KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING...

 

KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING: WHAT'S THE REAL MESSAGE?

SPREADING THE GOSPEL OR JUST EXPOSING DARKNESS?

 By Mary Ann Wray

 

Passage for Context:
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,  saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ... So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” -Acts 5: 27-42

 Where are in the last days-most definitely. The signs are everywhere. See 2 Timothy 3: 1-9. As such, we are living in a day and time where the Gospel of Christ has been mixed with other winds of doctrine, greed and sin. As a safeguard, the Bible commands believers to expose sin and falsehood (See Ephesians 5: 11). But it also gives us clear guardrails, indicating when that calling out of sin and darkness turns into something unhealthy or even spiritually harmful. Scriptures about facing off sin and rebuking unruly brethren and elders is a real command—but notice why and how Paul frames Ephesians 5: 11, particularly, in the surrounding verses. The goal is repentance, truth and protection of others, not constant scrutiny. In verse 8 he admonishes us to walk as children of the light. In verse 10 he says to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. Having said that, exposure is in the service of light but it was never meant to become the main attraction or fixation.

 We must beware to keep the main thing the main thing…proclaiming the Word of God. That is the only truth that will stand and has stood the test of time under persecution and great darkness. It is the only truth that will set men free.

 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness…Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” Luke 11: 34-36 KJV

When exposing sin and moral darkness morphs into one’s main focus it becomes problematic. At that point it can become an obsession rather than an act of obedience. The light in you can become darkness.

 Philippians 4: 8 counterbalances exposing sin with the following: “Whatsoever things are true… pure… lovely… think on these things.”

 By overemphasizing what’s wrong in the church along with the horrible effects clergy abuse has had on the people of God, your thoughts, energy, conversations and emotional life are dominated by tracking evil, watching corrupt behavior constantly and endlessly researching wrongdoing. In this case the darkness has taken up more mental space than Christ intended, and your inner man will become darkened by it. By focusing so much on the negativity and sin of ministers/ ministries such knowledge can replace charity.

 Satan wanted Eve to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil to become like him. God wants us eating from the Tree of Life to become more like Christ. When focusing on darkness replaces light, such knowledge trumps love, mercy and humility. Exposing can become harsh, humiliating, vengeful and lacking grief over the sin and pain it has inflicted upon others. It no longer reflects Christ’s heart, even if the facts are true. Jesus confronted sin, but He wept over people, not relishing their downfall.

 “And though I have all knowledge… and have not charity, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2

 You may remember the story of James and John wanting to call fire down on the heads of the Samaritan Village who rejected Christ in Luke 9: 51-56.

 Here we see that James and John were zealous and “on fire’ for the Gospel of Christ, but they had the wrong spirit and attitude about those who opposed the truth. We need to be careful that we don’t take on the same attitude while coming up against opposition and facing off darkness. We might very well be in opposition to the ways of God while coming against the very things that oppose Him. I don’t want to wind up being rebuked by the Lord for misplaced zeal. Heart attitude and how we treat all people is what matters to Him more. He said to bless those that curse you, pray for those who persecute you and do good to those who hate you. Jesus said even publicans and tax collectors love those who love them. We can develop an attitude of self-righteousness while calling out what’s wrong and begin to be resentful of others who don’t see things “our way.”

 We must be careful not to treat brothers and sisters rudely or with contempt who are deceived by abusers but still think the people they follow are wonderful. We also need to be careful about taking advantage of those who have been wounded by abusive leaders and exchange our sympathy in the hopes of garnering a following and donations. This is just as hypocritical as those who have been called out for using the people of God for their own advantage.

 The Pharisees were famous for thanking God that they weren’t like “other men.” Self-righteousness became their identity and what defined them. They felt spiritually superior to others through their constant criticism and uncovering the flaws in others. Their exposure shifted from obedience to ego. See Luke 18: 9-14. When exposure produces anger, fear and anxiety instead of peace, it becomes sinful. God has not given us the spirit of fear but power, love and a sound mind. Biblical exposure with the right heart attitude leads to clarity, godly caution, soberness of mind and as God permits, godly sorrow. Obsession leads to fear, rage, constant suspicion and emotional exhaustion.

 Jesus was the perfect example of exposing false teachers, sin and darkness with limits. Jesus never chased darkness; it was exposed whenever He arrived on the scene. He knew when to withdraw from crowds into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5: 16). He told people to remove their own eye planks first, (Matthew 7: 3-5) before taking specks out of others’ eyes. He refused to answer some false accusations by ignorant men whose minds were darkened by hypocrisy (Matthew 27: 12). Unlike Jesus, we are not above being accused of any falsehood, so we best maintain in an attitude of humility when tested or even provoked by others religious attitudes.

 Here is a simple Biblical Test to ask ourselves prayerfully before we expose something or someone and how…

 1. Is this exposure absolutely necessary right now? Is someone’s well being in jeopardy or are they in danger?

 2. If the Lord says yes, ask yourself, am I being motivated by love for God and people or by a desire to promote my own cause?

 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.” (Eph. 4: 14-15)

 “Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD examines the hearts.” Proverbs 21: 2 NAS

 3. The Lord may want you to see the issue, but pray about it first. He may want you to consider your own ways, heart attitudes and even renew your Fear of the Lord…

 “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.” 1 Timothy 5: 20-21

 “To every thing there is a season…” (Eccl. 3:1)

 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity…but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” Psalm 75: 2 & 7

 4. Is what and how I’m presenting going to draw me and others closer to Christ—or will it cause me and others to drift farther away from fellowship with a sense of dread, rage and offense?

 “Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.  Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  John 12: 30-32

 5. Am I bearing the fruit of the Spirit? (Gal. 5:22–23)

 If the fruit of the Spirit disappears, the proper focus is off. In summary, if we as the people of God are becoming more focused on darkness, we and they will not be set free but pressed into greater despair. God’s purpose in revealing hidden things is to bring it to light so we He can deal with it as He grants it (2 Timothy 2: 25-26). His desire ultimately is for reconciliation with Himself and healing so that we can be set free from pain and abuse. Man in and of himself, has no ability to set anyone free.

 Exposing darkness for the sake of exposure can bring no freedom and deliverance unless the remedy is given right along with it…The Gospel of Christ and Him present to heal, deliver and set us free.

 “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes light itself.  So, it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5: 12-14