Disputable Matters
Illustration – The Hatfield and McCoy feud (1863–1891)
In most cases, when a dispute ends in violence there is a bit of history behind the dispute. Probably the most famous dispute in America was between two families living in the West Virginia/Kentucky area along the Tug Fork creek of the Big Sandy River. The Hatfields were a family of English origin that lived in West Virginia and the McCoys were a family of Scottish-Irish origin that lived in Kentucky. Some might say the two families’ differing genetics made it easy for a feud to exist. Of course there was also the fact that the Hatfields were prosperous and politically connected; but, the McCoys were considerably poorer and without political connections. In any event, historical setting of these two families made it easy for a simple dispute to turn violent.
The first real act of violence was when Asa Harmon McCoy, who fought for the North, was returning from the Civil War and he was murdered by a group of ex-Confederate Homeguards called the Logan Wildcats. Although, there was no proof that the Hatfields were involved in the killing, suspicions and emotions had been stirred up and they were never put to rest.
The actual feud itself was launched about 13 years later over the issue of who owned a particular hog. At this time in America, and in this particular area, it was not unusual for hogs to be allowed to roam freely. To identify your hogs you would notch their ear in a pattern, which identified your family connection to the hog. In this particular case, Floyd Hatfield had the hog, but Randolph McCoy claimed it was his, because the "notches" on the pig's ears were McCoy, not Hatfield, marks. Initially the dispute was taken to the local Justice of the Peace who was Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield. He decided the pig belonged to Floyd Hatfield because of the testimony of Bill Staten, a relative of both families. Soon after this, Staten was killed by two McCoy brothers, Sam and Paris, who were arrested but later acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. This then started one of the most horrific family feuds in the United States. The long historic feud, with all its hate and violence and killing, demonstrates how we can let our emotions overrule logic and in the process destroy many lives.
Christian Disputes
The history of Christianity is riddled with religious disputes, which have led to violence, ranging from the Albigensian Crusade to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. As tragic as this is, the real heart wrenching issue is how easily we get caught up in all the little disputes, which may not end in violence, but almost always serve to weaken and divide the Body of Christ.
To all my brothers and sisters in Christ: let us stop lifting up our particular brand of religious behavior whilst putting down another Christian’s belief. It is a tragedy that some of us can get so excited about our unique belief, regarding an elementary religious principle, that we will elevate our belief to the position of being a salvation-defining doctrine or a requirement for fellowship. Can we not agree to stop this empty and foolish chatter about the words we use to describe something, or the days we chose to celebrate something, or how we conduct church activities, or any other human-fabricated religious requirement? Our devotion to these disputable matters has a tendency to take us captive; and, if the disputable matter is rooted in twisted philosophy or empty deception it is highly probably our devotion will damage unity in the Body of Christ and even weaken our own personal service. The solution is simple: don’t dispute over disputable matters: Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. (Romans 14:1 NIV) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:19-20 NASB) There is absolutely nothing to be gained by disputing over a disputable matter.
The fact that we do not dispute over disputable matters neither mean the disputable matter is wrong nor does it mean we are sinning if we have a special attachment to the disputable matter. I may believe it is permissible to drink a beer and another Christian may believe it is a sin to drink a beer. Our differing beliefs, however, are not grounds for our condemning the other person for not believing as we do. Should I choose to not celebrate Christmas it does not justify my condemning those who do celebrate Christmas. I may use the term “Resurrection Sunday” and another may use the term “Easter;” but this is not justification for our refusing to associate with one another. In many cases, there is no sin in the observance or abstention of a disputable matter. Sin is always found, however, in our disputing over a disputable matter.
Danger of Disputable Things
The sad truth in all of this are those Christians who love disputing so much that they will even dispute over the existence of disputable matters. These people are of the opinion that their personal or churches’ scriptural perspective is right and all other beliefs are the work of the devil. There is very little we can do in communicating with these people; for in reality their faith rests in stubborn adherence to church traditions and to man’s interpretation of scripture. Quite frequently the average person in their fellowship does not fully understand what it is they believe; they just know they are supposed to believe it. When people believe something they do not fully understand they are in danger of being dedicated to the ‘act of believing’ instead of the principles of the belief itself. Christians are often ready to dispute over what Grandpa told them without ever taking the time to check its scriptural foundation … if it even has one.
