I Don't Agree With You!

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
— John 5:39-40

I can be a little controversial (okay, sometimes a lot) in my writings. Every time it happens, I lose people from my subscription list. I can’t tell you how many messages I have received over the years which included this line, “I don’t agree with you!” And then, for the most part, they disconnect. To those who stick around, my response is always the same, “Good! I’m okay with that…now let’s talk about it.” Those conversations are where I learn and grow the most.

I recently gave a devotion at an industry event. I sent out invitations with the title of the devotion being “God Never Called You To Be Normal!” I received a response back which I shared with the group and it was confirmed by all as valid. The response was, “…you could be an expert about not being normal.” I consider it an honor that I’m not seen as normal.

If you are doing great, have all your theology worked out and have no doubts about your faith, I thank God for that peace. However, you might find that you don’t always agree with me, because I’m not normal. I don’t always play by the rules. My thoughts are not neat and tidy and wrapped up with a bow. Sometimes they are messy.

If you are broken, struggling, have doubts, seeking for answers, lost in life, desiring to grow but just feel crazy from time to time; join the club. That is me at times. Just a simple man striving to work out His faith in Christ. After all, what good does it do for Christ to be the answer if we have no questions?

I only hope and pray that every piece I write points you to Christ as the answer.

As 1 John 2:27 states, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” I’m NOT a teacher. We have a teacher in Christ. I want to challenge you to go to Him to seek, ask, grow and never settle.

Everything I write is simply what I’m being challenged with in the moment. For some reason, God has given me a passion to share my quest publicly. I have been amazingly blessed by others who have walked that road with me in various ways and it includes you in this moment.

I don’t have all the answers. I don’t have it all figured out. I’m on a quest…and I know where that quest leads. I don’t know the path it will take me down, but I know where it ends; at the feet of Jesus!

It never ceases to amaze me, when a theological disagreement begins, how quickly the conversation usually turns from one about Christ into a conversation about us. What we believe, what we do or don’t do, how well we know the Bible, how well we know history, and on and on. But it tends to be all about ourselves.

Jesus said in John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

I have often been guilty of this snare of ego. The idea that I can understand Scripture well enough on my own to define and achieve spiritual life. That I can figure it all out. The ego of certainty.

Don’t get me wrong, I am certain about one thing—Jesus Christ. I am certain my life is in His hands. I am who He says I am. I am saved because of what He has done. I’m a child of God because He has made me so. Not because I know a few verses, but because I know Him!

If you live in an echo chamber where you only listen to what you already agree with, I believe you are on dangerous ground. At the very least, you are not being challenged to grow.

I don’t have any answers, but I know the Answer. And I pray that everything I write is never consumed as an answer in itself. Rather I’m throwing down the gauntlet in the hopes you, dear reader, will be challenged to grow. And I pray everyone is clearly focused on the goal of the quest—Jesus Christ. My path might wander from time to time, but my focus, desire and hope is Christ.

It doesn’t much matter to me if you agree with me or not. However, I care deeply about whether or not you know Jesus! He is the teacher we are seeking. And I hope we can walk this road together for a time to get to know Him even better.

So my challenge today is simple: are we only looking for affirmation of what we already believe, or are we accepting the challenge to grow in grace? May we all rise to the challenge and seek the Lord today.

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.