Issues seem to be more numerous among brethren today than they were two or three decades ago. Denominationalism and Institutionalism were the two main areas of concern when I began to preach the Gospel. Over the last few years, Divorce and Remarriage, the Deity and Humanity of Jesus, AD 70 Doctrine, Days of Creation, plus where to draw the line of fellowship regarding these subjects have become matters of importance that need to be resolved. As a young man in the Gospel, I was not being forced to say where I stood on a big list of controversial issues, nor was I being ridiculed for not taking a stand among some who had already thought out their position before I knew a position should be taken. The religious landscape is different today. Internet access quickly disperses information to people all over the world. People share their thoughts instantaneously with others over social networking sites. Today, a new issue can arise with a click of a button. “Where do you stand on this or that issue?” soon follows.
Some, desiring to rise above the clouds of controversy in search for a less disagreeable walk with the Lord, try either to ignore issues or at least downplay their importance. They may deflect a controversial matter with, “I fear we have become too issue oriented.” Is this more spiritual than resolving the matter in the light of God’s Word?
Issues occur as a result of applying God’s Word. For example, Paul reveals Jesus’ death blotted out the “bond written in ordinances” in effect “nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). He then writes, “Let no man therefore judge you in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day. . .” (Colossians 2:16). Paul has a “therefore” in contemplating the effects of Jesus’ death. He applies the truth regarding Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross creating what we would call an “issue” – the “keeping certain days” issue. To ignore the issue was unacceptable. One was not allowed to feel spiritually superior by rising above the fray of controversy. You must not let others judge or condemn you for not keeping the Sabbath days of the Old Law.
By definition, an issue is that which “comes as a consequence; a result”. Did Paul bring up an issue? Yes! Such occurs as a direct result of applying the Truth of God’s Word. I guess we could avoid issues if we never applied Scripture to our life. But how spiritual is that? Applying Scripture creates a consequent “therefore” in our life. The result is an issue.
If there were ever brethren who could be accused of being “too issue oriented”, it would be the church in Corinth. Such issues of following after men (I Corinthians 1-4), failing to withdraw themselves from a fornicating brother (I Corinthians 5), taking fellow Christians to law before unbelievers (I Corinthians 6), perverting the Lord’s supper (I Corinthians 11), and the improper use of miraculous spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12-14) were just some of the matters needing to be resolved in Corinth. In all the rebukes Paul directs toward the saints in Corinth, being “too issue oriented” is not one of them. Instead, Paul takes each one in order offering “the commandment of the Lord” for resolving the problems of the issues at hand (I Corinthians 14:37).
The Corinthians did not only have issues, they had questions (I Corinthians 7:1). They sought the truth of God regarding marrying in distressful times, and divorcing an unbeliever. These were issues needing to be resolved. Paul offers God’s wisdom for application to their lives. However, Paul answered the questions without the additional warning to not be “issue oriented”. Can we ask questions today, seeking God’s wisdom regarding specific matters in our life without being accused of being “too issue oriented”?
Some suggest that if we just teach the truth and leave what others teach alone, we can avoid needless controversy. The belief is, we do not need to know what a certain brother teaches if we are grounded in the truth. If this is the way of God, Peter certainly did not follow it. While teaching concerning the issue of the Lord’s second coming, he did not just reveal the truth that the coming of the Lord would come as a thief and therefore be ready by living holy lives, but he warned of what those in error were doing. They would be “mocking” the idea of Jesus’ return and say, “where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). Peter did not merely teach the truth regarding the second coming of the Lord, he defined the error. Why? “Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
In the midst of accusations of being too issue oriented, we need to remember issues occur when we apply God’s word to our life. When some seem to brag on not being issue oriented, one wonders how much distinctive application of Scripture is occurring in their lives. The apostles of our Lord did not shy away from such application, or the consequent issues. Neither should we.
