Religious Controversy Will Religious Controversy Will ComeCome

……because the devil is trying to destroy our because the devil is trying to destroy our faith. faith. (1 Peter 5:8)(1 Peter 5:8)

……Because the Bible warns brethren that Because the Bible warns brethren that “the time will “the time will

come when they will not endure sound come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears doctrine; but wanting to have their ears

tickled, they will accumulate for tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn their ears from the truth and will turn

aside to myths.” aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Religious Controversy Will Religious Controversy Will ComeCome

This is why the preacher must teach at all This is why the preacher must teach at all times w/o fear or favor of men times w/o fear or favor of men (2 Tim. 4:2; (2 Tim. 4:2;

Gal. 1:10).Gal. 1:10).Christians must know how to contend Christians must know how to contend earnestly for the faith & not their opinion earnestly for the faith & not their opinion

(Jude 1:3; Ro. 14:1).(Jude 1:3; Ro. 14:1).We must remember to humbly speak the truth We must remember to humbly speak the truth

in love so that God might be glorified, not in love so that God might be glorified, not ourselves ourselves (1 Peter 4:11; Eph. 4:15).(1 Peter 4:11; Eph. 4:15).

By doing that, we will be able to cast down By doing that, we will be able to cast down arguments that are raised up against God’s arguments that are raised up against God’s word so that we can be obedient to Christ. word so that we can be obedient to Christ.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-6)(2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

What Makes Controversy What Makes Controversy NecessaryNecessary

Because there are false teachers who Because there are false teachers who deceive many people with their smooth deceive many people with their smooth

and flattering speech which causes and flattering speech which causes division and leads people to speak evil division and leads people to speak evil of the truth. of the truth. (Romans 16:17-(Romans 16:17-

18; 2 Peter 2:1-3)18; 2 Peter 2:1-3) Christians are commanded, Christians are commanded, “Do not “Do not

participate in the unfruitful deeds of participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose darkness, but instead even expose

them” them” (Ephesians 5:11). (Ephesians 5:11). Our love for the truth must be greater than Our love for the truth must be greater than

our love for our family, friendships, our love for our family, friendships, teachers and preachers teachers and preachers (1 Cor. 4:6; (1 Cor. 4:6; Matthew 10:34-37).Matthew 10:34-37).

What You Should Do in What You Should Do in ControversyControversy

Examine both sides of an issue by the Bible Examine both sides of an issue by the Bible before making a judgment on it. before making a judgment on it.

(Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21-22)(Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21-22)Don’t be prejudiced because of the teacher Don’t be prejudiced because of the teacher

but test it to see if it is true but test it to see if it is true (1 John 4:1, (1 John 4:1, 6).6).

Pray for wisdom and courage to speak the Pray for wisdom and courage to speak the truth with unbelievers truth with unbelievers (Col. 4:2-6; James (Col. 4:2-6; James

1:5). 1:5). Be quick to hear and slow to speak so that Be quick to hear and slow to speak so that

you will keep your anger under control. you will keep your anger under control. (James 1:19-21)(James 1:19-21)

What You Should Do in What You Should Do in ControversyControversy

Be kind, longsuffering, and gentle when Be kind, longsuffering, and gentle when you correct others with the truth you correct others with the truth (2 Tim. (2 Tim.

2:24-26).2:24-26). Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos teach the Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos teach the

baptism of John only and privately baptism of John only and privately explained God’s word more accurately explained God’s word more accurately

(Acts 18:24-26).(Acts 18:24-26).

If you are wrong, confess & forsake it If you are wrong, confess & forsake it (Pr. (Pr. 28:13) 28:13)

When Daniel decided that he could not When Daniel decided that he could not defile himself with the king’s food and defile himself with the king’s food and

wine (after he was taken into captivity), wine (after he was taken into captivity), he requested to eat vegetables and he requested to eat vegetables and

drink water drink water (Daniel 1:8ff). (Daniel 1:8ff).

