Chapter 20

Chapter 20 The spirit of controversy opposed to the exercise of pious joy

There is but one more positive obstruction to the joy of salvation, to which we shall direct the consideration of the reader; it is the spirit of religious contention.

"Offences must come," and differences of opinion in relation to religious doctrines will exist; and hence we may infer, that the collision of opposing sects, and of members of the same sect, with shades of difference, will operate more or less among the armies of Israel. This is owing, in part, to human infirmity; but much more, perhaps, to human depravity.

It is not in place here to enter fully into the circumstances which allow, and in some cases even oblige, good men to engage in the polemics of piety. No one can doubt that such occasions do exist; and that Christians would betray their high trust, if they were to allow in silence, Divine truth to be impugned, and souls to be endangered by its perversion. But with this concession, how evident is it, that controversy is entered upon, in many cases, where neither the amount of difference, nor the causes of provocation are sufficient to justify it! All the sad consequences of disturbing the peace of Christians, and of prejudicing piety in the eyes of the world, are incurred, when the diversity of belief is so unimportant as, by the judgment of both parties, invalidates not the claim of either to true piety. If all such cases were at once withdrawn from the field of conflict, and those left which regard only fundamental principles, what a sudden calm would succeed the now agitated and tempestuous scene!

If this spirit of controversy could be confined to the mettlesome leaders in the affray, it would save piety from a vast amount of injury. But when the spirit of strife and contention is made to pervade large sections of the church; and the humble Christian, even in his retirement, is compelled to hear and to respond to the startling notes of the war-trumpet—to buckle on his armor, and rush to the conflict—God’s Israel becomes like a vast military encampment, where nothing is to be heard but the preparation notes of battle, or the clanging of resounding weapons.

Now, as the deadliest strife among nations often derives its origin from slight causes, so this ecclesiastical warfare is waged many times for the settlement of points as to which the actual difference is the most difficult point of all to be ascertained. The fierceness of the struggle, however, instead of being, as one would suppose, proportioned to the magnitude of the errors, is often greater as the points of difference diminish. How does piety languish, and how do her joys fade away, before this collision of excited minds!—in which, instead of provoking one another "to love and to good works," the main effort appears to be, to enlist the greatest number of people to a party, and to wield the mightiest influence! Party leaders seem resolved that no Christian shall stand neutral in any given strife; and that, be the points at issue more or less important, each one must declare openly for or against the party. They take their stand on the high places, like Saul at Gibeah, and hewing their sacrifice in pieces, send them abroad over the land, declaring that "so shall it be done unto the man" who does not enlist under their flag. The Christian who is enabled to stand aloof from this warfare, is privileged indeed. It is wholly adverse to the growth of piety; and if participated in, to any considerable extent, must inevitably rob the soul of its felicity. Who can enumerate the topics of religious strife, which, in various assemblies, and through various publications, are now thrust upon the attention of the church? How many combinations, pro and anti, are formed, with a view to coerce, almost, the Christian into their ranks! What various conflicting claims are presented among members of the same communion! The excitement which all this produces, cannot be friendly to the development of spiritual piety. It cannot promote "the peaceable fruits of righteousness;" except on the principle, that God may overrule one of the greatest afflictions of our Zion to the furtherance of her joy.

There is nothing in our piety which tends to produce this spirit of contention. Piety is peaceful in its design, and in its commands. The soul that has felt its influence is full of love to all mankind. It takes its tone from Him who "came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them."

What a variety of beautiful texts might be cited, to show how opposite to this contentious spirit is the whole tenor of the gospel! "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another," John 13:34. "Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law," Romans 13:10. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." Romans 12:10. "Be pitiful, be courteous," 1 Peter 3:8. "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men," 2 Timothy 2:24. "While one says, I am Paul; and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal?" 1 Corinthians 3:4. "Be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace," 2 Corinthians 13:11. "Charity is the bond of perfectness," Colossians 3:14. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, 1 Corinthians 13:7, 1 Corinthians 13:13. In view of the manifest injury to the soul which the spirit of religious controversy inflicts, and with these passages of Scripture before us, how can we expect to retain our Christian peace and joy while mingling in the conflict? But it may be replied, "Truth must be maintained; and it is necessary that some individuals should consent, even against their wish, to stand forth as her champions." This has already been conceded; but with the concession, it is still lamentably true, that the present times are fearfully rife with causes of contention, which, in themselves comparatively unimportant, are magnified to such a degree, that the struggle is as heated and violent as if the very ark of God was threatened with annihilation. This spirit is breathed into the church all over the land, and operates, like the passage of a tornado, to uproot and desolate the verdant beauties of Zion; or, if this figure be too strong, we shall call it a kind of malaria, which, insinuating itself into every section of the church, causes cold shiverings and feeble pulses in men who were accustomed to rejoice in the full vigor of health. Such has been its effect in our land; and piety has gradually declined in her attractiveness, and been deprived of much of her influence; while a scoffing world has felt at liberty to cavil at our faith, and to question the sincerity of our professions. Piety has been blamed for that which she has all the while been aiming to destroy, namely, a spirit of unholy contention; and it becomes true Christians to rescue her from these aspersions by exemplifying the charity which she enjoins.