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EP 116: Dealing with Controversy as a Christian

by Marci Ferrell
Biblical Womanhood Christian Living Communication in Marriage Encouragement Podcast Spiritual Discipleship Theology

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Simply put, God's glory should be our desired end of any controversies we deal with as believers when we must engage in it. #contorversy #contendfortruth #truth #godstruth @thankfulhomemaker

 

John Newton shares that we must contend for truth and controversy will be inevitable, but there is a way as believers we should enter into it.  #controversy #johnnewton @mferrell

As Christians who live in a world that denies absolute truth, we are going to run into controversy. Controversy is an area we need to learn to deal with in a God-honoring way when there are issues inside and outside our churches that need to be addressed. 


Listen Below to the Bitesize Episode

Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App

On Controversy by John Newton

Dustin Benge Twitter Account

Video: Dealing with Controversy as a Christian


How do we know what needs to be addressed? 

Controversy in the church is challenging since we know the church is called to unity. When the truth of the gospel is at stake in the church, we need to take a stand for truth.

Many times we can find ourselves divided on issues we shouldn’t be, those that are secondary and not fundamental to the gospel. Things like baptism or church order and hence why we have various denominations. Even when we find ourselves divided on issues, they should be able to be discussed with a level of spiritual maturity within our congregations. 

Sometimes these issues need to be addressed but where do we begin?

John Newton on Controversy:

I came across a letter written by John Newton on how to address controversy as a Christian. I’m linking to it so you can read the whole letter and I just want to pull out a few areas that stood out to me. He breaks the letter down into three areas to consider: Your Opponent, The Public, and Yourself.

There are hundreds of years between us and when this letter was written, but because it is based on the truth of God’s Word, it stands the test of time even in our current modern age.

John Newton shares that we must contend for truth and controversy will be inevitable, but there is a way as believers we should enter into it. 

“I am not therefore anxious for the event of the battle; but I would have you more than a conqueror, and to triumph, not only over your adversary but over yourself.” ~ John Newton

Your Opponent:

Many times we can find ourselves focused on the controversial issue and forget that we are dealing with a real, live, breathing person who has a soul and feelings and they may be a brother in the faith.

“As to your opponent, I wish that before you set pen to paper against him, and during the whole time you are preparing your answer, you may commend him by earnest prayer to the Lord’s teaching and blessing. This practice will have a direct tendency to conciliate your heart to love and pity him, and such a disposition will have a good influence upon every page you write.” ~ John Newton

Do we take the time to pray for our opponent? If they’re a believer are we treating them as a brother in the faith? If they are not a believer, the reminder we should always have scrolled through our thoughts is, “by the grace of God I go.” 

When we’re dealing with them either in person or in writing is it done in a spirit of love, humility, and gentleness? Colossians 3:12 comes to mind here:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Pray for the Lord to soften hearts and open eyes and hearts including our own in the situation.

Consider the Public:

With our modern media and technology our responses, many times, will affect more than just the one person we’re addressing. 

“By printing, you will appeal to the public; where your readers may be ranged under three divisions: First, such as differ from you in principle. Concerning these, I may refer you to what I have already said. Though you have your eye upon one person chiefly, there are many like-minded with him; and the same reasoning will hold, whether as to one or to a million.”  ~ John Newton

Think thoroughly on how you are responding and make sure you are contending for truth out of love and humility and not just to look wise in your own eyes.

Think thoroughly on how you are responding and make sure you are contending for truth out of love and humility and not just to look wise in your own eyes. Click to Tweet

Consider Yourself:

We need to contend for the faith, and we need to contend when the gospel is misrepresented. Our desires are good, but our delivery and things like our temper may not be. He reminds us to watch our attitude and not allow anything that will be an obstacle to our communion with God. It’s never right to sin in dealing with controversy. 

“What will it profit a man if he gains his cause and silences his adversary, if at the same time he loses that humble, tender frame of spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made?” ~ John Newton

Examine your heart and be reminded we bring no glory to the Lord or any benefit to the controversial situation if we don’t show ourselves to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus is our example of how to deal with controversy.

