Translated and adapted by Nínro Ruíz Peña
What is the Christian view of gay marriage? Are spiritual gifts biblical? Can Christians drink alcohol? These are some of the issues that often cause heated controversy within the church today. Christians take very different opinions on these issues and both sides refer to Scripture to support their views.
Discernment is certainly necessary, even among a group of believers in today’s culture. Whatever your views on each of these issues, it is hoped that reading this list of areas where the church often experiences division will encourage us as followers of Christ to strive for unity within our own churches and even to across denominations, because while there is much division and controversy within the broader church, there are also core doctrines that bind us together.
1.-HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE
Gay marriage and whether it should be allowed in the church is undoubtedly one of the most controversial issues today. You don’t have to search the current headlines for long to find evidence of this controversy.
This problem has caused division among many denominations. The Presbyterian Church (USA) supports it, while the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and others do not, for example.
But perhaps nowhere is the controversy surrounding this issue more prevalent than in the Anglican Church. In recent years (and even months), the Anglican Church has softened its stance towards gay marriage and gay priests, but there is still plenty of opposition. Some have called on the church to be more welcoming to LGBT people, some even support gay clergy and grant them the rights to perform same-sex marriages, while others remain firmly committed to the traditional definition of marriage. The United Methodist Church is experiencing controversy on this issue.
2.-ABORTION
At first, one might think that this topic is not as controversial within the church as it is between those who are in the church and those who are not. Yet, as a recent Pew Research Center study shows, those who claim to be religious but don’t associate with a particular denomination are overwhelmingly in favor of abortion, with only 17 percent opposed.
Still, most Christians are anti-abortion, but the issue remains controversial within the church, especially when it comes to the argument that pro-life must mean more than just “pro-birth.”
3.-WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
The topic of women teaching/preaching in the church can heat up quickly. Again, more conservative denominations tend to be against women in leadership roles, while more liberal denominations tend to accept it.
Recently, there has been a particular crisis on this issue with the rise of Christian bloggers. The online presence and following these women have is substantial and has caused some within Christianity to question their authority, even though they are not preaching/teaching in a traditional church setting.
4.-TYPE OF MUSIC FOR WORSHIP
Contemporary or traditional? Hymns or Modern Worship Songs? This is definitely an issue that tends to generate debate in many churches. It is often even a deciding factor when someone chooses a church to join. This issue also tends to divide believers into older and younger generations.
Even certain instruments can be controversial. A drum ensemble may not be considered acceptable in some churches, while another church may have a full praise band with a wide range of instruments.
Some churches have attempted to resolve the controversy by using traditional and contemporary songs intermingled during their worship services or even providing two different services, one more traditional and one more modern.
5.-SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Although spiritual gifts are mentioned several times in the New Testament, different church denominations have different interpretations of what it really means to have and use a spiritual gift.
The spiritual gift of speaking in tongues tends to be the most controversial of all the spiritual gifts. While Pentecostals fully affirm this spiritual gift, other denominations have gone so far as to say that speaking in tongues is offending the Holy Spirit.
Other Christians embrace spiritual gifts and even encourage parishioners or church staff to take spiritual gifts tests to see where they are best equipped to serve.
6.- BAPTISM
Although virtually all churches practice baptism, baptismal rituals in different denominations vary not only in practice but also in theology. There has been a heated debate within the church for centuries over whether the Bible promotes infant baptism or believer-only baptism.
Even more liturgical churches tend to give the impression that baptism is essential for salvation, while others do not seem to put much weight on it. Some churches also baptize infants, but see this not as evidence of salvation, but as a commitment by the child’s family and the church body to raise the child in the fear of the Lord. In this way, an infant baptism is more like a dedication of the child.
Still other churches only baptize those who are old enough to make a profession of faith of their own free will.
Christians also have opinions on how and where baptisms should take place: by sprinkling water, pouring water on someone, or completely submerging them.
7.-POLITICS FROM THE PULPIT
Should ministers talk about politics or endorse a specific political party or vision from the pulpit? Churchgoers have widely differing opinions on the subject, but the controversy is not limited to the church. Several months ago, President Trump signed an executive order ending the Johnson Amendment, which prohibited a church, as a nonprofit entity, from endorsing and promoting a particular political party or candidate.
Many defended the executive order, saying it gave churches more religious freedom, but others argued that siding with a certain political party is not something a church should be doing.
8.-ALCOHOL
Can Christians drink alcohol? This question opens all kinds of debate within the church. Many churchgoers believe that Christians should stay completely away from alcohol, bars, and anything else that has to do with alcohol, since the Bible condemns drunkenness and instructs followers of Christ to be sober.
However, other parishioners believe that consuming alcohol in moderation is not a sin. These Christians often dispute his point in 1 Corinthians 8 where the apostle Paul says “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a hindrance to the weak.”
Many interpret this, in the surrounding context, to mean that the consumption of alcohol is permissible, but Christians must be careful not to cause harm to someone prone to alcohol abuse or someone who believes it to be a sin, because they will trip them up. his faith by seeing another Christian drinking.
A church’s views on alcohol can even be seen at times in the worship service; some churches use grape juice for Communion, while others use wine.
Some topics are based on the Christian Media Magazine article “5 Controversial Issues in the Church Today.”
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