John Stott authored the book Christ the Controversialist and I think he's onto something here: Avoiding controversy completely is avoiding Christ, as it were. There are foolish controversies or quarrels, and there are ones that are worth the fight and are "non-negotiables." We shouldn't quarrel about disputable matters, such as eating meat or a Sabbath, but everyone should obey his conscience and be fully convinced in his own mind (Rom. 14:1ff). Some have an unhealthy craving for quarrels and meanings of words (1 Tim. 6:4,8).
We are to avoid "foolish controversies" or dissensions according to Titus 3:9. In the book Patton's Principles: A Handbook for Managers Who Mean It he admonishes us not to argue over something that you have nothing or little to gain in winning--to pick our fights wisely. You could lose a friend arguing about a trivial subject. As St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo said, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."
There will be factions though we are not to have a factious spirit (a fruit of the flesh) because Christ said that he came not to "bring peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34). But we are to beware of "deceptive philosophy and empty deceit.." cf/ Col. 2:8. So don't let anyone fool you with sophistry or "plausible arguments" and not according to the Word (Col. 2:4). Soli Deo Gloria!
"Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause; and I was not without hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy of the present age would have put an effectual stop to contentions of this kind."
ReplyDelete- George Washington, letter to Sir Edward Newenham, June 22, 1792
Christ was no stranger to controversy and to avoid it is to avoid Christ. It is godless controversy that we to avoid, not essential doctrine within the church at large. Trouble arises from those who pursue religious fanaticism in the name of religion and force their interpretations on others.
ReplyDeleteOne recalls the Spanish Inquisition, the Thirty-Years' War, and the atrocities during the Reformation of the 16th century. But I'm talking about doctrinal "in-house" or "family" disputes that should be settled peacefully and respectfully.
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