In Acts 15, the church at Antioch was besieged by false teachers claiming that a Gentile must, along with the Jew, be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved. Paul and Barnabas fought this false doctrine with every fiber of their being (Acts 15:2) and were sent to Jerusalem to settle the issue.

In every church, Satan will do all he can to cause controversy. In the church, very few of us like controversy, and we seem to think that it does not have a place in the Lord’s church. However, we see that our Lord engaged in controversy. While on earth, He met and answered those who tried to entangle Him in His speech, and He did not run, but met them with answers that should have convinced them that He was the Savior. As with the Savior, so with His church. Satan will attack the Lord’s church, and it should not surprise us in the least that we will have to deal with controversy.

How we handle controversy does matter. In Acts 15, the controversy over false doctrine was handled in such a way that the majority of the church stayed faithful and continued to preach the gospel. Obviously, from what we read of Paul’s writings, some of these false teachers continued to make havoc of the Lord’s church, and he addresses these problems.

As we look at how Paul and Barnabas dealt with this situation, let us notice how we also should deal with controversy.

First, deal with the issues, not with personalities. It is instructive to note that not once does the Bible mention the names of these false teachers. The only thing discussed here is what they taught and how it caused problems in the church. Many church problems are over personalities, and sometimes these cannot be avoided. However, as much as possible, personalities need to be left out of problems in the church. Often the personalities cloud the issues.

This is not to say that Paul never mentioned false teachers. We read of Hymenaeus and Alexander blaspheming in 1 Timothy 1:20, and then in 2 Timothy 2:17-18, Hymenaeus and Philetus were named as teaching that the resurrection was passed already. Could it be that these were named in Timothy because he was a preacher and needed to be aware of these false teachers and what Paul had done?

In another passage in Timothy, Paul wrote, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:24–26 KJV). As much as possible, it is necessary for us to teach, teach and teach some more in an effort to win the souls of those who are teaching false doctrine, but there does come a point where we must refuse those who teach false doctrines. Notice Titus 3:10-11, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted.” (KJV)

One of the most important things that we must learn to do in dealing with controversy is to deal with the issues, not with personalities.

To be continued next week.