Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Necessity of Controversy




What happens when controversy rears its head and cracks in our unity appear?

Theological controversies invariably reveal that there are significant differences that people hold to on matters of doctrine, whilst the quarrelling parties both claim to stand for the orthodox position as understood both biblically and historically.

The long term wrangling over what constitutes essential evangelical doctrines is a case in point. Can you be evangelical and deny inerrancy, or justification by faith alone, or penal substitutionary atonement, or God's exhaustive foreknowledge, or the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, or eternal conscious torment in hell?

When an individual, or a party, wants to use the term evangelical but includes in that term views that are fundamentally opposed to beliefs directly essential to, or necessarily undergirding, an evangelical position then controversy is inevitable.

For controversy not to result would be the effect of an unstated but controlling theological principle that renders all doctrines essential to an evangelical position negotiable and effectively non-essential. That unstated position would itself show that a compromise on essential truths had already been made.

Even though controversy is inevitable is it desirable? The answer must be yes. For without controversy whatever unity that exists is as solid as the mist on an Autumn morning. It is merely a numbers and influence game, a fantasy and not a reality.

How can you stand for a unity that doesn't solidly exist upon matters of belief? Not only does the emporer have no clothes, but the empire is invisible too.

What is the point in having an agreed statement of essential beliefs that no one really adheres to because no one is willing to enforce it? If we have any concern for the truth we would surely want it to be made clear rather than being obscured by fog of meaningless ambiguous phrases.

Controversy, however, as most of us fear, can quickly become an ugly business. We can rapidly move the emphasis from what is right, to ourselves being right, or being seen to be right. Patient listening, charitable interpretation, and a desire for unity can be soon lost.

We are on a knife edge as we deal with these matters. Truth must not be traded, sounds words must not be emptied of their meaning, and compromise must not be the master of integrity. Desperate prayers for wisdom are to be top of the agenda, and we must think our way through these matters seeking understanding, light and clarity.

Perhaps this fear is what lies at the root of an unwillingness to engage in controversy even when there is an irreconcilable disagreement on matters of truth and error. We see the fraying tempers, the soured relationships, the carrying of tales and exaggerations, and we rightly feel that we want no part of that.

At this point we must distinguish between matters of orthopraxy in relation to the truth (the Pauline imperative to "hold fast" and "follow the pattern of sound words") and in matters of godly integrity (just read everything that Paul says to Timothy and Titus about how to be godly in the thick of a theological fight). We must distinguish between these two areas, and we must practice the truth in both of them without compromise.

Obedience in holding to the truth, and obedience in the practice of the truth, go hand in hand. But when error reaches a crescendo in the form of a false gospel then I must not think that bad attitudes among those who hold to the truth can be equated with the danger posed by heresy (Gal. 1:8-10).

That should not make me go easy on sins of bearing false witness, or pride (2 Tim. 2:24-26). The King is not honoured when I behave like this. But I would rather eat wholesome food served by a grumpy waitress than a meal laced with poison served by a seemingly sweet natured chef.

One of the benefits of controversy is the progress made from confusion to clarity. Luther made the following observations on the matter:

If heresies and offenses come, Christendom will only profit thereby, for they make Christians to read diligently the Holy Writ and ponder the same with industry...Thus through heretics and offenses we are kept alert and stouthearted and amid wrangles and battles understand God's word better than before.

William Cunningham's words are a fitting summary:

The uses of theological controversy are, to expose error, and to produce and diffuse clear and correct opinions upon all points of doctrine.

It is the church's imperative duty to aim at these objects, and controversy seems to be as indispensable with a view to the second as to the first of them. But it is an evil and an abuse, when the exposure of error is made to serve as a substitute for the realization and application of what is admitted to be true.

"The Reformers and the doctrine of assurance" in The Reformers and the Theology of the Reformation, p. 148

9 comments:

Mike said...

I am not sure I totally get what is being expressed here...is the desire for controversy likened to the analogy that we need darkness to know what light is? if that is true I get it. but I think there are deeper questions here...and that is the question of certainty.

this is what I think many orthodox evangelicals and neo-atheists have in common...and for those of us who believe (but have doubts about what we profess to believe) we are relegated to a no-man's land where we are forced to chose between world views that we feel dishonest in choosing right from the start.

Clearly there is no space in the evangelical church for the honest discussion of these matters...similarly is there no space in the realm of atheist thought for discussion of spiritual matters. So what are we left with? the world between meaningless atheism and untenable religion. Perhaps the paradox is where the truth is found.

Todd Pruitt said...

Mike,

I am sure that there are churches where people who have questions are not welcome but that has never been my experience.

If you are looking for a church where you are told it's fine to kinda believe in God and some of the Jesus stuff but not really be sure, then I would recommend the Unitarians. Don't expect historic evangelical Protestant churches to say that doubt is a good place to remain.

The church I pastor welcomes anyone with any question. In fact it's a positive good in my mind. But I cannot imagine saying, "Remain in your doubts. I don't expect you to ever believe that the Bible is the Word of God and therefore is sufficient for life and godliness. No problem if you are never quite convinced that Jesus is Lord and Savior." That would be spiritual violence and pastoral malpractice.

Mike said...

so what you are saying then is that it is OK to come with questions...but you had better accept our answers...at least on what we have decided are "fundamentals"...otherwise go somewhere else with your questions.

I find that evangelicals say that questions are good and healthy but only in the context that the questionner accepts the evangelical worldview in response to those questions...if not the questions are "dangerous".

I also find that many evangelicals say that they are not afraid of the difficult question...and I have found, for the most part, that that is true...but what they are terrified of (truly terrified)is the difficult answer...the answer that does not fit the biblical worldview that has been created for them. It it time to break free.

Todd Pruitt said...

Mike,

I will try to be more clear.

It is not responsible to say, "It's okay to never really accept what the Bible says. Don't really believe in God? No problem. Don't really believe in Christ's atoning death? No big deal. None of us really know the truth anyway."

If that's where you want to live then check out the Unitarians or the UCC. But don't expect all of us to buy into your postmodern angst and confusion. Don't expect all of us to now decide that what God's Word says is not trustworthy.

And unbeliever is welcome any time. But they should not expect me or any responsible evangelical to bless their unbelief. Are you even remotely aware of what the Scriptures say about unbelief?

Not sure why you would call the sin of unbelief breaking free. What a sad distortion of freedom!

Anonymous said...

I find the dangerous answers to be those that are absolute and unbending. Mike, perhaps YOU are afraid of the dangerous answers.

Mike said...

Harley A...thanks, you make my point better than I did

Anonymous said...

Well I think you may have missed my point. Christ said, "Who do YOU say that I am?" That's a dangerous question. It forces decision and brings division - just like He said it would.

Mike L said...

Mike, I would recommend reading D.A. Carson's "Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church". I think it addresses just what you are talking about and explains quite clearly what Todd is talking about.

Todd Pruitt said...

Excellent point Harley. Jesus asked very "dangerous" questions because the answers were quite clear but often unpopular.

Mike, remember what Jesus said about those who do not believe in John 3. Unbelief is not a humble position. Scripture clearly identifies unbelief as a deadly sin.

Mike L - I appreciated Carson's book. Of course it was skewered by the emergent crowd. But Carson's critique of Steve Chalke and Brian McLaren was spot on.