The Trouble with Controversies

(Titus 3:9-11 – The Trouble with Controversies)

The scripture I am looking at today is a warning. Don’t become entangled with controversies. The trouble with controversies is that they do not lead to the love of God. They lead only to argument, dissension, frustration and worse. And many controversies are filled with bias and prejudice, so they are based upon lies.

The trouble with controversies, as this scripture clearly points out, is that by nature they are pointless and futile. And a person who constantly seeks out controversies, conspiracy theories, and quarrels over matters that do not lead to salvation is walking in sinful ways.

The trouble with controversies is that they do not lead to peace. And the man or woman of God should be seeking the peace of God.

The Trouble with Controversies

First, let us look at the scripture today that points out the trouble with controversies. This is what it has to say:

9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. 10 As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11)

We are instructed here how to deal with controversies. Avoid them!

The message is quite clear. Controversies lead to dissensions, quarreling and all manner of unfruitful and unprofitable things. Christians do not need the anxiety and frustration that comes with controversies. Leave that to the world.

Controversies are everywhere

The world is filled with controversies, conspiracies, and the like. You see them reported every day in the news. And many of them are fabricated and manipulated by people who have a vested interest in drama rather than truth.

Consider the media. They report only those things that are attention grabbing and dramatic. So, they have a vested interest in controversies, and when you listen to much of the questioning by reporters, it is inflammatory and biased, aiming only to create or fuel controversy.

The trouble with controversies in the church

But it is worse when controversies hit the church. And this was the point being made by Paul in these words. When he spoke of genealogies and quarrels over the law, he was pointing directly at the issues in the church.

The church today is not unaffected by these things either. Still we have people arguing about points of law. They seem to have forgotten that Christ has set us free from the law, so such arguments are totally pointless. This is the problem with controversies in the church. Too often they are based on things that are pointless.

An example of a pointless controversy

Consider the scripture that speaks about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Recently I referred to these as the “fruits” of the Spirit. I have had several people make the point that the scripture actually says “fruit” (singular) and not “fruits” (plural). It became a bit of a controversy and I have read articles on-line that discuss this singular/plural use of the word.

To be honest, does it matter? Who cares if it says fruit or fruits? When we talk about a the fruit of an apple or orange tree, we refer to the fruit as singular, even though the tree bears many fruits.

The important consideration is whether you are bearing the fruit or fruits of the Spirit in your life. Whether you use a singular or plural word to describe it is of no consequence. And besides the fruit of the Spirit is also referred to in the plural elsewhere.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22-23)

Arguments about things like this just leads to controversy and pointlessness. It is a distraction designed to lead us away from what is important, which is developing the fruit, into argumentativeness which will prevent the fruit or fruits from growing within us. And this is the trouble with controversies.

The Trouble with Controversies amongst God’s people

The scripture today continues on to describe the people who seek out controversies. And I am sure you have seen or met such people.

There are people who may come into the church that are factious. They stir up trouble and divide the church. Their controversial arguments lead to dissension and quarreling among the brethren.

Paul is quite clear about what to do with such people. Warn them, teach them, admonish them once or twice. But if they continue to be factious, then remove them from the church.

This may seem harsh at first glance, but it is for the protection of the rest of the body. Factious words have a way of dividing people leading to party spirit and suspicions between the two sides of the controversy. And this is the trouble with controversies. They are divisive and sources of argument where none should exist.

This is why Paul says to admonish them once or twice, but if they don’t relinquish their factious and controversial ways, then put them out of the church.

People who follow the path of controversies and just want to argue the point are sinful and perverted, as Paul stated. Such people have no place in the church where we are trying to reject sin and live lives that honour and respect God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, don’t become involved in controversies. Avoid them as we are instructed here. Don’t listen to conspiracy theories or those who espouse them because the trouble with controversies is that they will tear you down and lead your mind to focus on the things of the world rather than the things of God.

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