Contend: Defending the Faith in a Fallen World

by Aaron Armstrong

Christians in every generation are called, as Jude put it, to "contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints." If we are not to fail in this calling, we must understand what contending for the faith looks like in our day and age. The mainstream cultural air we all breathe celebrates tolerance and pressures us to embrace perceived unity as the highest good. In this climate, any sort of division is seen as hateful and wrong. Yet to humbly explain and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ to believer and unbeliever alike is the greatest kindness and the most loving act possible. The ultimate question about Jesus today is the same as when he walked the earth: is he or is he not who he claimed to be? He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). With the entire Christian faith standing or falling on the validity of such an utterly exclusive and uncompromising claim, doctrine that truly aligns with Jesus will cause division. When we represent our faith honestly, it is simply inevitable: at times we will be at odds with others -- friends, relatives, perhaps even other Christians. Yet we are called to contend, in obedience to and for the sake of the most divisive person in history. And the challenge is to do it in the way Jude describes: as an act of mercy toward those who doubt and those who have been deceived, regardless of whether they claim faith in Christ.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Dave Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's my endorsement of Aaron's book:

“The Internet has brought with it online shopping at the click of your fingers, e-books, blogs, and podcasts, some of which are edifying for Christians to read and grow in their faith. Sadly, a great deal of the content on the Internet in addition to what is taught through movies, television, and radio today isn’t helpful but rather harmful to the daily walk of grace of the Christian. In Aaron’s new book he argues that in order for Christians to contend well to the glory of God they must love doctrine and people. This is precisely why I’m excited about this book, because it will help a generation of Christians to rightly understand from Scripture that to contend for the Gospel doesn’t mean compromising our doctrine or our concern for people, but in fact means loving God, His Word, and His people. I encourage you to pick up this book and learn from the Word of God and Aaron’s example about what it means to contend for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.”

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contending for the faith is what we are called as Christians to do. However, do we know what that means? Have we failed in this as Christians? In a very concise and clear way, Aaron shows what contending for the faith is and what it is not. It is not putting a high priority on unity, while we compromise who Christ is and what he has done and why. Contending does divide. Even Christ himself said that because of him, there will be division. He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill. Contending for the faith is the authority of scripture, God's nature and character and the full Gospel. A great reminder is Contending is not about making doctrine more important than people. We contend in mercy and grace to others. Jesus never left anyone in their sin. However, since we are with sin ourselves, we must contend the truth in love and grace.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contending for faith faces increasing opposition from a culture that sees little value in the central tenets of Christianity. Addressing that very issue, Armstrong suggests Christians must contend openly and doing so—far from being intolerant—is the most loving response to people who claim no faith in Christ. Brevity makes this work accessible yet allows only a surface skimming, leaving a good introduction whose greatest use may be to point to more fleshed out resources.

[Marguerite Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! We all need to be contend for the Faith and stay firm in the Scripture! I would encourage you to read this book and the Letter of Jude too.

[Glyn Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy-read, challenging, but could have been better. Not quite what I expected. I was hoping he would go into more detail and be somewhat more practical in how to contend.