All Bible texts are from the King James Version.
Romans 16:17, 18 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
To be a "trouble maker" in the great cause of our Lord is certainly a serious offence. Troubles will come but woe to the ones who dare to bring them, so much so that Jesus' counsel is "Avoid them". Union must be in truth. For those who go "contrary to the doctrine" the instruction is to "avoid them".
Two characteristics stand out clearly in the Scriptures which identify trouble makers:-
- The trouble makers go "contrary to the doctrine."
- And secondly they "by fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." They do this by accusing those who stand for truth as being trouble-makers.
These two characteristics are repeated in Scripture several times. It seems that to be falsely accused of being a trouble maker is to be in good company. Let us take a couple instances.
1. Acts 16:20 "These men . . . do exceedingly trouble our city."
Who were these troublers?
Acts 16:17 "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation."
Those who were resisting the voice of God through His messengers were the ones who accused the saints of God of causing trouble. They not only accused them, but "beat them" with "many stripes" and "cast them into prison".
Error produces the trouble, but those who preach the truth are accused of being "trouble makers". This fact seems to span all history and cover all time. It is certainly true today. But what a privilege to stand by Christ's truth for today and to be accused with Him of being a trouble maker. Note Christ's assurance:-
Luke 6:22, 23 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
2. Apostate Ahab enquired of Elijah:-
1 Kings 18:17 " Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah was to the apostate a trouble maker. Elijah answered:-
1 Kings 18:18 "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."
Apostates bring trouble and then accuse the faithful who resist them of being "trouble-makers."
This is typical of apostates. They forsake the truth of God, they forsake the commandments of God, this automatically bring conflict and divisions. Then to hide their fault they try to silence truth, by accusing the faithful of being trouble makers. However, truth will triumph. Apostates may accuse. But trouble is coming. A time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.
Apostates may cause trouble in the camp of the saints, but God will trouble them.
Joshua 7:25 "Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day."
2 John 9 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
May we all abide in Christ and in the doctrine of Christ and not be trouble makers.
© S. D. Goeldner, February, 2011. Last updated August, 2020.
www.vineyardlabourer.info
Mobile, tablet, laptop, desktop, etc. friendly webpage design. Powered by w3.css