to the things that we believe IN, the contents of the New Testament as our faith ( Acts 6:7, 1 Tim 1:19 2 Tim3:8 Titus 1:13) in which we believe for our common salvation. THIS faith, not any doctrine has been delivered once for all to the saints. It is FOR this faith that we should earnestly Contend.
To be Contentious is tending to argument or strife.. quarrelsome. To be contentious with regard for the faith is not what i believe we should be as believers. This Objective Faith stands on its own. Nothing or no one can argue or change what God has set. We speak these Truths that have been given to us and when this is given God is able to put faith into people to believe into the truth. As believers I really think that we need to KNOW what we believe, By spending the time to labour on the truth in the word. We should be ready in and out of season to share something of the word with others.. but not by the way of arguing or being in strife. The source of strife is satan and the end result will be death and no fruit.
May we contend.. struggle to KEEP what we have been given not by way of arguing.. but by way of getting the truth deposited into us.. Where no one can take it away from us. ONe day the Logos may not be readily available to us as believers.. that day is coming.... but may we labour today, while we still have the word so free to us to get the good deposit.. and guard it inwardly.
1 Tim 6:20
" O Timothy, guard the deposit, turning away from profane vain babblings and oppositions from what is falsely called knowledge.
2 Tim 1:14
" Guard the good deposit through the Holy SPirit who dwells in us"
amen and amen
Your sister
sandy
2007-10-22 12:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't contending striving for something and contentious being a someone thats problemsome
2007-10-22 01:43:21 · answer #4 · answered by zindimale 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love Sasi and Kens response here. Pretty right one.
We are to contend for our faith, meaning to speak about it, defend it, and represent God while we live on this earth. We are to tell others about God and His Holy Word and we are to show that living for God can be done. PPL will slander the character of God, while we as Christians will vindicate His character, completely. CONTENDING< TO STAND UP FOR< MAKE THE POINT< STAND UP FOR> etc etc.
BEing contentious is only being divisive and argumenitive, and all of this depends on who is viewing things and the labels they use.
If I saw a child heading for the freeway, wouldnt I stop to warn them, bring them back to safety to their parents? OF course I would. Yet if I attempt to warn someone what happens when they wont accept Jesus into their heart, many will say I am being argumenitive or contentious. No, its only warning as God says to do, just as I would warn the little child headed for the freeway for absolute destruction.
Now, if another Christian saw me warn this person that wont let Jesus in, they wouldnt see it as contentious at all, they would say there is a lady that contends for her faith.
One could call me absolutely conservative, and another very liberal, in the things we do for God. Words used to describe, tear down, falsely label, have no part in the life of a Christian.
WE as Christians will do as GOD says, we will obey, and part of Gods commands are to tell the world the gospel of Jesus, all of it, to tell of how to get to Heaven and how to avoid hell. BEcause we love as God loves, we will always do that.
WE just pray one day ppl will not hate us and condemn us for what we do, but love us for loving them enough to give truth, even in the face of being mocked and hated for what we do and say.
God bless you, great thought provoker.........Thanks..
2007-10-22 09:39:15 · answer #5 · answered by full gospel shirley 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do you need to contend for the faith? Isn't it better to just tell explain why you believe something and not care if they accept it or not?
2007-10-22 01:46:36 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simple: If you come to visit me and I offer you a soft drink I am contending for hospitality. If you refuse my offer for the drink and I continue to demand you drink it then I am being contentious.
Party On Sis†
2007-10-22 12:31:31 · answer #7 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
one presents an argument..the other is just being argumentative
one presents a disagreement..the other is just being disagreeable
one is being sharp... the other is being a thorn
one is love..the other is hate
one educates..the other diminishes
one enlightens..the other darkens
one is wise ..the other foolish
one is good... one is evil
one is God's way..the other is man's way
2007-10-22 01:43:18 · answer #8 · answered by Kenneth 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
None.
Contentious faiths encourage contention.
2007-10-22 01:41:14 · answer #9 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