Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person (by Kevin DeYoung)

Kevin DeYoung has a great post up right now that is convicting, but helpful too:

I won’t restate his entire post, but will instead encourage you to click through and read it for yourself. Here are a few of the “distinguishing marks” he mentions, though:

– You defend every conviction with the same degree of intensity. You don’t talk about secondary issues, because there are no secondary issues.

– You are quick to speak and slow to listen. You rarely ask questions and when you do it is to accuse or to continue prosecuting your case. You are not looking to learn, you are looking to defend, dominate, and destroy.

– Your only model for ministry and faithfulness is the showdown on Mount Carmel. There is a place for sarcasm, but when Elijah with the prophets of Baal is your spiritual hero you may end up mocking people instead of making arguments.

– You never give the benefit of the doubt. You do not try to read arguments in context. You put the worst possible construct on other’s motives and the meaning of their words.

– You are unable to sympathize with your opponents.

– Your first instinct is to criticize. Your last is to encourage.

– You derive a sense of satisfaction and spiritual safety in being rejected and marginalized. You are constitutionally unable to be demonstrably fruitful in ministry and you will never affirm those who appear to be. You only know how to relate to God as a remnant.

– You have never changed your mind on an important matter.