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What do I say to my family member who believes the earth is flat?

I have a family member that truly believes the earth is flat. He just changed his view on this about a year ago. He backs it up with scripture. It’s not a salvation issue I know. But I want to be able to discuss this with him. He feels like he went down rabbit hole on several things and has found answers that most people don’t know about. I don’t know how to back it up with scripture or what to say to him. Thanks.

In my opinion, it is important to examine why you want to have this discussion and why you are seeking to be able to back up the shape of the Earth when talking to him.  Is your goal to show him that he is wrong and you are right?

This is something we need to be careful about because somehow, we have this idea that if someone believes something different from us then we have to convince them of what we believe instead of allowing them to have their own beliefs.  If it is salvational, then we need to point them to the Father and His Word, but if it’s a fringe topic or other non-salvational issue – there are always more important issues that are salvational where our energy can be put to more YHWH honoring use. 

My best advice is to love your family member by listening to him talk about what he is excited about – even if it is a fringe topic.  Resist the urge to engage in a debate and if ever pressed to give an answer, you can simply say that you find it interesting but it isn’t where your focus is right now.

Then, when you are done with the visit – know that you loved your neighbor and pray that if it is important to the Father for him to come to the same understanding you have about that particular topic – then He will reveal it to him.

I hope this helps.

From Christy: Earlier in my walk, I spent an inordinate amount of time making an error that was such a distraction from my walk that I wake up each day determined not to fall into that again: seeking to be right rather than what is right.

I can look back now and see times when I stayed so busy on non-salvational issues that I had little time left to do the real work which brought further honor to the kingdom. So these days, I don’t care what political party you are, what shape you think the earth is, or how you pronounce our Father’s name because I’ve got work to do and I won’t be swayed. 

I’ve learned the hard way that seemingly noble distractions can have us believing we are serving the Father, while He is on the other side of the battlefield and we don’t even hear the orders He’s giving.

Conversations like this (where we are trying to prove that we are right) are like weeds. If we choose to spend all of our time watering the weeds we won’t have time to water the flowers. 

Further, us seeking to be right rather than what is right is exactly the kind of example that sends people away from the body. I can freely confess that, for me, it was a pride issue. When I humbled myself and submitted to the Father, He showed me a better way.  You see, I’m not right, He is. And anytime I happen to land on being right it is only through Him that I am able to do so. 

Once I accepted that and opened my eyes to the myriad of things that I may be wrong on, or areas where others have shown me grace even though they disagreed with me, I learned that I don’t have to try to be right in and of myself when I am being led by the very source of righteousness. 

Here is an important lesson the Father has taught me that has served me well: 

Love people where they are at. Don’t insist that they walk as you walk, believe exactly as you believe, or live as you live. Realize that we are a vast kingdom and each of us brings a unique perspective to the body. We are from all walks of the faith but we are of one accord in what matters most.  Seek to be of one accord in salvational issues and show respect for differences in other matters. Our Father will fill in the gaps. After all, the gift of being right 100% of the time belongs solely to Him. 

 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. – Romans 12:14-18

Gratefully, 

 

 

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About the Seeking Scripture Team: We are a group of believers from all walks of the faith, saved by grace alone through faith in our Messiah. While we are of one accord in many things, we are all works in progress and lifelong learners. Therefore the opinions of one may not always represent the opinions of all.