Who Are The Real Troublemakers?

The faithful servants of God are often falsely accused of sowing discord or causing division because they refuse to yield to the right hand or to the left. Sound brethren are often insulted by loop-legged brethren. The words “legalist” or “Pharisee” derive from brethren who reject the doctrine of Christ and His apostles. Thus, they accuse anyone who abides by the doctrine of Christ with such derogatory names. However, those loyal to the Lord must not stop “Speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent” because of such insults (1 Pet 4:11). God doesn’t give us a license to relax when the going gets rough and the liberals start whining.

The scheme used today is the same as that used by wicked Ahab well over 2,700 years ago. Elijah was accused by King Ahab of stirring up trouble in Israel. “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?  And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals” (1 Kings 18:17-18). The prophet Elijah was faithful in his diligence to proclaim God’s Word. The “sting” of his preaching was felt by Ahab, and as a result, Elijah was hated because of it. Surely, those among Ahab’s camp didn’t like to be around Elijah. You can only imagine the sneers and taunts that were uttered under breath when Elijah would approach. They are the same that faithful servants hear to this very day.

Perhaps it was like Jeremiah the prophet heard. “Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words” (Jer 18:18).  They spoke such words because they rejected the law of the Lord which was strict and often caused them distress and persecutions. “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine” (Jer 44:16-18).

Elijah was not the trouble maker! He simply proclaimed the “whole counsel of God” as all faithful preachers and church members do. Paul made this clear to the elders of the church of Ephesus when he said, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). A preacher’s job is to condemn error in public, in private, and in every season. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:2-5).  Those who cause divisions are they which stray from the doctrine of Christ and His apostles and lead the weak to follow them. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17,18).

There can be no Biblical unity when there is doctrinal error! We must not let the compromisers twist God’s Word on us and make us feel like we are the ones in the wrong. This is what Ahab sought to do to Elijah, but he was too wise to let that continue. We too must be wise as serpents. We must stand up for what’s right. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10).

The Bible says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). To “reprove” means to expose them. Ahab fellowshipped the prophets of Baal. It must not be so among us. The Scriptures are clear. “If sinners entice you, consent not” (Prov. 1:10). “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Prov. 4:14-15). “Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 Jn 9-11). We must etch these verses into our hearts and minds and abide by them even as we claim to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is in danger of hell fire? It’s not those who are “contending for the faith” as Jude 3 commands: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Who will stand up for the Lord and be counted? Is there anyone who will say, “Here am I! Send me”? Life is too short and eternity too long to forfeit salvation. If we don’t obey the gospel of Christ, we will perish in hell (Mk 16:16 f; 2 Thess 1:7-9). If we abide not by the doctrine of Christ, which was also called the doctrine of God (Jn 7:1617) and the doctrine of the apostles (Acts 2:42), we have not God (2 Jn 9). If we change the Word of God we will have our name removed from the Lamb’s Book of Life (Gal 1:6-9 f; Rev 22:18,19). I want to die in the Lord and not out of the Lord. If that is your goal as well, cease not to teach and preach the unadulterated gospel and doctrine of Christ, and reject the doctrines and commandments of men which turn us from the truth and divide us (Matt 15:7-9 f; Tit 1:14; 1 Cor 1:10).