The Whole Counsel of God
Debates are raging. Frustration is abounding. Accusations are being hurled. Wise counsel is being rejected. There will always be new strains of illnesses upon the earth. There will also be different theories as to what the best approach to them should be. Most people want everyone to stay healthy and live well regardless of their age or social status. So if most people want others to be safe and healthy, even though they hold different views regarding the treatment to achieving this result, why is such viral anger flourishing at this time? The issue has to do with truth.
Are you covering your ears to information not presented by the loudest voice in the room?
The apostle Paul declared in Acts 20:27 “for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Paul had the obligation to share all the revealed truth of God (Acts 9:15-16). He didn’t share only the parts he wanted to share. The Judaizers were happy to share only part of the truth and mix it with their own beliefs as well. Many religions today are glad to share only a part of the truth declaring one is saved by “Faith only” (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21). Portions of the scriptures have long been taken alone or out of context. Satan did this himself in Matthew 4. Jesus presented a fuller view of the truth. Apollos was a mighty minister of the Old Testament scriptures, yet he needed exposure to all of the truth to be pleasing to God (Acts 18:26). Context and the full truth are necessary to make proper decisions.
The current situation, specific to America in this examination, is enflamed due to the suppression of truth in the media at large and its manipulation by those in political power. This was true long before the current spread of a new strain of an illness. It is very easy to be suppressed into a life of fearful delusion or even be enraged when you are not receiving the full truth. It is also easy to get exasperated when others won’t accept additional facts into their viewpoint, but blindly move forward with a limited amount of information to guide their life. They will not just fail to listen, but actively try to suppress any other consideration offered to themselves or others. Ever have a religious conversation like that? In America, this is resulting not only in further harm to the country, but loss of freedom which will last well into the future.
The bottom line to all of this is summed up in John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” There are great number of people in the Bible who closed their ears to the truth and hardened their hearts. They would not hear or accept the truth. They did not want the truth shared and wanted to stop anyone who tried to share it. Ultimately, this led to their destruction. Therefore, let us take time to consider all the facts. There are concerned voices of opposition to the bottlenecked flow of information. Stop! Take a moment to legitimately consider not just what the loudest voice in the room is saying, but what other informed and wise individuals are saying. The suppression of secular and spiritual truth will only result in pain and the loss of freedom.