Contention
(From my scripture study this morning)
Helaman 8
5 Therefore they did cry unto the people, saying: Why do you suffer this man to revile against us? For behold he doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction; yea, and also that these our agreat cities shall be taken from us, that we shall have no place in them.
6 And now we know that this is impossible, for behold, we are apowerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us. So...if you know that what Nephi is saying can't happen, why are you so bothered by his words? Just call him, "crazy" and keep walking...?
7 And it came to pass that thus they did astir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out: bLet this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent;
8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many, and he aknoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities;
9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things. Hmmm...we are told “contention is of the devil and not of God” but these people who are standing for truth are part of a “contention”. By definition, contention simply means there are two opposing points of view. By that, wasn’t there a great “contention” in heaven? Were we not exposed to opposing opinions and asked to choose? God did not do something to stop this contention and He was not sinning in allowing it. In fact, under His presiding authority there was a great “war in heaven” - certainly the greatest degree of contention there is would be called “war”. So it can’t be true that to avoid contention we are to stay silent in the face of it. or give in to it. I think in God’s eye’s there is contention whenever the devil stirs people up in opposition to God’s will and laws. That is why “contention is of the devil”. And we are to avoid contention by not letting Satan stir us up in opposition to God’s will and ways. But we are to always stand for truth and that will be in the midst of contention because the very fact that we have to take a vocal stand is because Satan has already captured the minds and hearts of the people. The seed of contention exists even before you open your mouth. But you are not the source of contention when you do. Satan is and those that allow him to capture their attention. This is very tricky and Satan is using it to keep us silent. Actually, if the voice of the people were always heard speaking truth and promoting good, the only contention we’d have is by those speaking against it and they would be the ones accused of causing the contention. But Satan has flipped it...and the vocal ones are promoting evil and making it look like those who speak for truth and good are the ones causing contention and then trapping them in the dilemma of keeping the commandment to stand for truth at all times, in all things, and in all places and the commandment to not be the source of contention. We really have to understand this correctly. Really...
6 And now we know that this is impossible, for behold, we are apowerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us. So...if you know that what Nephi is saying can't happen, why are you so bothered by his words? Just call him, "crazy" and keep walking...?
7 And it came to pass that thus they did astir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out: bLet this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent;
8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many, and he aknoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities;
9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things. Hmmm...we are told “contention is of the devil and not of God” but these people who are standing for truth are part of a “contention”. By definition, contention simply means there are two opposing points of view. By that, wasn’t there a great “contention” in heaven? Were we not exposed to opposing opinions and asked to choose? God did not do something to stop this contention and He was not sinning in allowing it. In fact, under His presiding authority there was a great “war in heaven” - certainly the greatest degree of contention there is would be called “war”. So it can’t be true that to avoid contention we are to stay silent in the face of it. or give in to it. I think in God’s eye’s there is contention whenever the devil stirs people up in opposition to God’s will and laws. That is why “contention is of the devil”. And we are to avoid contention by not letting Satan stir us up in opposition to God’s will and ways. But we are to always stand for truth and that will be in the midst of contention because the very fact that we have to take a vocal stand is because Satan has already captured the minds and hearts of the people. The seed of contention exists even before you open your mouth. But you are not the source of contention when you do. Satan is and those that allow him to capture their attention. This is very tricky and Satan is using it to keep us silent. Actually, if the voice of the people were always heard speaking truth and promoting good, the only contention we’d have is by those speaking against it and they would be the ones accused of causing the contention. But Satan has flipped it...and the vocal ones are promoting evil and making it look like those who speak for truth and good are the ones causing contention and then trapping them in the dilemma of keeping the commandment to stand for truth at all times, in all things, and in all places and the commandment to not be the source of contention. We really have to understand this correctly. Really...
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