Foolish Controversies
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Titus 3:9 (NIV)
Paul tells Titus avoiding foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, law quarrels. Faith choosing battles. Not every theological fight deserves swords. Foolish controversies consume holy time with vain questions. The wise bypass doctrinal dead ends. Energy spent on folly misses gospel.
Because unprofitable and useless: the criterion is fruit, never fervor. Discussions never edifying divide. Inflated genealogies breed pride, never piety. Faith measures debates by profit: does it convert? comfort? edify? If not, avoid. Titus's time was worth souls; quarrels steal souls from essentials.
But avoid: apostolic orders of detour. Faith also says no: no to theological gossip, no to network polemics, no to imaginary-heresy hunts. Avoiding is no cowardice but strategy. Paul debated at Areopagus avoiding in Crete — discerning fields. Fight where harvests grow; ignore where only dust blows.
Today, filter your discussions: does this conversation edify anyone? Does this polemic convert or merely irritate? Mature faith abandons foolish threads embracing real people. Close contention tabs opening fellowship doors. Your peace outweighs your last argument.
And avoid the useless: focused faiths reap eternities. Avoid the useless today. Focused faiths reap. Skip quarrels. Stay focused. Love truth. Love truth and shun noise. Close tabs. Open doors.