Is This Controversy Worth It?

What benefit is there in religious controversies among Christians?  Are there ever any benefits?  If so, when are there enough of them to make conversation worthwhile?

These are difficult questions to answer because there are so many types of religious controversies and social settings where they appear.  Some people tend to think there is hardly ever any benefit to be gained from such controversies, while others tend to think there is almost always great benefit in them.


Think Before Getting Involved

Consider why the particular controversy exists.  How significant is the issue?  Has it been important in the past?  Will it likely be consequential in the future?

Assess the dispositions of the people involved.  What are the motivations?  Why get involved in the discussion?  Is there a something worthy to be gained? 

Proceed Cautiously

When there is a significant level of important religious truth and a great benefit to be gained, be humble and cautious in moving ahead.  Keep these four questions always before you.

• Is the purpose to find truth and submit to it?

• Is the methodology that of serious dependence upon Scripture and honest consideration of historical interpretation?

• Is there more than one resolution possible with all our current limitations of knowledge?

• Is there the possibility of different wise applications to different people and situations?

Beware of the Spoilers

Many religious people engage in religious controversies not for personal benefit or others’ benefit.  Instead, they like to spoil the investigation and any resolutions for good.

• Some create worthless controversies, or exaggerate controversies, even making insinuations about others’ viewpoints. They become unwitting instruments of the devil for chaos.


• Some engage in debates with pride, not with humble submission to learn and to teach helpfully. They want to gain personal standing with their peers, or leaders, or many people.


• Some distract others from attaining the goal of resolution and resting in the truth. They destroy the faith of the weak and bring restlessness to God’s people.


• Some use Scripture in a purposefully confusing manner that disregards its authorial intention. They want to fulfill their own selfish desires, with lust and greed being common. 


• Some assert their opinion, whether settled or unsettled, as the best; and then obligate agreement with them. They divide the church, destroying the work of God.

Get the Mission Out

The reality is that there are many religious controversies; and some are more significant than others.  Many can be substantially resolved, and many cannot.  Some can be resolved for a whole community, but some only personally.

Perhaps unbelievers are listening in on the conversation, or have joined the conversation.  Think about how to turn the conversation for evangelistic purposes.  And for all the believers involved, determine how to advance the conversation beyond theological controversy toward its value in fulfilling the Mission of God in the world.  

Choose carefully which controversial conversations to enter.  And then proceed purposefully through the discussions to the end.  By keeping the Mission constantly in view the true value of the controversy will surface.  And this will make it all worth it!