CONTRADICTION & CONTROVERSY=CONFUSION & DECEPTION

by Pastor Walt Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries
April13, 2014

Webster's definition: Contradictory—A proposition so related to another that if either is true or false,the other is false or true.

Webster's definition: Controversy--A discussion marked especially by expression of opposing views.

1 Timothy 6:17-21
7 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.Grace be with you all.

The world in which we live is filled with contradictions and controversy. All sides displaying evidence to show truths or falsehoods. Who or what can we believe? It appears that the Christian as well as secular society are often times equally at odds internally and with each other. How do people, especially youth, looking for direction in life, process this? And how are they to discern, understand and choose what is the truth?

1Timothy 1:3-7
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Titus3:9-10
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

Contradictions and controversy are some of the enemy's (Satan) favorite weapons. They promote confusion which causes deception. It is found throughout the Bible. The first and best example of this is found in the story of Adam and Eve. God said “Don't eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or you will surely die.” Satan (the serpent) said “You will be like God in knowing good and evil and you will not surely die if you eat the fruit.” We all know how the story ended.

Genesis2:15-17
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Genesis3:1-4 & 13
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent,“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

It seems that if we wait long enough there will be another study, theory or philosophy that will oftentimes reveal an opposite result to the existing general thinking. And with evidence to prove everything, they say. I do realize that there are cases where advancements in science and technology justify much of this as relevant progress. God is revealing new things to us all the time. However, socially and morally in our society today we can't justify much of this so called“New Age” thinking. God's Word (Bible) is very clear and relevant about what is right or wrong in any given social environment. That will dictate local, national and international behavior in government as well. Once again, it can be very confusing for a society of people who have turned away from relationship with Triune God. Discernment between right and wrong, truth and untruth, seems to be fading out of existence. Many more shades of gray and less black and white.

Philippians1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
1Corinthians 2:14-16
14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things,but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Proverbs1:5
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
Proverbs16:21
21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction

Proverbs17:24
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Proverbs28:7
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

Contradictions,controversy, confusion and deception all lead to one very potent tool of our enemy Satan. This tool is division. For a people who profess to seek unity, we often end up with division. You have heard the age-old saying, “divide and conquer”.

Mark3:24-25
24 If a kingdom isdivided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a houseis divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Luke11:17
17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

Psalm133 (all)
1 How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew o fHermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.
Ephesians4:1-6
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith,one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Here is the way it stands today in our contemporary society, in my opinion. We have an upper elite class. Wealthy millionaires and billionaires, the majority of whom are selfish, greedy and self-centered, interested only in what promotes their own self-interest. Of course, there are a few prominent exceptions, and these are great examples for others to follow. However, the majority of them, if they do any philanthropic ventures at all, do so only out of a sense of guilt or obligation.And we Christians and our churches rarely call them on this behavior.

1 Timothy 6:3-12
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife,malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God,flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith.Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

On the other end of the societal spectrum, we have the less fortunate impoverished lower class. These folks have either given up hope or become accustomed to their life position. Of course there are also exceptions here and these are to be applauded. Sometimes it seems that our government representatives would prefer enabling solutions that lead to generational entitlement, rather than a permanent long term solution that will benefit and grow these people and this country. All for the sake of votes. Based on greed, self-promotion and a thirst for power.You have heard the saying “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a life time” (feed himself and become self-sufficient). Do we do this? And can this continue forever?

In between we have the middle class of America. They go to work every day, have a mortgage,pay the bulk of the taxes that run this country, and so on. You know who you are--the backbone of this nation. However, this backbone is shrinking and growing weak like an aged person. There are far too many expectations from both the elite upper and the impoverished lower class. What can we do to correct this? We need Triune God back in our people's lives. We need all of the precepts and principles taught by Jesus Christ to take root and grow in peoples' minds,bodies, souls and spirits. We need to love our God and our brothers and sisters and let our actions genuinely show this. Faith is a verb.

John10:25-30
25 Jesus answered,“I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Matthew21:21-22
21 Jesus replied,“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew22:37-40
37 Jesus replied:“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

John13:34
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.


Do we really need class distinction? Didn't God create us and love us all equally? People created this class distinction and division. The Bible clearly states how we are to treat all of our brothers and sisters in this life we live day to day. The Beatitudes describe how Jesus believed.

Matthew5:1-12
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor inspirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What can we do to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our society? We can be examples of all the fruits of the Spirit and emulate Jesus to the best of our ability, and through the Holy Spirit's leading. This is a good place to start.

2Corinthians 3:1-6
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

John1:17
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:16-18
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Contradictions and controversy occur throughout the Bible and in our lives every time Satan's influence comes in contact with God's truth. Sometimes it seems some people are searching intentionally for some type of alternate way or direction, just to avoid relationship with God. Or possibly just for an excuse to be disobedient. When we finally find and recognize the truth of Triune God's word (Bible) we can surrender, be truly free and stop searching.

John14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."


John8:32
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Peace and love, Amen.