Maintaining
BALANCE
In Times of Controversy
Phil. 4:5
Let your moderation be known
unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
[By Ron Halbrook]
1
Maintaining BALANCE
Introduction:
1. Phil. 4:5 Mature, Well-balanced Attitude
“Moderation:” Noble Generosity & Gentleness,
Forbearance & Fairness, Reasonable & Patient
“Graciousness with Strength & Poise of Character
….Opposite of Obstinacy” (A.T. Robertson,
Paul’s Joy in Christ, p. 129)
Not Overreact, Not Thrown Off Balance
“Unto All Men:” Poise, Patience in All Cases
Secured by Focus on Christ’s Presence &
Promise, Not on Earthly Conditions!
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Maintaining BALANCE
Introduction:
2. Phil. 1:9-11 Pray for Maturity, Balance
Grow in Love
Grow in Knowledge
Grow in Judgment, Discernment:
“Selects, classifies, & applies”
(Vincent, Word Studies in N.T., 871)
“Proper sense of the relative value of things”
(Weaver, Philippians, 24)
Approve Things Excellent, Distinguish Things that
Differ, Have a Sense of What Is Vital
“See what things are relatively…most important &
…put the emphasis in the right place” (Robertson,
Paul’s Joy in Christ, 38)
Act in View of “the Day of Christ”
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Maintaining BALANCE
I. Eccl. 7:15-18 Balance: Avoid Extreme
Attitudes
A. Vs. 15 Can’t Solve Every Question, Enigma,
& Difficulty
B. Vs. 16 Arbiter of All Such Matters:
Exaggerated Righteousness
C. Vs. 17 Opposite Extreme: Use Enigmas as
Excuse for Willful Sin
D. Vs. 18 True Faith: Focus on Revealed Truth
& Duty, Avoid Extremes
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Maintaining BALANCE
II. Matt. 7:1-5, 13-15 Balance in Recognizing Sin
in People’s Lives
A. Vv. 1-5 Hypocritical Judging
Overly Scrupulous in Charging Others with Sin
Excuse One’s Own Sins
B. Vv. 13-15 Proper, Essential Judging
Broad Way of Sin, Narrow Way of Truth
Repent of Sin
Distinguish Truth from Error
C. Maintain Balance: Proper Judging Without
Hypocritical Judging
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Maintaining BALANCE
III. Matt. 10:16, 27 Balance in Facing Bitter
Enemies of Gospel
A. Wolves: Pervert Truth, Attack Messenger
B. Vs. 16, 27 Bold, Careful in Proclaiming Truth
Wise: Careful, Cautious, Measured
Harmless: Open, Sincere, No Guile or Deceit
C. Under Bitter Attack: Danger of Reckless
Overreaction
6
Maintaining BALANCE
IV. Rom. 14:1-3; 16:17-18 Balance: Distinguish
Personal Scruples & Doctrinal Apostasy
A. 14:1-3 Accept Each Other with Personal
Scruples
Grow: Distinguish Revealed Doctrine from Personal
Conclusions & Judgments
B. 16:17-18 Reject Men Who Promote Apostasy
Press False Doctrine: Cause Division
Outward Piety, Smooth Speeches: Cloak Error
C. Balance: Distinguish Scruples & Apostasy
Danger: Press Scruple—Friction, Bitterness, Faction
Danger: Compromise with Error—Apostasy
Avoid Dangers: Saints Grow, Gospel Spreads
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Maintaining BALANCE
V. Gal. 1:8-9; 2:11; 5:15 Balance: Defend Truth
Without Stooping to Error’s Tactics
A. 1:8-9 Reject Those Who Pervert Gospel
B. 2:11 Peter’s Compromise Openly Rebuked
C. 5:15 Defend Truth, Fight Error,
Not Stoop to Error’s Tactics
Paul Direct, Forceful (1:7-8; 2:11, 13; 3:1; 4:30;
5:1, 7, 9, 12)
False Teacher: Bitter, Personal Attack
Uphold Truth: Courtesy, Dignity, Focus on Bible,
Refute False Doctrine
Temptation: Retaliate in Like Kind
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Maintaining BALANCE
VI. Eph. 4:1-6, 14-15, 31-32 Balance: Teach
the Truth in Love
A. Vv. 1-6 Proper Attitude With Sound Doctrine
Lowly, Meek, Patient, Love, Unity, Peace
Solid Foundation of Sound Doctrine
B. Vv. 14-15 Reject False Doctrine & Tactics,
Speak Truth in Love, Grow in Christ
C. Vv. 31-32 Seek to Save Not Destroy Those
Who Wrong Us
D. Controversy: Test Commitment to Truth,
Sincerity of Love
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Maintaining BALANCE
VII. Phil. 1:15-18 Balance in Putting the Cause of
Christ Above Self
A. Some Preachers: Selfish Spirit of Competition,
Seek Personal Advantage, Promote Self
Preach Christ, Compete with Paul
B. Other Preachers: Unselfish Spirit of Goodwill,
Love, Promote Only the Gospel
