"What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the believer with the infidel?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15). As long as the world shall stand there will be no rest for Satan. There will always be unrighteousness, darkness and unbelief. There will also be at least a "remnant" that will refuse to "bow the knee to Baal." These two conditions being present, there will always be controversy.

The teaching of error, or falsehood by one, because of ignorance of, or lack of love for the truth, demands that he who loves truth defend it (Phil. 1:17). Abuse, or misuse of truth on the part of one motivates him who respects truth to "earnestly contend" for it (Jude 3). Mr. Webster defines "contend" thusly; "To strive in opposition or rivalry; to compete. To maintain or assert; argue." He defines "defend" as: "To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to maintain against force or argument." As long as men do not come to complete agreement on either truth or error, there will be controversy.

But, controversy is a rather odd instrument. In one's efforts to defend the truth in controversy, he might either do truth the greatest possible damage, or the greatest amount of good, depending upon the type, or level of such contention. Mr. Webster defines "controversy" in this manner: "A discussion of a controverter matter or controversial issue; dispute; sometimes quarrel; strife." Now, when controversy takes on either of these last two characteristics, truth will suffer shame, but otherwise honorable controversy is one of truth's most powerful tools.

It is customary in our time for men proposing to engage in controversy (a public discussion) to agree to be governed by "Hedge's Rules of Debate," which is well; however we could state a proper agreement much more briefly, viz. "The disputants agree to be 'Christian' in deportment." This would insure "Honorable Controversy." It is this kind of controversy that the "Rule Book" for our every action and thought authorizes.

Our Christ was the world's greatest controversialist. As those hypocritical Jews over and over tried to trap Him with questions, did He respond with, "You know we shouldn't argue over religious matters?" No; with the truth He exposed their false teachings and hypocrisy. He put those ministers of Satan to silence just as he did their father … with an "it is written." Now if our Lord entered into debate with those who opposed truth, can we hope to please Him short of a willingness to do the same? Yea, that is necessary in order that we might "deliver our souls." The servant of God is not only required to warn those of the world, but also his brother who might "turn from his righteousness"; otherwise their blood will God "require at our hands!" (Ezek. 3:17-21)

Jude tells us in verse three that we are to "earnestly contend for the faith . . ." This obligates every lover of truth to engage in whatever controversy the forces of Satan make necessary. But that controversy, although "earnest" (fervent), must be governed by the "Golden Rule" Book. We are urged to "prove all things; hold fast to that which is good" (I Thes. 5:21), but in this "proving" the criterion is to be the Word of God, rather than appeal to prejudice, emotions, personalities, or traditions of men.

John admonishes us to "try the spirits (teachings) whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I Jno. 4:1). We must "try" the teachings by weighing them in the "balances" of God. Paul urged the elders of Ephesus to defend the flock of God against the grievous wolves that would enter in among them (Acts 20:28-29). According to Revelation 2:2 the church in Ephesus believed in controversy, for they had "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them to be liars."

The great apostle practiced that which he urged upon others, in that he was "set for the defense of the gospel" (Phil. 1:17). We have divine record of many of his encounters in defense of the gospel of Christ. In Acts 24 we have the record of his defense of "the way which they call heresy" before Felix. In the next two chapters he did the same before Festus and Agrippa. He had "reasoned" from the Scriptures in the Jewish synagogues frequently (Acts 17:2; 18:4, 18). In doing this he "spoke boldly . . . disrupting and persuading" (Acts 18:8). His defense of the truth had great effect for good, for he "mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ" (KVJ) (Acts 18:28). In this he "fought a good fight," which fight he urged upon Timothy (and us) in I Tim. 6:12 and II Tim. 4:1-4, and therefore laid up for himself a crown of righteousness. He goes on to say that such is also for US, but it will depend upon our fighting that same good fight, and keeping that same faith! Only "contending earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints" can do this.

Now there are among us those who oppose public controversy in religion for three basic reasons: One is CONVENIENCE -- it is a "city of refuge" for him who realizes that his teaching cannot s t a n d the scrutiny of TRUTH. It is therefore convenient for him to be against "arguing in religion."

Another reason for opposing controversy is the MISUNDERSTANDING, by good people, of such passages as Romans 1:29 and 2 Cor. 12:20. The term "debate" in these passages seems to them to condemn controversy. However, these passages do not have under consideration "Honorable Controversy." The word debate should be translated "strife" in these passages, as is so translated in the American Standard Version of the Scriptures. It is derived from a term which means "a disposition to be quarrelsome and contentious, and is an outgrowth of enmity."

(W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). The bringing of truth and error into conflict is not under consideration in these two passages. If that were the meaning of these, it would put them in conflict with those many other easily understood passages that not only authorize, but also enjoin upon us an OBLIGATION to earnestly defend the pure gospel against all error.

The third reason for opposition to religious controversy is the repulsiveness of DISHONOR-ABLE CONTROVERSY that such people have heard, or heard of. In this, men whose positions are weak (known better by themselves than by anyone else) make their appeal, not to truth, but to prejudice and emotions. They are simply trying to "line up people on their side." Theirs is often an all-out effort to "whip" their opponents, by any means! You will find these constantly dealing in personalities most of which are misrepresentations and misapplications. They will deal at length with the inconsistencies (acclaimed) of their opponents; as if that had anything to do with truth. Such are not willing for their teachings to be laid open to an honest and frank investigation by truth and to stand or fall by such examination. They are often guilty of perverting Scriptures. They have erected their idols, and will "wrest" the Scriptures so that they appear (to the simple) to sustain their doctrines. Such is not Christian behavior. Such is not "honorable controversy."

However, we must not conclude that all controversy is wrong because of this abuse of polemics. Those who love the truth will be concerned with practicing only that. They will be happy to have their positions laid beside truth. They will be content to engage in honest investigation of their practices, in the light of WHAT GOD HAS SAID in His Word. In controversy, such persons will conduct their part of the discussion as "Christians, regardless of the behavior of their respondent.

The shying away from public controversy by the denominational world came when they saw that their doctrines could not stand before the soldier of the Lord's Army, wielding the Sword of the Spirit. This willingness to engage in controversy, to a great extent, was the wings upon which the Restoration Movement was borne. May the day never come when "WE" will hesitate to stand in the battle line to defend the gospel of Christ who died for us! Truth has nothing to fear in honorable controversy. Yea, upon such it thrives!

Truth Magazine VIII: 9, pp. 23-24 June 1964