Earnestly Contend for the Faith

Recently I was in a class where the gospel discussion was about the need to avoid contention and show love even to those who fight against us. One brother asked a question along these lines: “But aren’t we supposed to content against evil?” In other words, he was suggesting that we can’t just sit idly by and accept the evil the world promotes around us as good. On the one hand the Lord clearly taught this: “He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29). But on the other hand we are to “earnestly contend for the faith” as Jude taught (Jude 1:3). Or as the Savior told Thomas B. Marsh, “Contend thou, therefore, morning by morning; and day after day let thy warning voice go forth; and when the night cometh let not the inhabitants of the earth slumber, because of thy speech” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:5). Even the Savior in mortality suggested that allegiance to Him and His gospel would bring discord: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law” (Luke 12:51-53). As we follow Him we will naturally bring division with those around us who reject Him. And we are not to simply acquiesce in the face of evil but rather contend for the gospel and declare it boldly in the face of opposition, just as so many prophets of old have done. And yet we are also to be “humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering” and avoid contention (Alma 13:28). So how do we navigate these two opposing injunctions in a world increasingly hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

                I believe that in fact these are not contradictory commandments—we can defend the faith without being contentions. We can stand up for the gospel without showing anger or hatred towards those who oppose us. We can “reprove betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost” but then afterwards show “an increase of love” towards those reproved (Doctrine and Covenants 121:43).  I believe the Savior gave us a powerful example of how to do this in His mortal life. He was ever humble and full of love, and yet He did not tolerate sin or hypocrisy. When the stakes were high He did not back down, as we see when He found the temple of His Father had become polluted: “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” He stood up for His Father, but He did not do injury to the perpetrators or even, as far as we can tell, cause any contention. He simply removed the evil and then showed forth love as the very next verse describes: “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them” (Matthew 21:12-14). Why did He cleanse the temple? Well at least one reason seems to be that He wanted to heal the sick! He stood up for right so He could love and bless.

                President Oaks taught about how to balance love and the need to stand up for the truths of the gospel. He said, “Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious. We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence…. Following the Savior’s example, we can show loving-kindness and still be firm in the truth by forgoing actions that facilitate or seem to condone what we know to be wrong.” We can indeed contend for the faith in a civil and humble way, not compromising our commitment to the Savior but also not giving into contention. Perhaps the Savior said it best when He taught us to take upon us His armor: “Gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-16). We stand boldly for truth and righteousness while committed to a gospel of peace.