IS THE FAITH WORTH THE FIGHT? (Conclusion)

James W. Shear

peaking the truth in love does not eliminate pressing a point and exposing false doctrine (Matt. 15:1-20; 23:1-19). Love simply states the attitude of heart we are to have as we fight, earnestly contend, dispute, persuade and mark those who cause division contrary to the doctrine of Christ. It is easy to forget that the liberties we have enjoyed in our lifetime were not gained without a fight. But, without a fight we can lose them. It is also easy to forget that if godly men and women had not stood firm and fought for truth, many would not know the truth today.

hen Israel, in the Old Testament, departed from the Lord, it affected not only the present generation but also the future generations.. The same thing can be said of us, and our children, if we do not consider the faith worth the fight. The consequences are far too great for us to wallow in a false hope of peace and not take up arms against all error. The love of God and His truth demands it.

acifists have made controversy a dirty word. To brand a brother as a controversialist in the church sometimes can be devastating. The charge will not be that he is teaching error. The charge often is that he goes forth without any love or care, backbiting and devouring. Some will describe him as being a self-appointed watchdog for the church telling other what they must do. Some will say that we are all false teachers, that we all are wrong about something. This implies that since we are all guilty, we should not fight the error of others. The one thing they all have in common is, they do not believe in contending for the faith (Jude 3). They will, however, contend against contenders of the faith with all their might. Most Pacifists believe contending for the faith will do more harm than good. They are oblivious to the harm they cause.

he religious pacifist likes to give the impression that he patterns his actions, or lack of actions, after Christ. Nothing can be further from the truth. Christ cannot fit into the mold the pacifist has fashioned for Him any more than He could fit into the mold the Jews made for Him at the time of His earthly ministry. Contrary to the thinking of many, Christ, while here on earth, was one of the world’s greatest controversialists.

n his book, Christian, Contend For Thy Cause, J. D. Bales quotes from an introduction by B. J Radford to another book titled Jesus as a Controversialist. Radford wrote: “Perusal of this little volume will create the conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was a constant, persistent, strenuous and aggressive controversialist, and will help us to understand the bitterness of the intolerance of Scribes and Pharisees, and all those whose error and vices He so constantly controverted and exposed. The author helps us to an instructive view of the wide range and varied methods of the controversies which Jesus took up with the propagators of error. He allowed no theories, systems or customs, which have to do with human life or destiny to go unchallenged. Nor was there anything languid in His manner or method of attack.

o one will be a controversialist of any kind who does not have a clear appreciation of the value of truth, and of his own responsibility in maintaining and propagating it. No one will be more than a languid controversialist who cares more for tolerance than for truth. Only he who feels the infinite life giving value of truth, and the fatal error, coupled with a deep sense of responsibility and duty in view of their irrepressible conflict will be such a controversialist as was Jesus Christ. He could at any moment have allayed the spirit of intolerance, which hounded him, and have stayed the hand of persecution, which at last nailed him to the cross, if He had consented to ‘a conspiracy of silence.’ When Pilate suggested a way of escape by compromising the truth, Jesus answered, with the cross a few hours ahead, ‘For this cause I came into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth.’

he only antidote for evil is good, and the only antidote for error is truth. The world is so crowded with evil and error that he who would advance good and truth must be both a reformer and a controversialist. Peter and John and the rest, understood this and would not be forced into silence by any threats or punishments. Bearing witness to the truth in this error-ridden world is a business of strenuous belligerency: not of ‘dignified silence’ or ‘masterly inactivity’.”

he religious pacifist sees no difference in fighting the good fight of faith and looking for a fight. He sees no difference in contending for the faith and being contentious. Therefore, those who fight the good fight of faith, those who earnestly contend, dispute, reprove, and rebuke, as did Paul and others, will never meet with the approval of the pacifist. To him, there is no right way to challenge error. In other words, there is no right way to earnestly contend for the faith.

o doubt many mistakes have been made in efforts to “earnestly contend for the faith.” However, the greatest mistake we can make is to be forced into a dignified silence while Satan takes over and has his way with us.

et us be reminded that those who fight the good fight of faith, finish the course, and keep the faith are the only ones who can lay hold to the crown of righteousness. Those who do this can die in hope (2 Tim. 4:5-7). The hope that is in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3) makes the faith worth the fight. & [Via The Preceptor, July 2003]