Examine your heart and be reminded we bring no glory to the Lord or any benefit to the controversial situation if we don't show ourselves to be a disciple of Jesus. Click to Tweet

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. ~ James 3:17-18

To the Glory of God:

“If we act in a wrong spirit, we shall bring little glory to God, do little good to our fellow-creatures, and procure neither honor nor comfort to ourselves.” ~ John Newton

Simply put, God’s glory should be our desired end of any controversies we deal with as believers when we must engage in it. Notice I said when not if because as Christians we must love and contend for the truth.

Dustin Benge shared a tweet summarizing this letter by John Newton with these six key points:

  1. Pray for your opponent
  2. Deal gently with your opponent
  3. Instruct your opponent with meekness
  4. Be watchful of your tone and words
  5. Be watchful of self-righteousness
  6. Be watchful of your character

“Go forth, therefore, in the name and strength of the Lord of hosts, speaking the truth in love; and may he give you a witness in many hearts that you are taught of God, and favored with the unction of his Holy Spirit.” ~ John Newton

Related Resources:

John Newton on Controversy – @Ligonier

Tabletalk May 2012 Issue on Controversy

Related posts:

  1. Podcast Ep. 24: Dealing with Our Grumbling and Complaining
  2. Dealing with Our Critical Spirits
  3. 10 Favorite Bible Study Apps for Christian Women
  4. EP 115: Dealing with Adulterous Hearts (Matthew 5:27-30 – Sermon on the Mount Series)


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Patience is our ability, under the control of the Patience is our ability, under the control of the Spirit, to persevere and endure in times of suffering or hardship.⁣⁣
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Come listen in (or read) EP 118: Cultivating Patience with One Another at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
By affliction, Christ . . .⁣⁣ shows us our em By affliction, Christ . . .⁣⁣
 shows us our emptiness and weakness,⁣⁣
 draws us to the throne of grace,⁣⁣
 purifies our affections,⁣⁣
 weans us from the world,⁣⁣
 and makes us long for Heaven.⁣⁣
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Read more of Trusting God in Your Trials at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)
I know we can all relate to self-pity as women, wi I know we can all relate to self-pity as women, wives, and mothers.  How many times do we focus on our needs that aren’t met?  Unfair situations or circumstances?  Self-pity is a selfish tendency that takes our eyes off Christ and puts them on ourselves. ⁣⁣
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We forget that “God works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Are we able to give God “thanks in all things”?⁣⁣
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Come listen in to EP 105: Practical Steps to Overcome Self Pity at the link in my profile @thankfulhomemaker (click on the link under the blue arrows and then this image)⁣
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"God's written Word, the Bible, is God's greatest "God's written Word, the Bible, is God's greatest earthly gift to his people, second only to the living Word, Jesus. And because the living Word perfectly lived out the written Word, we are blessed beyond measure. Jesus fulfilled every precept found in Psalm 119, keeping the principles and commandments of this psalm, and he did so on our behalf.⁣
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Our failure to live wholeheartedly is covered by Jesus, who lived it perfectly for us. Ultimately, he is Psalm 119 in human form, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)."⁣
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~ Taken from Sing a New Song: A Woman's Guide to the Psalms by Lydia Brownback⁣
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With my whole heart I seek you;⁣
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Accept the cost of good deeds in time, thought, an Accept the cost of good deeds in time, thought, and effort. But remember that opportunities for doing good are not interruptions in God’s plan for us, but part of that plan. We always have time to do what God wants us to do.⁣
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I’m sharing a walkthrough of various tools and s I’m sharing a walkthrough of various tools and systems that help me to get things done. It’s a practical episode, and I hope to encourage you, if nothing else, to take a look at how your days are going and ask yourself some simple questions like:⁣
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What is working and what is not working?⁣
Where do I find myself wasting time?⁣
Where can I make better use of my time?⁣
Can I simplify my days or various tasks or automate them?⁣
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Who doesn’t want to save money, time, their sani Who doesn’t want to save money, time, their sanity, reduce stress, eat healthy and avoid the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?” It sounds great, right, and we’d all love to do it, but how do we get there?⁣
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Though gradually, though no one remembers exactly Though gradually, though no one remembers exactly how it happened, the unthinkable becomes tolerable. And then acceptable. And then legal. And then applaudable.⁣
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