Encouraging Healthy Controversy

No one can deny that the world needs more love, but what kind of love? When one reaches adulthood, he can look back and see that the correction and punishment his parents gave him were also love. When one attains Christian maturity, he understands that God”s discipline and correction are just as distinctly manifestations of his love as are peace and joy.

The Christian must surely love his brother, while at the same time retaining the right to disagree with him. But if all we have to say is “yes, yes” when we agree, and offer smiling silence when we disagree, then love becomes spineless.

The same thing is true for the idea that, if one can”t say anything good, then say nothing. Those who suggest such a thing really mean, “Don”t say anything that I disagree with.” That makes discussion meaningless.

Experience teaches us you can say whatever needs to be said, even if it”s negative, if you say it in the right way. You can be firm, yet tactful. Be direct, but diplomatic. Do not use language that causes people to become defensive. Use gentle persuasion, as if you were speaking to your best friend. You are not out to “get them,” but to bless them.

Healthy controversy is not easy, but wherever you find a Christian earnestly contending for the faith, you will find controversy. It is an essential part of the Christian life.

Christianity Is Controversial

Were it not for controversy, there would be no Christianity, because Christ was a controversialist. Were it not for controversy, there would be no Bible, because Moses, the prophets, and the apostles were all controversialists.

Every Christian would benefit from reading Alexander Campbell”s piece entitled “Religious Controversy,” which appeared in the 1830 Millennial Harbinger, volume one. The central proposition of this article is stated in the second paragraph:

There can be no improvement without controversy. Improvement requires and presupposes change; change is innovation, and innovation always has elicited opposition, and that is what constitutes the essentials of controversy. Every man who reforms his own life has a controversy with himself. And, therefore, no man who has not always been perfect, and always been in company with perfect society, can be a good man without controversy. This being conceded, it follows that whenever society, religious or political, falls into error, or, rather, so long as it is imperfect, it is the duty of all who have any talent or ability to oppose error, moral or political””who have intelligence to distinguish, and utterance to express, truth and goodness, to lift up a standard against it, and to panoply themselves for the combat.

Campbell”s statement is both logical and soundly scriptural. The Bible teaches that the Christian should be able to defend his faith (1 Peter 3:15); uphold sound doctrine against error (2 Timothy 4:2-4); detect and expose false teachers and apostates (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2; Revelation 2:2); be “fruit inspectors” (Matthew 7:16-20); and contend for the faith (Jude 3). We cannot do these things without being involved in both public and private controversy, and no Christian has the right to think he is exempt from these commands because he or she does not like controversy.

Facilitate Dialogue

Christian leaders need to set the example in encouraging healthy controversy. Take Christian journalists, for example. I have always been an avid reader of letters to the editors of the various publications I receive. I have been disappointed to see those letters disappearing from more and more religious journals. Some, including Christian Standard, have a column for guest editorials on controversial issues. This is good, but many readers who have something worthwhile to say may not have the time and/or the inclination to write a 1,500-word article on the subject.

The purpose of a journal should be both to import information and encourage communication. Editors who publish letters encourage still more people to write. This helps both editors and readers keep their “finger on the pulse” of what others are thinking. It also affects editorial policy so the magazine can focus on questions people are really asking. Alexander Campbell was right: Healthy controversy is a catalyst for progress.

Communication Is Not a Cure-All

Having said all that, we must realize that controversy can be unhealthy if we are wasting our time. Jesus warned against “throwing your pearls to the pigs” (Matthew 7:6). For example, when a conflict arises between two parties with similar goals and values, they can often talk things out and resolve the dispute. However, communication breaks down between those who have radically different worldviews.

An illustration of this is when a Bible-believing Christian attempts to discuss doctrine with someone who professes faith in Christ, but denies the authority of the Scriptures. They have two different starting points. No amount of discussion is going to unite them theologically unless one of them changes his mind about the Bible.

Another example of useless controversy is when the other person feels threatened by what you are saying. He throws up all kinds of emotional barriers and is not prepared to listen to reason. This can be particularly difficult when you are speaking to a family member or close friend. Sometimes you may need to agree to disagree until he is more receptive. You can also pray that God will send another believer who can get through to him or her.

Hold Forth the Gospel

In spite of obstacles, we still need to keep holding forth the gospel. Paul wrote, “We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

My question is: Are we preparing our people to demolish the arguments of cults, erring Christians, and the world? I am afraid that many of our church members would be insulted at the suggestion that they ought to be learning something in church. They want to be inspired, entertained, and given warm fuzzies. But, as we have seen in the Scriptures cited above, Christians are soldiers in a spiritual war for which we need to be equipped. Healthy controversy will not open the hearts and minds of everyone, but it will impact all who are “appointed for eternal life” (Acts 13:48).

Brian Giese retired after 45 years in the vocational ministry. He is currently an elder, Sunday school teacher, and chairman of his church”s educational ministry.