How about Jesus and controversy?
Introduction. Many today have been programmed and brainwashed into believing that all controversy and argumentation is wrong. "I do not believe in arguing religion," some are heard saying. Sermons and articles which are combative are immediately viewed as wrong. But how about Jesus and controversy?
Jesus opposed all religious error. Jesus began to actively teach and seek to cause others to examine their beliefs as early as twelve years of age (Luke 2: 46). Jesus often condemned His brethren because of their false doctrines and corruption (Matt. 8: 10-12; 16: 2-4, 6, 11-12; 23: 3-7). Jesus often presented a simple but devastating contrast between truth and their teaching (Matt. 5: 43-48). Jesus directly and militantly challenged the religious teachers of his day (Matt. 9: 4; 11: 16-19; 12: 3-8; 15: 1-9). Even Jesus' famous sermon on the mount was actually given as an expose of the prevailing false doctrine of the day (Matt. 5, 6, 7).
Jesus engaged in formal debate. As the Bible student analyzes Jesus' style when in confrontation, he finds that Jesus actually employed the standard rabbinical dialectics of formal rules for argumentation. We are told that the procedures for debate were: (1) the original entrapment question, (2) the counter-question, (3) the expected reply, (4) and a brief, often incomplete, reply to silence the questioner. Look closely at Jesus' conduct in Matthew 22: 15-22; 21: 23-27, and Mark 10: 2-9. Jesus is in formal, public debate. Compare Jesus' practice with the average preacher today who will not publicly discuss his positions.
It must be stated that Jesus only engaged in honorable controversy. Jesus never misrepresented an opponent, never clouded the real issue by sinfully assigning motives, and He never behaved in an unseemly fashion. We urge you to examine your attitudes toward proper controversy and combative teaching (Jude 3).
Jesus opposed all religious error. Jesus began to actively teach and seek to cause others to examine their beliefs as early as twelve years of age (Luke 2: 46). Jesus often condemned His brethren because of their false doctrines and corruption (Matt. 8: 10-12; 16: 2-4, 6, 11-12; 23: 3-7). Jesus often presented a simple but devastating contrast between truth and their teaching (Matt. 5: 43-48). Jesus directly and militantly challenged the religious teachers of his day (Matt. 9: 4; 11: 16-19; 12: 3-8; 15: 1-9). Even Jesus' famous sermon on the mount was actually given as an expose of the prevailing false doctrine of the day (Matt. 5, 6, 7).
Jesus engaged in formal debate. As the Bible student analyzes Jesus' style when in confrontation, he finds that Jesus actually employed the standard rabbinical dialectics of formal rules for argumentation. We are told that the procedures for debate were: (1) the original entrapment question, (2) the counter-question, (3) the expected reply, (4) and a brief, often incomplete, reply to silence the questioner. Look closely at Jesus' conduct in Matthew 22: 15-22; 21: 23-27, and Mark 10: 2-9. Jesus is in formal, public debate. Compare Jesus' practice with the average preacher today who will not publicly discuss his positions.
It must be stated that Jesus only engaged in honorable controversy. Jesus never misrepresented an opponent, never clouded the real issue by sinfully assigning motives, and He never behaved in an unseemly fashion. We urge you to examine your attitudes toward proper controversy and combative teaching (Jude 3).