BLAST FROM THE PAST (old articles still relevant today)

CHRISTIAN CONTROVERSY by Larry M. Thomas, (originally published in the Jan/Feb 1988 issue of Manna Magazine)

Controversy. The Bible is filled with examples of it. One of the Bible’s major themes is the great controversy between good and evil.

But today, controversy in the Church is considered unfashionable and unconscionable – even unscriptural.

Those who would dare challenge the teaching of a Christian brother – thus creating disharmony and obstructing unity are branded as ‘trouble makers’ or accused of raising a hand against ‘the Lord’s anointed.’ Those who abhor controversy and see it as damaging often quote Romans 16:17 where it says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses…and avoid them”

As is often the case, this charge comes from the errant teachers who are fearful of having their teaching tested by the Word… As they often do in developing their doctrine, they use a ‘cut-and-paste’ Bible. In this example in Romans, they omit a very key phrase which says ‘…contrary to the doctrine which they have learned; and avoid them.’

These critics of controversy single out as divisive and disruptive those men of God who are holding steadfastly to the God-given doctrines of the Church. It is those in error that holler ‘Foul!’ the loudest.

Maybe the whole problem is one of semantics, or the inability to communicate, but it seems to go deeper than that. There is a prideful, rebellious attitude among much of the leadership in the church today. Authoritarian leaders have developed an ‘I can do no wrong’ attitude in their dealings with their followers. Some have even excommunicated members for challenging their teachings.

Such leaders say that to question their teaching – their revelational knowledge of what God is doing in these days -- is tantamount to rebellion against God and His ‘anointed ones.’

PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE?

Where would the church be now if today’s prevailing attitude of ‘peaceful coexistence’ with fals teachings had been present in ages past? How much weaker would the church be had not the leaven been purged from time to time?

Someone asked recently why so much time is spent battling false doctrines instead of spreading the Gospel. Isn’t calling men to repent, turn away from their sins, receive forgiveness and put their faith in God the Gospel message? Of course, it is. And part of that plan is to tell men what to turn away from.

Throughout Scripture, our Lord, His disciples, the prophets and the judges were specific about what displeased God. Pointing out error to the saints is as much a part of the Gospel message as pointing out sin to the lost.

This disdain of controversy today is apparent. But the reasons for it are often camouflaged by deceptive euphemisms used to hide the unscriptural nature of the teaching itself.

TOLERATION, NOT COMPROMISE

For example, there is a lot of talk today, both inside and outside the church, about tolerance. To the secular world, religious tolerance generally means granting another person, faith or persuasion the same rights and privileges we demand for ourselves. (Obviously, you only need to read todays newspapers to know that this is not the case – even in the good ole U.S.A.) But in the church world, tolerance has come to mean compromise.

The Church has grown soft. It has relaxed its position on a number of social an spiritual issues, opening the door for unscriptural practices and teachings. (And when we talk about easing standards, we’re not referring to eliminating visible and legalistic ‘signs of holiness.’) This easing of standards has enabled the church to broaden its appeal to the world and show forth a spirit of unity within the Body.

One of the most visible efforts to increase appeal and put on a display of unity is the total avoidance of debate, disagreement or division – no matter how wrong or heretical the teaching. To avoid these things, we compromise. And to compromise with wrong teaching is to sacrifice our convictions and even our Biblical principles.

THE MEAT OF MAN’S WISDOM

As a result, certain elements in the Church have become fat and faltering. They have gorged themselves on the meat of man’s intellectual wisdom and the fruits of false doctrines while swilling a new wine of heresy.

To point out these wrongs is to be controversial and run the risk of being called ‘unloving’ and ‘unchristian.’ But Scripture clearly demonstrates that pointing out errors that would lead people astray is necessary, and that chastening and rebuking an errant saint is a firm, yet Biblical, display of love. We must love the brother’s soul (and those of his flock, if he is a leader) more than his feelings of his flesh.

True love must not be silent when God’s people are being led astray, whether by intent or by ignorance. Paul publicly and sternly rebuked Peter for his wrong teaching. But he did it out of love for God, love for Peter, and love for God’s people.

Were not these the same motives that fortified Athanasius when he bull-headedly contended for the doctrine of the Deity of Christ? Was not Martin Luther motivated by this same love when he battled for doctrinal purity against the Church hierarchy of his day?

THE NEED FOR CONTROVERSY

These controversies were necessary if the true Gospel was to be preserved. They are as inevitable as they are necessary – even today.

As stated earlier, the Bible is full of controversies. In THE ALLIANCE WITNESS, A.W. Tozer wrote:

“The Bible is a book of controversy. The Old Testament prophets were men of contention. Our Lord Jesus while on earth was in deadly conflict with the devil. The Apostles, the Church Fathers and the Reformers were men of controversy. They fought the devil to the death and kept the torch of truth burning for all succeeding generations. Is our contribution to history to be the ignoble one of letting the torch go out?”

Be sure to note that the controversial figures Tozer wrote about were at odds with ‘Christian brethren,’ not with worldly systems.

The book of Jude is an excellent example of the controversial nature of Scripture. That entire book, as short as it is, sounds an alarm to believers about false teachers and error in the church. In today’s Positive Church, Jude is probably considered too negative. But the Holy Spirit, not Jude, was the author. And the Spirit of God does not err.

Jude calls on the Church to ‘earnestly contend for the faith.’ The Greek word for contend implies to put forth an effort or a force equal to or greater than the opposition. As any collegiate wrestler can tell you, it takes every ounce of strength and energy to hold your own with an opponent. Every muscle, every fiber of your physical being is needed to ‘contend’ with your adversary. So it is in the spiritual realm. Our entire mind, body and spirit must be conditioned and prepared to contend for the faith. And as one might expect in such a situation, there will be confrontation and controversy.

RULES FOR CONTROVERSY

Someone has said that we are known by the company we keep. But we may be better understood by knowing our enemies. Even more importantly, our real nature may be best recognized by our attitude toward those we oppose.

Very often, those who prefer to appease rather than oppose are not versed in the rules of controversy. They have been schooled not to create waves. So when something rubs them the wrong way, they often lash out instinctively without observing the rules of controversy.

Complete honesty, integrity and kindness (tough love, if you will) must be the hallmarks of Biblical reproof and correction. Our spirit must be right. We must truly want to see correction that will bring the errant brother back in line with the Word of God.

If we set out to get the teacher instead of the teaching, we’re in trouble. But if we will expose the error for what it is, those who preach it will soon lose their audiences.

Christian controversy must be based on fact – not presumption, half-truth or rumors. And the facts in such controversies must come from the Word of God. God’s Word is the plumbline that Amos wrote about (Amos 7:7) by which all teaching is to be judged.

[The late Larry M Thomas was an Assemblies of God minister and publisher of The Inkhorn.]