“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
To stand for or to stand against, that is how one contends for something.
In these days we have a problem, one who is adamant about the Scriptures, one who has been blessed with Spiritual discernment, who can verify that what he is saying is in accordance with the truths of the Scriptures, and contends for these truths, is now seen as contentious, and those who have been swayed from the truth, deceived into believing a lie, will usually state these words.
“We, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.”
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
With all due diligence to ensure correct interpretation of the Word of God through much prayer and supplication, with much contemplation is how the man of God approaches the Scriptures each and every time.
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
When you know the truth, and it does not matter what the topic is, you do not move from that truth, if they call you contentious, so be it, if they call you a Pharisee on the wall, too conservative, too unmoving, so be it.
“And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:” (Jer. 26:20)
This man believed all that Jeremiah spent all those years telling the people of his day, standing with him until something happened. What it was either we are not told, or my memory again fails me at this time, but something happened, and instead of standing, he fled to Egypt. The king was so incensed about this that he sent men to Egypt to track Urijah down, bring him back, and have him killed.
Urijah contended for the faith, but for reasons unknown, he was swayed by fear.
“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” (Acts 4:19)
If the only reason that you will not contend for the faith that you profess to have is for selfish reasons then there are two verses you must consider.
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43)
Or
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” (Prov. 24:10)
The first verse speaks of those who profess the Almighty only with their lips, whose heart has not been turned from stone to flesh. The second verse speaks of those who are growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, weaker brothers and sisters in Christ who, when their faith was tested, it was found to be true, yet needed refining.
If we who have been born-again were only puppets, the Holy Spirit would simply take over us when it comes time to speak, but then we could not be held accountable, nor could we earn rewards or crowns.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2nd Tim. 2:15)
If you are searching for the approval of men, you will never contend for the faith with them, you will simply agree to disagree to stay in their good graces.
Your enemy, in this regard my friends, is every person who contends with you that has believed a lie that cannot be proven without question from the Word of God, and with an innumerable amount of religious organizations out there, you and I have a lot of enemies.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2nd Tim. 3:13)
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
There is a reason that church attendance has dwindled over the last few decades, and it is not because those who have been crucified with Christ have stopped contending, it is because they will not agree to disagree. It does not bother us to be called contentious, we know the truth, it does bother us, and that deeply, to sit in the midst of those who would rather have their ears tickled.
Contend diligently for the faith that has set you free, never agree to disagree when truth has been revealed to you.
