Peacocking each other while hellfire burns

Mike Russell thinks many theological debates between different flavors of Christianity are akin to peacocks strutting or gorillas thumping their chests. Mike gives several reasons why he avoids these kinds of arguments and concludes with this assessment:

Finally, I stay away from these fights because they are distractions and nuisances. These are not the battles we should be fighting: other believers who adhere to different nonessential doctrines are not the enemy. The time we spend fighting one another would be more wisely spent battling against truly dangerous doctrines and beliefs that are infiltrating our local churches. Or we could focus our energies on confronting our culture and endeavoring to demonstrate the viability - and necessity - of our common faith. Or even - perish the thought! - evangelize people instead of arguing with the redeemed.

Amen. Of course, a big problem is that one man's non-essential is another's grounds for salvation (or so we believe). But I think we all agree there are souls outside Christ headed for an eternal hell. Could we not at least quit arguing niceties with those we believe are saved?

Mike has a follow-up post here.