Gift to the church

When the Church has a problem it really has two problems. The first problem is the problem. The second problem is how to handle the first problem.

I have become aware of a controversy in the small circles I move in. It has to do with matters of doctrine --- and doctrine is important to Christ: "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). "[The overseer] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9).

So doctrine is nothing to go soft on.

Interestingly, however, one of the chief doctrines is love. The whole Old Testament is summed up in the doctrine to love God and love neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Moreover, love is the "aim" of all doctrine. While telling Timothy to stay put in Ephesus and "charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:3), Paul says, "The aim of our charge is love…." (v.5).

So how to you do that --- hold firm to doctrine and hold firm to love?

There are some Christian controversies that are as old as the hills (millennium, baptism, Sabbath). Is it not possible that these have been around so long because the issues are genuinely "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16), and because each of the disagreeing parties has some genuine kernel of insight in his position?

Maybe controversies are God's gift to the church to force us to listen to and love one another?