Dangers to Avoid in Dangers to Avoid in ControversyControversy

Do not be disrepectful to authority Do not be disrepectful to authority (Titus (Titus 3:1ff). 3:1ff).

Do not use carnal tactics Do not use carnal tactics (intimidation, (intimidation, yelling, questioning motives, personal yelling, questioning motives, personal attacks, or name calling) attacks, or name calling) but humbly but humbly cast down their arguments with God’s cast down their arguments with God’s

word. word. (2 (2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Daniel 3:16ff)Corinthians 10:3-6; Daniel 3:16ff)

Do not twist or misapply the Scriptures to Do not twist or misapply the Scriptures to defend your argument defend your argument (2 Peter 3:16-17). (2 Peter 3:16-17).

Do not allow an emotional appeal to blind Do not allow an emotional appeal to blind you to the truth you to the truth (2 Thess. 2:9-12).(2 Thess. 2:9-12).

False Arguments vs. TruthFalse Arguments vs. TruthConcerning music in worship a person Concerning music in worship a person contends, contends, “Instrumental music was used “Instrumental music was used

in the Old Testament and therefore is in the Old Testament and therefore is acceptable worship for today.” acceptable worship for today.”

The Bible teaches that Christ abolished the The Bible teaches that Christ abolished the Law of Moses when he died on the cross Law of Moses when he died on the cross

(Ephesians 2:15) (Ephesians 2:15) and under the New and under the New Covenant we are commanded to “sing Covenant we are commanded to “sing and make melody in our heart to the and make melody in our heart to the

Lord”. Lord”. (Ephesians 5:19). (Ephesians 5:19).

False Arguments vs. TruthFalse Arguments vs. TruthSomeone says, Someone says, “I know I’m saved. I “I know I’m saved. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for a whole wouldn’t trade this feeling for a whole

stack of Bibles.” stack of Bibles.”

That doesn’t change the truth that Jesus is That doesn’t change the truth that Jesus is the author of eternal life to all who obey the author of eternal life to all who obey

Him Him (Heb. 5:8) (Heb. 5:8) and fails to heed the and fails to heed the warning against trusting in your feelings warning against trusting in your feelings

(Pr. 14:12).(Pr. 14:12).

““But what if a person is on his deathbed But what if a person is on his deathbed and he can’t get to water to be and he can’t get to water to be

baptized.” baptized.”

That doesn’t change what the Bible says- That doesn’t change what the Bible says- baptism is for the remission of sins baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts (Acts

2:38; 22:16).2:38; 22:16).

False Arguments vs. TruthFalse Arguments vs. TruthIn the Judgment Day, many will argue that In the Judgment Day, many will argue that

they have prophesied, cast out demons, they have prophesied, cast out demons, and have done many wonderful works in and have done many wonderful works in Jesus’ name but the Lord will tell them, Jesus’ name but the Lord will tell them,

“Depart from me I never knew you”“Depart from me I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23).(Matthew 7:22-23).

Just because we claim to do something in Just because we claim to do something in Jesus’ name with honest and sincerity Jesus’ name with honest and sincerity doesn’t mean that we will be saved. doesn’t mean that we will be saved.

We must do the will of the Father in heaven We must do the will of the Father in heaven in order to go to heaven in order to go to heaven (Matthew 7:21).(Matthew 7:21).

ConclusionConclusionFalse arguments are leading souls to be False arguments are leading souls to be

lost to those who believe and succumb lost to those who believe and succumb to them.to them.

We must speak the truth in love so that We must speak the truth in love so that souls might be saved and God might be souls might be saved and God might be

glorified.glorified.By keeping our motives pure & conscience By keeping our motives pure & conscience

clean we can serve God & stem the tide clean we can serve God & stem the tide of sin.of sin.

The truth will set you free from sin The truth will set you free from sin (Jn. (Jn. 8:32-34).8:32-34).

Do you need to obey the gospel or be Do you need to obey the gospel or be restored this morning restored this morning (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts

8:20-22)?8:20-22)?