The Resurrection Raised a Ruckus
When the early church first went out with the gospel, it is doubtful that any other teaching met with more resistance than the resurrection of Jesus Christ (e.g. Acts 4:1-3; 17:30-32. For many, Jew and Gentile alike, the resurrection was too much to bear. But the apostles knew that the resurrection is essential to the gospel, and that they were commissioned by Christ to proclaim it to all nations (Lk 24:45-49). And though the preaching of the resurrection raised skepticism and animosity in some, it raised others from death to eternal life (e.g. Acts 2:32-41; 10:38-43).
It is important to note that, while the resurrection of Christ was inherently controversial to both Jews and pagans, the evangelists were not controversialists. Ambassadors of Christ, they urged people to flee from sin and wrath and to run to him for forgiveness of sins through his blood and new life through his resurrection. Compassion for souls and concern for Christ's glory motivated our forefathers, not controversy.
On the other hand, "an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words" is indicative of false teachers, not true pastors and evangelists (1 Tim 6:4). To qualify as a pastor in Christ's church, a man must be "gentle, not quarrelsome" (1 Tim 3:3). Paul zeroed in on this topic in the pastoral epistles (I & II Tim, Titus) frequently. Pastors need to hear this. "O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge,' (1 Tim 6:20)," "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness" (2 Tim 2:16). Paul tells pastors to instruct their flock likewise: "to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2)."
While one could argue that controversy was prevalent in the early church (e.g. the equal standing of Jews and Gentiles in Christ - see Acts 13:48-50), no honest argument can be made that topics unrelated to the gospel were the cause of disputes. When the early church encountered controversy, it was over the gospel and nothing but the gospel. The church did not debate inferior topics. To do so would have side-tracked them at best (and Satan would have loved that). At worst it would have led them to promote a different cause, religion, and Christ (and Satan would have loved that).
True, the gospel transforms how a Christian thinks about government, slavery, taxation, social issues, education, marriage, family, etc. Yes, the Bible addresses these topics, but it does so as outflow of the gospel itself, as application. These subordinate issues can only be understood properly through the gospel lens, and they were not the central point of discussion or division in the book of Acts. The entire message centered on the God who became man, lived a perfect life, gave his life for sinners, and was raised on the third day. Faith in this gospel transforms everything else. And, despite all opposition, the gospel did spread (e.g. Acts 6:7; 13:49. There is life giving power in preaching Christ crucified and risen.
Some mistake the presence of controversy as proof positive that they are following in the path of the apostles, fighting darkness with light, engaging lies with truth, bringing good news to a bad news world. But let me remind you that the world is perfectly able to fight over things that have nothing to do with Christ. We were really good at this before Christ came into our lives, "passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another (Titus 3:3)." Being contentious does not mean we are contending earnestly for the faith. And, as Jude tells us, the faithful need to contend for the faith because false teachers had crept into the church: "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:3-4). Too many would prefer to apply this text to fighting the tidal wave of evil outside of the church.
I am not wrong when I say that what passes as Christianity today is often linked to quarrels and controversies, and even more so now than when I was young. Rush Limbaugh did not help steer my parents' generation, my generation, nor the YouTube generation away from this. Whether you associate the E.I.B network with Christianity or not, Christians have eaten a steady diet of scoffing.
"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (Prov 1:22–23)
What issue or issues currently link the church to controversy? Is it, as in ages past, because of the preaching of Christ crucified and risen? I would never suggest that the resurrection has lost its offense to Jews and Gentiles alike. But is the resurrection the issue (or even the primary issue) that raises the culture's ire against Christ's church today? Do I even need to answer? Would we dare to say that the church is best known for her gentleness and kindness, her self control and singular focus on Christ's gospel? Does the church "show perfect courtesy toward all people" as she has been commanded (Titus 3:2)?
Furthermore, many who claim the badge of evangelical Christian, unlike their predecessors in the apostolic era, are known controversialists—proudly pugnacious. Quarreling is their delight and their badge of honor. To step into the fight is courageous. To step away is cowardice. How many "Charlie Kirk DESTROYS Crazy College Liberal" tags can you stomach?
May I remind you that Jews, Catholics, and Mormons—who do not believe in the same Jesus we proclaim (despite what Dallas Jenkins, producer of The Chosen says)—go to college campuses and canvas social media to discuss issues of marriage, family, immigration, guns, abortion, and government. Once again, does the gospel touch on these issues? Yes! But we have to admit that people can agree with us on these topics, without the gospel. People who deny that Jesus is eternally God, came in the flesh as the Messiah, was slain for sinners, and rose in victory over death can stir up controversy on all of these topics with the best of them. The presence of controversy does not ensure the presence of Christ.
Don't mistake what I am saying. It takes boldness to preach Christ's resurrection to skeptics and scoffers. But it also takes boldness to subordinate our other interests, even strong convictions about important matters, to the primacy of the gospel. It takes guts to stay out of the fray on lesser issues so as to not detract from the central issue, the gospel.
If we are stirring people to animosity and ire because of what we say, it had better be for Christ and Christ alone—not a Christ we’ve appended to some other agenda or dog-and-pony show. May we, as Christ's people, sideline those fire-fights for the sake of the Gospel. May we be bold enough to silence the voices of those who fan those flames. Those voices are speaking to you! It is up to you to take the remote in hand and turn them off, to click “unfollow,” and to change your lifestyle.
What do I desire for Christ's church? "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling” (1 Tim 2:8).
