Every generation has its own questions. Some generations wrestle openly with the authority of Scripture. Others debate the nature of justice, sexuality, truth, or human identity. Ours is no different. And faithful Christians cannot afford to retreat into silence simply because the questions of the moment are controversial.

The church does not choose the questions the culture asks. But she must answer them. Christians have waded into the debates of history in an effort to bring God’s Word to bear on the ideologies of the day.

But shouldn’t we just love people and shy away from arguing? Well, depending on what you mean by “love people” and “arguing,” perhaps. But so much is built into definitions. After all, sometimes loving people means having a hard conversation or telling them the truth about a lie. And we can’t always shy away from an argument since the New Testament calls us to “contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Contending means, well, contending. Certainly in godly ways, but contending carries connotations of some sharp edges.

There is a temptation among believers to avoid difficult conversations because they seem divisive or exhausting. “Why are Christians always fighting?” some ask. “Why are we always talking about what we are against?” It is a fair concern, though often employed as a way to emotionally sabotage a legitimate discussion. Bitter controversy can harden the soul. Endless outrage can hollow out Christian witnesses. The church must never become merely reactionary. Being proactive is a way to contend, too.

But we don’t always have the luxury of setting the terms. When questions come up or errors are multiplied, Christians rightly need to react. There is a danger of always fighting. But there’s another danger, too: refusing to speak when clarity is needed most.

Throughout church history, the people of God have had to contend for truth precisely at the pressure points of the culture. In the 4th century, the issue was the deity of Christ. At the Council of Nicea (AD 325), Christians came together to challenge error and, among other things, affirm that Jesus was God of very God. In the 16th century, the Reformers combated the works-based righteousness of Roman Catholicism and affirmed the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith alone (also, here). Today, questions surrounding sexuality, gender, pastoral office, and biblical authority are being debated across evangelicalism. The fact that these issues are debated repeatedly—such as the ongoing conversations within the Southern Baptist Convention over female pastors—simply reminds us that barbarians (erroneous teachers and ideas) are always at the gates and we must meet them when they arrive. Where the church and the culture are confused about how God’s Word speaks to a given issue, we speak.

Faithful Christians do not ignore the wolves because they are tired of talking about wolves.

Scripture must govern not only the comfortable doctrines, but also the contested ones. Baptists, among others, have historically believed that Christ rules His church through His Word. Therefore, when the church asks whether Scripture reserves the office of elder/pastor for qualified men, the question cannot simply be dismissed as a distraction or culture war obsession. If God has spoken, then love demands clarity.

And clarity is not the opposite of love. Indeed, clarity is kindness.

Indeed, real love speaks truth. Jesus was full of grace and truth, not grace instead of truth. The apostle Paul warned, corrected, pleaded, and instructed because he loved the church deeply. Christian conviction is not cruelty. Nor is theological precision incompatible with Christian joy.

Still, Christians must be careful. The world should know us not merely for what we oppose, but for what we treasure. We are not driven by outrage, but by delight in Christ. Doctrine is not our supreme delight, Christ is (Psalm 43:4). We contend for truth because truth leads to life, freedom, holiness, and joy. Our aim is not to win arguments, but to help people see and savor the glory of Christ revealed in His Word and live in light of what they see.

The church must speak to the questions of the age because people living in this age need the wisdom of God. Silence is not faithfulness. And neither is cynicism. What is needed is courageous conviction wrapped in deep humility and evident love.

Both the world and the church are asking questions. We must not be afraid to answer as we labor and toil not only to share the gospel and win the lost, but to teach the followers of Jesus to obey all that he has commanded (Matt 28:18–20).