Set to Defend Gospel at All Costs
No Bitterness toward Critics
C. Balance: Always Put Cause of Christ Above Self
Defend Truth, Not Promote Self, in Time of Controversy
Some Preachers: Teach Truth, Unfairly Criticize Us
Not Retaliate—Put Cause of Christ Above Self
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Maintaining BALANCE
VIII. Col. 4:2-6 Balance in Content & Tone of
Teaching
A. Vv. 2-4 Seeks Open Doors to Preach Plainly, Fully
B. Vv. 5-6 Show Wisdom in Life & Teaching
Godly Life Opens Doors to Teach
Wise in Tone & Tenor
With Grace: Kind, Courteous, Dignified
Wisdom to Answer Every Man
C. Test in Controversy: Balance Content & Tone
Content: Pervert Truth, Modify Truth, Misuse Truth
Tone: Explosive Anger, Arrogance, Bitterness
Proper Balance: Advance Cause of Christ
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Maintaining BALANCE
IX. 2 Pet. 1:12, 5; 2:1 Balance in Grasp of Truth &
Room to Grow in the Truth
A. 1:12 Truth Firmly Established in Heart & Life
B. 1:5 Grow in Knowledge: Lifelong Process
Practical Knowledge, Discretion in Applying Truth
“A practical knowledge that admits of expansion”
(Hiebert, Second Peter & Jude, 53)
C. 2:1 False Teachers Replace Truth with Heresies
Cannot Promote Growth in Applying Truth
Heresies Lead to Apostasy, Corrupt More & More as
Outlined in 2 Pet. 2-3
D. Grasp Truth, Grow: NOT Same As Deny, Apostasy
E. Challenge: Discern Heresy, Corrupting Process VS.
Established in Truth, Normal Growth Process 12
Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
A. Many Examples of Apostate Movements
Patterns in Cycles of Apostasy
Unchanging Principles of Truth
Remnant Established in Truth, Resists Apostasy
Growing in Knowledge
Make Judgments in Applying Truth
Areas of Personal Conscience, Scruples
Apostasy: Subtle Steps, Corrupt More & More
Compromise: Not Embrace, Not Openly Fight
Overreaction: Bind Areas of Growth, Scruple—
Press to Point of Division
Latter Factions Later Embrace Ultra-liberalism
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1. PRINCIPLES
OF TRUTH
Grow in Knowledge
Judgments
Personal Scruples
4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION:
Bind, Press Differences in
Growth, Judgments, Scruples
To Point of Division
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
B. Many Examples of Scruples & Differences
Among Brethren Grasping & Growing in Truth
C. Man to Lead in Work of Church
Several Views of Veil in 1 Cor. 11
Several Views of Silence in 1 Cor. 14:34-35 As
Relates to Bible Classes
All Affirm Principle of Male Leadership,
Differ
in Some Details of Application
Discussed Many Years—No Apostate Movement
Corrupting More & More
Study Helpful, NOT Charges, Fighting, Factions 15
Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
D. Controversies & Divisions 1850-1930
Missionary Society (1849),
Instrumental Music (1851)—Cycle of Apostasy—
Corrupted More & More (1875-1900)
Remnant Established in Truth, Resisted Apostasy
Compromise: Accept Society, Reject Instrument,
Fellowship Error
Overreaction (1900-30)
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
D. Controversies & Divisions 1850-1930
Overreaction (1900-30):
One Cup
No Divided Bible Classes
No Located Preacher
No Bible Study Literature in Work of Church
No Bible College
Specific Order of Worship
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
D. Controversies & Divisions 1850-1930
Overreaction (1900-30):
Daniel Sommer (1850-1940) Factional on No
Located Preacher, No Bible College
Sommer: Strong Influence on Carl Ketcherside
(1908-89)
Such Issues Not Divide As Matters of Growth,
Judgment, & Personal Scruple
Sommer’s Later Years Reflect Phil. 1:9-11; 4:5
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Maintaining BALANCE
Overreaction (1900-30):
Sommer’s Later Years Reflect Phil. 1:9-11; 4:5
His Family Published American Christian Review—
He Endorsed “Can’t We Agree on Something?”
Brethren united on “THE NEW TESTAMENT PLAN”
must leave room for individual judgments on such issues.
“This…is written in behalf of the thousands who desire
to reach that Better Land, and who never will know, and
never can understand, ‘the finer points’ in our arguments for
and against some things that have disrupted us” (6-21-32).