Having a blind dedication to the ‘act of believing’ church doctrine is putting your faith in what someone else believes, and this is a very dangerous place for a Christian to be. The New Testament is filled with warning for us to not fall captive to man-made ideas and doctrines. Paul told the Colossians: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) Paul is not attacking “philosophy,” which comes from the Greek word “philosophia.” Paul was a very learned man and had significant training in philosophy. Based on the context of its usage here, Paul is referring to a philosophy, which claims to teach about the spiritual order of God's creation but is devoid of Christ. This is especially obvious from his pairing philosophy with the words “empty deception,” which comes from the Greek words “kenos” meaning “vain or empty” and “apate” meaning “delusion or deceitfulness. In other words, Paul is warning us about religious teachings that are without Christian substance and are spiritually dangerous. This analysis of what Paul told the Colossians is reinforced by Paul’s linking these false teachings with the ‘tradition of men’ and ‘elementary principles of the world.’ Tradition of men comes from the Greek words “paradosis” and “anthropos.” Paul is defining philosophy and empty deception as being ideas, which have been generated by man and been given importance by church leadership; but, these traditions are without a solid scriptural foundation. In all probability, Paul is aiming at traditions originating from Jewish Law. For us it could be traditions originating within the minds of our fellowship’s founding fathers. The most poignant blow in Paul’s warning is his used of the term “elementary principles,” which comes from the Greek word “stoicheion” meaning “element, principle, or rudiment.” In other words, philosophy and empty deceptions are worldly attitudes and values and beliefs, which are devoid of biblical Christian principles. It is like our saying: ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ It sounds real churchy and it is good to be clean; but, it is nothing more than an elementary principle. If church leaders begin to build doctrines around this idea they could eventually have the congregation worshipping naked in a swimming pool.
Disputable matters can be a wolf in sheep clothing
There is a danger in our becoming dedicated to a disputable mater. This is especially true when the disputable matter is used by simple or evil men to reinforce a false doctrine. Jesus said: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16) In the hands of men like these a disputable matter can be wrapped in elementary principles of the world and used to enslave those who are biblically illiterate. Paul told the Colossians: “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)… in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-23) When handled by foolish men, disputable matters, all too often become the defining principles of a fellowship. It can get to the point where people place their confidence in the day they fellowship, the clothes they wear, speaking gibberish, not using musical instruments, or church rituals. Even worse, they use disputable matters as justification for rejecting all scriptural authority and the bible becomes history instead of the complete, final and accurate revelation of God’s will for mankind.
The undisputable fact is: the New Testament does contain God’s final and complete and accurate instructions for mankind. The only foundation on which we can build an enduring and successful relationship with Jesus Christ is the undefiled Word of God. That is why Jesus ended His sermon on the Mountain with: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27) Over 90% of the teachings in the New Testament are clear and concise and easy to understand … there is more than sufficient teachings on which to build our relationship with Jesus. That is why Paul told Timothy to guard what he has learned. He also told Timothy to avoid worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. (1Timothy 6:20-21) When we enter into discussions about disputable matters there is the real danger that these disputable matters could lead immature Christians into false knowledge. This does not mean we avoid disputable matter. It means we treat disputable matter for what they are and never allow room for worldly philosophies and empty deceptions.
Conclusion
Paul taught the Romans we must accept the fact that Christians are not all walking with Jesus on identical paths, and that we are not all at the same level of spiritual maturity. (Romans 14) If you are a Christian in America, the path you walk is probably much easier than that of a Christian in Nigeria or China. In America there is also a high probability that the path Christians walk in the country is different than the path Christians walk in the inner city. In fact, even when we are on the same path our walk may be different because our level of bible knowledge and spiritual maturity can be different. Perhaps that is why Jesus told Peter not to concern himself with Johns walk but to concentrate on his own walk. (John 21:21) Then there was the time Paul and Barnabas, who were very close friends, got in a dispute because Barnabas wanted to have John, called Mark, join them on their second missionary journey. Paul did not want to take Mark because he had deserted them in Pamphylia. So Paul and Barnabas discussed it and eventually they took separate missionary journeys. (Acts 15:36-41) So you see, scripture reveals the reality of Christians being different from one another; but, they are still Christians. Our past history, our culture, our level of learning, our spiritual maturity, and other factors are not all the same; thus, we are often different. Being different and having different opinion, however, does not mean we are to argue and fight with one another. We are to be united through the wonderful teaching of Jesus Christ and the basic fundamental principles of Christianity.
We must remember that our not disputing over disputable matters neither means the disputable matter is wrong nor does it mean we are sinning if we have a special attachment to a disputable matter. Scripture, when taken without the manipulation and interpretation of man, clearly defines what God expects from us; and, scripture will also move upon each of our souls in differing ways: as the Holy Spirit wishes. I believe this is why Paul told Christians not to get into arguments over disputable religious issues such as food, days of the week, celebrations, words, methods of worship, church rituals, and other foolish things. These are all worldly opinions that have nothing to do in defining our true relationship with Jesus. Each one of us has been accepted by God; we have been born again; we have been given the ministry of reconciliation; and, we now are supposed to bear spiritual fruit as we serve in the embassy of Jesus Christ. Being a Christian is all about Jesus Christ and our service to Him. People would understand this if they read the bible instead of listening to all the Satan inspired false preachers and all the simple minded, who think they have divine inspiration. Instead, we bite and devour one another over disputable matters being sold to us by these evil Svengalis of Satan. (Galatians 5:15) Would it not be better for us to personally seek the truth in the unaltered Word of God so that no one can deceive us with empty words? Yes it would! Disputable matters can lead us into dangerous ground because the wrath of God comes upon those who lift up disputable matters as doctrine and reveal themselves to be sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6) Remember, in most cases, there is no sin in the observance or abstention of a disputable matter; but, sin is always found in our disputing over a disputable matter.
