Polemic Theology, or How to Deal with Those Who Differ from Us

In this article, Roger Nicole maintains that we are called to contend for the faith without being contentious. Nicole presents three major questions need answering, in the right order. First, “What do I owe the person who differs from me?” For example, assume that the person with whom you disagree is sitting in the audience, and you will be pushed to treat them fairly, honestly, and charitably. Second, “What can I learn from the person who differs from me?” Could I be wrong? Unbalanced? Inattentive to possible dangers or ambiguities in my view? Third, “How can I cope with the person who differs from me?” both in defending truth against error and in expositing truth more fully.