Dugger-Porter Debate.

LESSONS FROM DUGGER-PORTER DEBATE:

In our day to day life we’re engaged in debates over a number of issues both religious and secular. Elder A.N.Dugger has been said to be one of the greatest debaters in the recent history of the COG, severally I’ve gone through his debates the famous one being Dugger- Porter debate: This was a written discussion on the Sabbath and the Lord’s day between elder Dugger (a Sabbath keeper) and elder W.C.Porter (an evangelist of Church of Christ-Sunday keeper).

·         In a debate on Biblical doctrine, one must be well versed in the Bible. On proposing that Sabbath is to be kept in this age, elder Dugger opened his affirmation with the book of Gen.2:1-3 and goes on to quote other 47 Biblical verses. The trend continues with Bible verses all through the debate.

·         Other proves are acceptable in a Biblical debate- In his first affirmation elder Dugger quotes other sources of information than the Bible: He quotes from the following sources, Webster Dictionary, Greek writings and a book by the name ‘The weekly cycle’ throughout the debate other sources are quoted to support an argument.

·         In a debate one might decide to play treacherously, this is evident in elder W.C.Porter’s first negative. Even after over 40 Biblical verses, Porter still asks for proof! There are other incidences of treachery in the debate, but this doesn’t help the debater but expose him as insincere person.

·         In a debate, questions raised need to be answered and or else they’ll haunt the respondent. This is evident in a number of questions that both elder Dugger and Porter didn’t answer and ultimately exposed some of their weaknesses.

·         In a debate it’s good to keep an eye on the subject and not sideshows. In his 1^st affirmation elder Porter mentions that Sunday should be kept holy because Jesus resurrected on Sunday. If most of us could be in elder Dugger’s position, we could have taken that chance to ‘teach’ Porter the real day of crucifixion and resurrection. Dugger kept an eye on the subject matter and waited till his final submissions to respond to the resurrection issue.

·         In a debate one might be desperate to prove his case and thus ends up in ‘name calling’ or attacking the personality of his opponent. Such a move is aimed at intimidating the opponent and thus silencing him. This is something that a good and sincere debater should refrain from.

·         In any debate, it’s good to know when to quit. Some debates are moderated by a neutral person and thus will determine when to end it. In unmoderated debates, once ‘intimidation’, cycle debate (repeat of points), many unanswered questions etc starts showing up then know that it’s time to hang up.

Brethren these are just but a few of many lessons that I learnt from that book, look for a copy and you can learn more.

Be Blessed.

MAPENZI YA MUNGU KUTUSAMEHE.

MAPENZI YA MUNGU KUTUSAMEHE.

1. Ni kwa njia gani Mungu ameshughulika na wenye dhambi?

  “Hakututenda sawasawa na hatia zetu wala hakutulipa kwa kadiri ya maovu yetu” Zaburi 103:10.

2. Ni kwa nini ametushugulikia kwa namna hii?

  “Kama vile baba awaoneavyo watoto wake ndivyo Bwana anavyowahurumia wamchao, kwa maana yeye anatujua umbo letu na kukumbuka ya kuwa sisi tu mavumbi” Zaburi 103:13, 14.

3. Mungu yu tayari kufanya nini kwa wote wamwitao?

  “Kwa maana wewe Bwana u mwema, umekuwa tayari kusamehe na mwingi wa fadhili kwa watu wote wakuitao” Zaburi 86:5.

4. Wakati Ibrahimu alimwomba Mungu kusamehe Sodoma ikiwa angepata humo watu kumi watakatifu, Bwana alisemaje?

  “Akasema Bwana asiwe na hasira nami nitasema mara hii tu, huenda wakaonekana humo kumi? Akasema, sitaharibu kwa ajili ya hao kumi” Mwanzo 18:32.

5. Ni ombi gani alilofanya Musa kwa niaba ya Israeli?

  “Nakusihi usamehe uovu wa watu hawa kama ukuu wa rehema yako ulivyo kama ulivyowasamehe watu hawa tangu huko Misri hata hivi sasa” Hesabu 14:19.

6. Ni jibu gani Mungu alilolitoa muda huo huo?

  “Bwana akasema  mimi nimewasamehe kama neno lako lilivyokuwa” Hesabu 14:20.

7. Wakati Daudi alipoungama dhambi yake kuu kwa Mungu, alipokea majibu gani?

  “Nilikujulisha dhambi yangu, wala sikuuficha upotovu wangu, nalisema nitayakiri maasi yangu kwa Bwana nawe ukanisamehe upotovu wa dhambi yangu” Zaburi 32:5.

8. Je Mungu husamehe wakati wote dhambi zinapoungamwa kwa njia mwafaka?

  “Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, Yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata atuondolee dhambi zetu, na kutusatisha na udhalimu wote”. I Yohana 1:9.

9. Je utimilifu wa msamaha huu ni kiasi gani iwapo mtu atatimiza masharti?

  “Mtu mbaya na aache njia yake, na mtu asiye haki aache mawazo yake, na amrudie Bwana naye atamrehemu na arejee kwa Mungu wetu naye atamsamehe kabisa” Isaya 55:7.

