Do We Have To “Rock The Boat” In Our Preaching?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
A querist asks, “When preachers withhold plain Bible teaching regarding a sinful practice that exists in a congregation so they won’t “rock the boat,” is this a sinful practice?”
Indeed it is, (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 and commentary), because it shows a lack of concern for the souls of men, and those that do so will be held accountable (cf. Ezekiel 3:18; Ezekiel 33:6).
Paul reminded the Ephesians elders that when he preached, he had “kept back nothing” that was profitable to them (Acts 20:20 KJV), nor did he hold back from declaring “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27 KJV). If we truly love men’s souls, can we as faithful Christians do any less than the inspired apostle Paul and be approved of God?
In John 15:15, our Lord stated that disciples (followers of Christ) are His “friends.” Why? Our Lord answers, “for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Our Lord withheld nothing from His followers pertaining to the saving gospel of Christ.
Peter declares that through the knowledge of Christ, we have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). A gospel that is preached and taught “in part” is a defective gospel. No one can be saved by hearing a “partial” gospel.
That is exactly why Paul exhorted the young preacher, Timothy to:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, For the time will come when they will not endure sound [healthy] doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Brethren, the Scriptures make it clear that we are to teach and preach the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27 ASV). We are to preach it whenever folks want to hear it (“in season”), and preach it whenever folks don’t want to hear it (“out of season”) – 2 Timothy 4:2 – even to the point of “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 KJV).
Yes, we’ll have to “rock the boat,” and some folks will be offended (cf. Acts 7:51-58).