THE FEAR OF CONTROVERSY IN A GOD HATING WORLD! By Pastor Del Wray Many Christian people have a dread of controversy and wish truth could be stated without any reference to those who hold teachings that are opposite to the truth which is false or contrary to the Bible. Controversy and a bad spirit are, in their estimation, identical terms. And to oppose what is wrong is considered as contrary to Christian meekness. Which is false? Those who hold this opinion seem to overlook what every page of the New Testament lays before us. In all the history of our Lord Jesus Christ, we never find Him out of controversy. He could not move without finding himself causing friction. From His birth even to His death it was a life of controversy. From the moment He began His earthly ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth until He died on the cross, it was an uninterrupted life of debate. He would not, with all the heavenly meekness which in Him shone so brightly, treat truth and falsehood without reference to those who held them! He did not avoid giving its proper label to those corruptions in doctrine or practice that endangered the interests of immortal souls. His censures were not confined to doctrine but included those conspirators of false principles themselves. And as to the Apostles, their writings or epistles are generally controversial! Most of them were directly written for the express purpose of vindicating truth and opposing heresy and the authors of heresies do not escape without a concrete condemnation of their false doctrine. Paul again and again most indignantly denounces the conduct of those who oppose the Gospel and by name, points out those against whom he cautions his brethren. When Hymenaeus and Alexander erred concerning the faith and when he delivered them unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme, he did not compliment them as open and learned persons. Even that Apostle who loved the most and who possessed so much of that spirit which was so highly manifested in his Divine Master, does not avoid controversy nor in controversy does he learn to avoid unkindness in reprimanding those who hate the truth. In the many examples of those who differed with the truth, left on record in Scriptures, we perceive nothing of that cold spirit of indifference which smiles on the corrupters of the Word of God and He never stopped calling heresy by its real name! With what holy indignation do the Apostles denounce the subtle plotting of the enemies of the gospel! In vain shall we look among those faithful servants of the Lord for anything to justify that trembling reserve which fears to say decidedly that truth is truth and error is error? In what manner, indeed, should perversions of the truth of God be censured? Ought they to be treated as mere matters of opinion on which we may innocently and safely differ? Or ought they to be met in a tone of solemn, strong and decided disapproval? Paul warned Christians against men who arose from among themselves, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them and instead of complimenting false teachers in his day, denounced an angel from heaven on the belief of his preaching another gospel. And if an Apostle was withstood to the face, because he was to be blamed, are the writings of those who subvert the Gospel to pass without rebuke? When the canker of the principles of neology, (the use of new meanings for established words), is perverting the faith of many and seducing them into the paths of error, with a spirit of Luke warmness and indifference to truth is advancing under the mask of charity and liberality, there is a loud call on all Christians to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel,” to present a firm and united opposition to whatever is contrary to the Bible, under every name, from whatever quarter it may come. Should believers become unfaithful to their trust and be seduced to abandon their protest against false doctrines, they may gain the approval of the world but what will this avail when compared with the favor of God? But if they contend earnestly for the faith, for the truth, then they may expect the gracious fulfillment of the blessed promise, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” To those who feel they can change the Word of God to satisfy their own scheme may well find no controversy but certain judgment! One of my mentors, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. use to say “a Christian cannot move without causing friction!” To those popular preachers today like, Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren and so many more, people are entrusting their immortal souls to men who preach a false gospel, an in whose ministries there is no controversy at all! Contradictory to that of Jesus Christ and the Bible! CONTROVERSY IS BIBLICAL IN A GOD HATING WORLD!
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:49:45 +0000
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