Giving God’s Full Counsel

 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” -3 John 4.

In Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians, he told them;

“26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” -Acts 20:26,27.

Paul here asserted himself to be pure from the blood of all men, because he had declared to them the FULL COUNSEL of God; sharing everything the Lord wanted them to know, with Christians today still needing to follow his example.

Yet in modern times I see the full counsel of God often being neglected in favor of an ear-pleasing gospel (2 Timothy 4:3,4), with Christian leaders & laymen alike striving to forward the message of salvation as inoffensively as possible. This usually means there is a partial sharing of God’s counsel, but a neglect for the whole; the question then becoming, at what point does the Lord’s counsel change from being truth into a lie?

Scripture says that we Christians can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth; yet today we often witness pure truth sacrificed upon the altar of accepting others to gain their favor, valuing the praise of men above God’s approval.

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” -John 12:43.

It’s the believer’s duty to share the gospel (Mark 16:15), and we really need to “tell it like it is,” while there’s still time for people to respond; they must realize the naturally fallen sinful state that all of us have with God, and their need to repent from sin and be forgiven through Jesus’ blood.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” -John 3:36.

“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” -Galatians 3:22.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Acts 20:21.

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” -Luke 24:47.

Most Christian leaders & laymen KNOW these Biblical truths, yet in their striving not to offend, emphasis on key elements of the gospel message; such as the blood atonement of the cross (Colossians 1:20), individual sins (Romans 3:23), or eternal punishment (Matthew 10:28)) are either obscured, or lost altogether. Jesus had long ago given us this warning when He said,  “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” -Luke 6:26.

The false prophets of today are too polite for God, and seek the favor of men by only trying to make them feel better; promising them God’s love & acceptance without the reconciliation of Jesus’ cross.

“13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” -Jeremiah 6:13,14.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 

-2 Corinthians 5:19.

And as far as offenses go with the REAL Son of God, He warned us about Hell, threw money changers out of the temple (John 2:14-16), brought division in families, and was hated by the world for telling them their works are evil; and Jesus expects no less from those who follow Him.

“35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” -Matthew 10:35,36.

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” -John 7:7.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” -1 John 4:17.

So let us seek to share the full counsel of God with all due emphasis; not holding back any part of the truth or its consequences from vain efforts of politeness, in order to keep friendships; eternity is at stake for each one of us (Romans 14:12), and we should live for Christ like we believe it.

“2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -2 Timothy 4:2-4.

 

I also have a short YouTube video teaching on this subject titled Too Polite for God?

The Bandwagon Deception

 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” -Matthew 7:13.

               Christians are exposed to numerous corrupting influences in these Last Days, such as false prophets (Matthew 24:24) and teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3), or even the influence bad company has on those nearby; yet another more subtle deception incorporates both of these, which I call the Bandwagon Effect; a circumstance that can happen when a person or group gains popularity to the point where all men accept and speak well of them, with a type of collective favoritism towards them that overtakes others unintentionally.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” -Psalm 1:1.

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” -Luke 6:26.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” -1 Corinthians 15:33.

And so this is the Bandwagon Effect; peer influence upon behavior or beliefs is enormous, and we need far greater knowledge of God’s Word to fight this evil.

               Scripture seems to affirm this principle, for we see how things were with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament; whenever they had a Godly King, the people at least generally went along with Him; yet most of their leaders were evil, and the people would also do like them; and this was the prevailing condition.

The Bible reflects this overall process, where we read;

“The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” -Psalm 12:8.

              If you’ve wondered how our own nation came to this place of violence and gross immorality, consider the many vile men & women we’ve promoted in politics, Hollywood, and business leadership, and you’ll see the truth of this Bible principle; it’s a time when the transgressors have come to the full (Daniel 8:23).

               But the Bandwagon Effect also shows within the body of Christ, and starts soon after the believers are saved; these new Christians adopt the values of the group they’re in, and some of these individuals become highly esteemed; successful men or women who say they are Christians, and are  loved & accepted without deep scrutiny.

The late evangelist Billy Graham was a highly esteemed preacher who many would consider a great Christian example; yet the very fact of his popularity without contention indicates that he’d made serious compromises, and was yoked together with unbelief; he was unequally yoked together with other religions, political relations, and Hollywood connections. He shamelessly sought the friendship of the world, and by this became God’s enemy (James 4:4), subtly influencing millions of believers to follow his example. For more info on B.G, use our the link for the revealing Cathy Burns book, Billy Graham and his Friends. Most people like myself were on the Billy Graham “bandwagon;” respecting & accepting him unintentionally, due to superficial appearance.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” -2 Timothy 3:12.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” -2 Corinthians 6:14.

              Brethren, we need to carefully examine ourselves before God (2 Corinthians 13:5), to expose what or who we’ve been following. The only example we ought to have is JESUS CHRIST, every part of Him, through the light given in God’s Word (John 3:21). Jumping on the Bandwagon might seem to be a popular and natural thing to do as far as man is concerned, but the same can be said about the broad path of destruction that we need to escape; learn to discern through the study of God’s Word, with your spiritual “house” built safely upon this rock.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” -Hebrews 4:12.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” -Matthew 7:24,25.

Here is a link to a short YouTube video that I did on this subject, as well titled The Bandwagon Effect.