Romans 2:8
“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,”
Yes, you saw it right. I’ve decided to stop being contentious. I know to some this is very welcome news as they have tagged me as one who is very contentious; however, according to the verse above, the only time I’m contentious is when I am not obeying truth. So, for me to stop being contentious means I must start obeying truth.
Certainly, contention is never pleasant, but we must place the cause of contention on those who are truly causing it. For centuries, those who have stood for truth are the one’s who have been accused of being contentious. Paul was considered contentious by the religious crowd who would not accept that Jesus Christ was the only way to Heaven. Stephen was considered contentious by the crowd who would not accept that their sins had nailed Jesus to the cross. Jesus was considered contentious by the Pharisees, chief priests and scribes. Yet, the only reason they were considered contentious is because they would not compromise truth to get along with everyone.
Paul made it very clear that contention is caused by those who don’t obey truth. When looking at verses 8-9, you will see that those who are contentious are those who “…obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil…” Now those who are committing sin will say those who are obeying truth are causing contention, but that is not true. It is sin that causes contention, so the only way to stop the contention is for everyone to start obeying truth.
It is time for preachers to stop preaching about unity and start preaching the truth. Friend, you cannot have unity when truth is disobeyed. Contention always happens when someone disobeys truth. The idea that we all need to get along for the sake of the bigger picture is exactly what Satan would want us to do. He wants everyone to stop obeying truth so we can be unified. As long as there is truth and disobedience in the same arena, then there will be contention. Truth and disobedience are like oil and water, they don’t agree.
Moreover, the parent who wants unity in the home is the parent who is going to demand obedience. A home that is filled with contention means there is a home where truth and disobedience are present. When one is trying to do right and the other is doing wrong, then there will be contention. Contention is the result of sin and righteousness being present in the same environment.
Furthermore, the only reason contention is present is because the sinner doesn’t want to get rid of their sin. The reason a compromiser causes contention against those who stand for truth is because the compromiser doesn’t want to stop their compromising ways. When one wants to stop the error of their way then there will be no contention, but as long as one will not give up their erroneous ways then contention will continue.
Christian, if you do right, you will be labeled contentious. Don’t let the labeling of being contentious silence your obedience to truth. The only reason those who do wrong want to label you as contentious is because they are trying to deflect the attention away from their sin and shame you into not proclaiming truth. Always remember that the Scriptures make it clear that sin is what causes contention. Though contention may be uncomfortable, it will always be present as long as compromise and sin are in the arena. Unity is not a possession, but unity is a result of the absence of sin and compromise. When all obey truth, then unity will be achieved.