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“Preaching the Whole Message”
Categories: Bulletin Articles, M. W. Bassford
Acts 5 contains a fairly convoluted series of events. As with Acts 4, the climax of the chapter is a confrontation between the apostles and the Sanhedrin. However, the path to the confrontation is a little more winding.
In 5:17-18, the apostles are arrested. However, in 5:19-24, an angel rescues them from prison so they can continue proclaiming the gospel. In 5:25-26, they are asked nicely to appear before the Council, and only then does the famous showdown take place.
Of particular note, though, is the angel’s instruction to the imprisoned apostles in 5:20. He tells them, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of life.” Don’t leave anything out, even the parts that might get you arrested and killed. Preach the whole thing.
Still today, daring to proclaim the whole gospel is divisive, and it even can be dangerous. There are millions of people who do not want to hear the bad news about their sin, even if it is followed by the good news about salvation through Christ. All of us have friends, neighbors, and even brethren in that boat. There are many churches in which repeating the plain teaching of Jesus in Matthew 19:1-9 will not find favor.
However, preaching the whole message, especially the unpopular parts, has great value. First, it demonstrates our integrity and commitment to God. A few years back, I was talking with a progressive friend about my opposition to the practice of homosexuality. As many progressives do in that area, he resorted to the conservatives-are-hypocrites argument and informed me that we didn’t honor Jesus’ teaching on divorce. “Well, actually. . .” I replied.
Declaring the whole counsel of God might open us to charges of being extremists, legalists, or fanatics. However, it insulates us from accusations of hypocrisy. When we say we honor the word of God, we can prove that we mean it.
That kind of strong stand might awaken hatred from others (which, according to John 15:18-19, is nothing more than disciples can expect), but crucially, it does not expose us to contempt. Everyone knows the difference between people of principle and those who will abandon the ideals they claim whenever convenient. The latter are easily dismissed; the former cannot be. Even on the cross, Jesus’ righteousness overcame the shame of His death.
Second, faithfully repeating the whole gospel finds favor with God. Discipleship is not about convenience, either for us or others. It is about obeying our Lord, even when it is difficult, even when we don’t want to, even when obedience costs us things we hold dear. When we surrender our will to God’s, we reveal that we have the mind of Christ.
However, just as Jesus was highly exalted when He humbled Himself to the point of death, so too will we be exalted. When we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father. When we honor God, He will honor us. Nobody will lose their souls for showing too much respect for God’s word, but danger lies in editing the message to suit our preferences.
