For 30 years, I have preached and written my convictions regarding the Bible, the church, etc., and for 30 years, people have “disagreed.” Catholics, Mormons, Protestants, and occasionally my brethren “disagree.” That doesn’t bother me – much. At least not enough to cause me to squelch my honest convictions and “sell out” to majority opinions.<\/p>\n
Sometimes one disagrees and proceeds to teach me more perfectly the way of truth. I find I have been wrong. Now I dislike being wrong, but not as much as I dislike teaching error. Changing to the truth is a pleasure, and I am grateful to my teacher.<\/p>\n
Thirty years of disagreement have taught me something else. Some people say they “disagree” when in reality they know so little about the subject that they can’t explain their own position and know even less about mine. Perhaps they were born in the objective mood and “kickative” case; or, more likely, I have pointed out the error of their ways, and they want to keep going the way they are, regardless of truth or consequences.<\/p>\n
Honest disagreement, based upon convictions established through careful study of God’s word, is honorable. I can respect such disagreement even when I am reasonably sure my opponent is in error. Two such persons can study together to profit and will be anxious to do so.<\/p>\n
But there is no honor, and I have little respect for the person who seeks to discredit my work with prejudicial name-calling or the glib use of weight-swinging “I disagree.”<\/p>\n
You “disagree” with what? Is there a fallacy in my reasoning? Have I misused the Scriptures? Have I overlooked some Bible truth that would alter my conclusion? Give me a specific point of disagreement, and I will be happy to consider it.<\/p>\n
A fellow once wrote that all I had said was true (he flattered me), but he feared it would lead to error. Hm! Truth never leads to anything but truth. To fear the consequences of truth is cowardice of the first order, and our disagreement is with God. Let such a one rather fear Hell.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Robert F. Turner via The Gospel Guardian, Vol. 17, 1965, page 205 For 30 years, I have preached and written my convictions regarding the Bible, the church, etc., and for 30 years, people have “disagreed.” Catholics, Mormons, Protestants, and occasionally my brethren “disagree.” That doesn’t bother me – much. At least not enough to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1002,1200],"class_list":["post-95675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-correction","tag-disagreements"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":95184,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-to-have-compassion-and-conviction\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":0},"title":"How to Have Compassion and Conviction","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Wolfgang via InLight Media Many Christians feel the tension between standing firm in biblical truth and showing genuine compassion to those who disagree. But what if that tension is actually by design? In this video, Steve Wolfgang discusses what the Bible actually teaches about holding conviction and compassion\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video"","block_context":{"text":"Video","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/video\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92692,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-everything-is-personal-now-and-why-disagreement-is-treated-like-sin\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":1},"title":"Why Everything Is Personal Now\u2014and Why Disagreement Is Treated Like Sin","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. We are living in an age when disagreement is no longer viewed as a difference of thought-it is treated as a moral failure. If you don't hold my position, you are not just wrong\u2026you are evil, unloving, or sinful. Every discussion is personal. Every debate is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43171,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/time-for-churches-of-christ-to-fellowship-other-groups\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":2},"title":"Time for Churches of Christ to Fellowship Other Groups?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wes McAdam via\u00a0Radically Christian This is a hard post to write. I realize what I'm about to say may be misunderstood or misconstrued. But as difficult as it is to find the right words, this is something that must be said. In fact, I believe there is no greater\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55563,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-church-will-never-be-the-same\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":3},"title":"The Church Will Never Be the Same","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 7, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bob Plunket via The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 3, May\/June 2009. Several years ago, Time Magazine carried an article, with the caption, \"The Church Will Never Be The Same,\" because, they say, \"The baby boomers are coming back to church.\" The article said among other things, \"These returnees are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/11\/hippies-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":81519,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-men-disagree\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":4},"title":"When Men Disagree","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Adapted by Raymond Warfel From \"When We Disagree\" by Mike Willis Guardian of Truth, XL:9, p. 2, 2 May 1996 Brethren do disagree from time to time despite their desire to be united in the Spirit. We are not likely to remove all areas of disagreement any more than we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47781,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-we-disagree\/","url_meta":{"origin":95675,"position":5},"title":"When We Disagree","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Be generous.\u00a0Assume the best first. Don't assign evil motives to other parties. They may have intended something else. Let the principles of love guide our discussions (I Cor 13:4-8). Be respectful.\u00a0Don't begin a response by insulting and insinuating that the other parties are intellectually deficient. 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