Who’s Troubling Whom?

How often the one who speaks the truth in the name of the Lord are accused of causing trouble. Many congregations will run such from their midst citing that they are causing discord among the brethren. The truth of the matter is that the truth often troubles those who refuse to submit to the truth. Let us examine a righteous man who was accused of troubling Israel and the sinful man who did the accusing.

Elijah vs  Ahab

God sent the prophet Elijah to King Ahab to foretell of of an impending drought which was about to plague Israel. (1 Kgs. 17:1). The purpose for this drought and the ensuing contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal was to prove to the people that Jehovah is the only true and living God (1 Kgs. 18:36-39). This miraculous manifestation of God’s power had its desired effect on the people as they all fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kgs. 18:39).

Let us examine in detail the reaction of Ahab to Elijah the prophet as he simply declared the truth to Ahab. In the third year of the drought God told Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab. Elijah faithfully and courageously followed God’s instruction (1 Kgs. 18:1,17). Upon seeing Elijah, Ahab said, “Art thou he that troubles Israel?” Isn’t it always the case that the one who taught the truth of God was blamed for all the trouble that was taking place in Israel.

If we go back to 1 Kings 16:29-33, we will discover that Ahab was the real troublemaker of Israel and Elijah was the true friend of the Israelites because he was trying to show them the error of their sinful ways. Ahab had done “more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kgs. 16:33). He did this by introducing into Israel the false worship of Baal, a heathen religion in which his wicked wife Jezebel had presented to him (1 Kgs. 16:31). It’s not that Ahab was the first king to cause Israel to worship idols. That dishonor belonged to Jeroboam who caused Israel to worship the true God through the calves they had constructed at Dan and Bethel. At least the idols represented God, but now Ahab was now introducing them to a “new” god and setting it up as their national religion (1 Kgs. 12:26-13:6). This is the sin which brought about the terrible drought upon the people of the Northern Kingdom and it was all caused by their total rejection of the true God of Israel. The king as well as those who followed him in this evil idolatrous worship were to blame for the trouble then occurring in Israel because of the drought. Ahab said in a later encounter to Elijah, “Have you found me O’ my enemy? Elijah said, “I have found you because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.” 1Kin 21:20

Gospel Preacher vs False Teachers

The preaching of truth gives occasion for those upholding error to rear their heads and come out in fierce opposition to the truth. The trouble is not with those who protest error by proclaiming the truth, but with those who uphold false doctrines. These false teachers are sometimes hard to recognize as they appear at times to be sheep or ministers of righteousness, when in reality, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing or ministers of Satan (Matt. 7:15-16; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Cor. 11:13-15). So, Christians must constantly be on guard and “prove all things” by searching if the things being taught are the truth of God. 1 Thess 5:21 f; Acts 17:11

Christians are commanded to have authority for everything that they do and this authority is to come from Jesus Christ (Col. 3:17). Those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have God and neither do those who participate and prosper with them in their false doctrines (2 Jn. 9-11).

Consider the kind of music that the Lord requires of those who follow him. He has given us a direct command to sing and make melody in our hearts (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). When we gather together and sing as he has commanded us, we are worshiping him in Spirit and in truth and we are abiding in his doctrine (Jn. 4:24; 2 Jn. 9). However, when we assemble and play instrumental music as many denominations do, we would be operating outside the jurisdiction of apostolic doctrine and our worship would be in vain (2 Jn. 9; Matt. 15:8-9). We would have rejected the authority of God and substituted it with man’s authority. God has demonstrated continually his displeasure at those who have done such things (Lev. 10:1-3; 2 Sam. 6:6-7).

Conclusion: Anyone who can’t give a  “thus saith the Lord” for all they say and do needs to repent and turn to back to God. We are commanded not to go beyond that which is written (1 Cor. 4:6). I speak not only of denominations, but to the church as well. If we can’t give a thus saith the Lord for Sunday schools and women teachers in the church, then how can we say denominations are the only troublemakers?  If we can’t give book, chapter and verse for another day for the church to assemble, then who is troubling whom? Acts 20:7 If we are sending the church’s contribution to man made organizations to do the work of the church, are we any better than denominations who do the same. 1 Cor 16:1,2 If we are eating in fellowship halls at the expense of the church, are we not serving our bodies rather than our souls, and disobeying a direct commandment from God at the same time? Rom 16:18 f; 1 Cor 11:22,34 If we can’t prove our faith by the scriptures, is our faith from man or from God? 1 Thess 5:21 Paul warned the Ephesian elders, “. . that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). Is it any wonder why so many churches of Christ have abandoned the eldership in lieu of so called “Mature Brethren”? And even churches with elders have them in name only, but many are unqualified to lead the church of Christ. 1 Tim 3:1-13  Brethren, those wolves are among us today, and many of them are preachers, teachers, elders and deacons.

The greatest problem that we have is sin and the solution to sin has always been the truth (Isa. 59:1-2; Jn. 8:31-32). The truth was the answer back then, and is the answer for the troubles that exist today. It’s time for those who trouble the truth to turn back to the truth unless we also hear Elijah’s reply to Ahab, “I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord…” 1 Kin 18:18