10. Ni kwa namna gani ya kipekee Mungu amedhihirisha nia yake kusamehe mwenye dhambi?

  “Bali Mungu aonyesha pendo lake yeye mwenyewe kwetu sisi, kwa kuwa Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yetu, tulipokuwa tungali wenye dhambi” Warumi 5:8.

11. Je onyesho hili la ajabu la Mungu latufanya kutumaini vipi?

  “Yeye asiyemwachilia Mwana wake mwenyewe, bali alimtoa kwa ajili yetu sisi sote, atakosaje kutuki­rimia na mambo yote pamoja naye” Warumi 8:32.

12. Ni kwa nini Mungu ametoa maafikiano haya?

  “Bwana hakawii kuitimiza ahadi yake, kama wengine wanavyokudhani kukawia, bali huvumilia kwenu, maana hapendi mtu ye yote apotee, bali wote wafikilie toba” II Petro 3:9.

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13. Wakati mwana mpotevu katika mfano alipotubu na kurudi nyumbani, baba yake alifanya nini?

  “Akaondoka, akaenda kwa babaye. Alipokuwa angali mbali, baba yake alimwona, akamwonea huruma, akaenda mbio akamwangukia shingoni, akam­busu sana” Luka 15:20.

14. Alipouliza afanywe kuwa mmoja wa watumishi, ni amri gani iliyotolewa kwa sababu ya kutubu kwake?

  “Lakini baba aliwaambia watumwa wake, Lileteni upesi vazi lililo bora, mkamvike; mtieni na pete kidoleni, na viatu miguuni; mleteni ndama yule aliyenona mkamchinje; nasi tule na kufurahi; kwa kuwa huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa, naye amefufuka; alikuwa amepotea, naye ameonekana. Wakaanza kushangilia” Luka 15:22-24.

15. Je Mungu ananuia kuwafanyia wanawe kama vile wazazi wa hapa duniani?

  “Basi, ikiwa ninyi mlio waovu mnajua kuwapa watoto wenu vipawa vyema, je! Baba aliye mbinguni hatazidi sana kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu hao wamwombao?” Luka 11:13.

16. Ni wangapi hupokea msamaha kutoka kwa Mungu?

  “…kila aombaye hupokea; naye atafutaye huona; naye abishaye atafunguliwa” Mathayo 7:8.

17. Je Mungu husahau vilio vya wale wamwitao?

  “Je mwanamke aweza kumsahau mtoto wake anyonyaye…. Naam hawa waweza kusahau  lakini mimi sitakusahau wewe” Isaya 49:15.

SHERIA YATUKUZWA NA KRISTO.

SHERIA YATUKUZWA NA KRISTO.

1. Taja haja ya Bwana kuhusu sheria?

 “Bwana akapendezwa kwa ajili ya haki,kuitukuza sheria, na kuiadhimisha.” Isaya 42:21.

Kuitukuza-kuongezea nguvu au utukufu wa; kuinua, kuelezea sifa za-Webster.

2. Ilikuwa na umuhimu gani kuitukuza sheria?

“Wakati umewadia BWANA atende kazi;kwa kuwa wameitangua sheria yako.” Zaburi 119:126.

3. Sheria ‘ilifanywaje tupu’ wakati Kristo alikuwa duniani?

      “Akawaambia, Vema! Mwaikataa amri ya Mungu mpate kuyashika mapokeo yenu.” Marko 7:9

;Mathayo 15:1-9.

4. Nia ya Kristo kuhusu sheria ilikuwa gani?

“Msidhani ya kuwa nalikuja kutangua torati au manabii,La sikuja kutangua bali kutimiliza.” Mathayo 5:17. -Kuitimiza-kujalizia, kutimiza kama vile kufanya vyema-Greenfield Greek Lexiocon.Tazama pia Webster.Kristo, hivyo alikuja kutenda sheria vyema katika hali zote, wala si kama wayahudi walivyoitafsiri.

5. Aliendeleaje kuitukuza sheria mbele ya wasikilizaji wake?

 “Mmesikia watu wa kale walivyoa­mbiwa, Usiue, na mtu akiua, itampasa hukumu. Bali mimi nawaambieni, Kila amwoneaye ndugu yake hasira itampasa hukumu; na mtu akimfyolea ndugu yake, itampasa baraza; na mtu akimwapiza, itampasa jehanum ya moto.” Mathayo 5:21,22. Tazama pia 1 Yohana 3:15.

6. Alisemaje kuhusu amri ya saba?

      “Mmesikia kwamba imenenwa, Usizi­ni; 1akini mimi nawaambia, Kila mtu atazamaye mwanamke kwa kumtamani, amekwisha kuzini naye moyoni mwake.” Fungu la 27,28.

7. Je nia ya mwili yaweza kumtii Mungu na amri zake?

 “Kwa kuwa ile nia ya mwili ni uadui juu ya Mungu, kwa maana haitii sheri a ya Mungu, wala haiwezi kuitii.” Warumi 8:7.