Ketcherside: Pressed to Point of Division
Many in Factions Formed 1900-30 Went into
Ultra-liberalism From 1960’s to Present
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1. PRINCIPLES
OF TRUTH
Grow in Knowledge
Judgments
Personal Scruples
4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION:
Bind, Press Differences in
Growth, Judgments, Scruples
To Point of Division
20
Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
E. Controversies & Divisions Over Institutionalism –
Liberalism (1945-2000)
Another Cycle of Apostasy
Church Donations to Human Institutions
Centralize Church Work thru Sponsoring Church
Church Give Benevolence to Alien Sinners
Church Provide Social & Recreational Activities
Corrupted More & More (1970-2000)
Remnant Established in Truth, Resisted Apostasy
Compromise: Church Donation to Orphanage Not
College, to Certain Kinds of Orphanages,
Fellowship Error
Danger of Overreaction: Bind Areas of Growth,
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Scruple—Press to Point of Division
Maintaining BALANCE
Danger of Overreaction: Some Bind & Press, But
Generally Not to Point of Division
No Bible College
No Akin Fund
No Foundation to Publish Bible Study Materials
Several Views Contra Typical P.M. Lord’s Supper
No Funerals in Church Building
No Weddings in Church Building
No Church Songbooks for Home Singing
Long-term Issues: Oaths, War, Vote, Veil, Etc.
Such Issues Not Divide As Matters of Growth,
Judgment, & Personal Scruple
Discuss Many Years—No Apostate Movement
Corrupting More & More
Study Helpful, NOT Charges, Fighting, Factions
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1. PRINCIPLES
OF TRUTH
Grow in Knowledge
Judgments
Personal Scruples
4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION:
Bind, Press Differences in
Growth, Judgments, Scruples
To Point of Division
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
F. Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other
Issues 1988-Present
Another Cycle of Apostasy:
H. Hailey: Deny Christ’s Marriage Law Applies to All
J. Freeman: Divorced Fornicator Marry New Mate
J. Puterbaugh: All Divorced People Marry New Mate
Deny Creation in Six Literal Days
Doubt Literal Serpent in Gen. 3
Doubt Universal Flood in Gen. 6-9
Deny Eternal Torment in Hell
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
F. Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other
Issues 1988-Present
Another Cycle of Apostasy
Remnant Established in Truth, Resisting Apostasy
Compromise: Unity-in-diversity “tolerates
contradictory teachings & practices on important
moral & doctrinal questions” (E. Harrell,
Christianity Magazine, May 1990)
Danger of Overreaction: Bind, Areas of Growth,
Scruple—Press to Point of Division
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
F. Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other
Issues 1988-Present
Danger of Overreaction: Bind Areas of Growth,
Scruple—Press to Point of Division
No Divorce for Any Cause
No Divorce Unless Witnesses to Fornication
Innocent Mate Must Initiate Civil Divorce
Innocent Mate Must Counter-sue if Guilty Sues
Cannot Reconcile After Divorce for Fornication
Divorced Fornicator Not Remarry After 1st Mate Dies
If Prospective Fornicator Gets Divorce Paper
& Then Commits Adultery, Faithful Mate Not Remarry
(Mostly Theoretical!)
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Maintaining BALANCE
X. Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies
F. Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other
Issues 1988-Present
Danger of Overreaction: Bind Areas of Growth,
Scruple—Press to Point of Division
No Division If Study Such Issues As Matters of
Growth, Judgment, & Personal Scruple
Discuss Many Years—No Apostate Movement
Corrupting More & More
Study Helpful, NOT Charges, Fighting, Factions
W. Warnock-J. Deason, Searching the Scriptures,
Nov. 1985 & Mar. 1986, Not Press View to Division
Some Friction, Declare War, Obsessed, Debate, 27
Cancel Meetings, Press to Divide (1,000 Splinters!?)
1. PRINCIPLES
OF TRUTH
Grow in Knowledge
Judgments
Personal Scruples
4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION:
Bind, Press Differences in
Growth, Judgments, Scruples
To Point of Division
28
Maintaining BALANCE
Conclusion:
1. Phil. 1:9-11; 4:5 Pray as Paul: Spiritual Growth,
Maturity, Well-balanced Attitude
Grow in Love, Knowledge, Discernment
“See what things are relatively…most important &
…put the emphasis in the right place”
(Robertson, Paul’s Joy in Christ, 38)
“Moderation:” Noble Generosity & Gentleness,
Forbearance & Fairness, Reasonable & Patient
Not Overreact, Not Thrown Off Balance
“Unto All Men:” Poise, Patience in All Cases
Act in View of Christ’s Presence & Promise—
Avoid Stumblingblocks, Abound in Righteousness
29
2. Matt. 11:27-30; Mk. 16:16 Christ Calls All Lost