You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. (Acts 20:20)
This scripture is part of Paul's parting speech to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Paul said that he preached the truth, not to boast, but to teach them. The church at Ephesus was established by Paul himself, and he lived there for three years. The believers in the church at Ephesus were very clear about Paul's behavior. So, Paul hoped that they would remember everything he did in Ephesus and follow him.
The truth was of benefit to people, but maybe not all people liked it. Paul taught everyone the truth without evading it. Whether in public, or in everyone's home, he always taught the believers consistently with his words. Here one can see that Paul was faithful in preaching the truth and didn’t preach selectively or speak a variance of it. Because of his loyalty to the truth, he could preach it bravely. No matter what the circumstance, he taught the truth without the slightest compromise. Why could Paul preach so bravely? Another important reason was that he was unlike the philosophers or lobbyists. They traveled around the world at that time and having reservations about it, spoke about it in order to benefit from it.
Because they wanted to benefit from it, they did not dare to preach the truth. This was similar to the philosophers or lobbyists who traveled around during Paul's period.
In order to benefit, to gain the believer's approval, to get more accolades, and then to cater to the believer's taste, they specialize in some truths that believers love to hear, such as the teaching about grace and blessings. But they dare not tell the truth that believers do not like, such as teaching about sin, judgment, repentance, etc. The theology of success that has emerged today is actually inseparable from this theology of benefit. In addition to speaking of grace, the theology of success is about how to succeed, and not about sin, confession nor judgment.
Because of being timid, they dare not preach the truth. This often happens in the church. For fear of offending the believers, they dare not speak the truth, even when the believers sin. For example, most dare not speak in the church about "being dedicated", because they fear offending believers who may misunderstand. In fact, such people are not timid nor without courage at all. On the contrary, such people are bold and courageous, because they would rather offend God than offend people. Even when they dare to offend God, are they still timid or without courage? They are just afraid of offending believers, fearing that the believers would not come to the church, which would lead to a decrease in the number of believers and eventually a decrease in dedication.
As a person who is called out by God to preach the truth, one must strive to understand the truth and be careful to preach it without bias. One must be faithful until death in order to receive the crown of life given by God.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker of a grassroots church in Fujian)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
使徒行传灵修系列：忠心传讲真理
你们也知道，凡与你们有益的，我没有一样避讳不说的。或在众人面前，或在各人家里，我都教导你们。（使徒行传20:20）
这节经文是保罗对以弗所教会的长老临别赠言中的一句话，保罗讲述自己传讲真理的样式，并不是为了自夸，而是为了教导他们。因为以弗所教会是保罗亲自所建立的，他曾经在那边居住了有三年之久，以弗所教会对保罗的行事为人都是非常清楚的。所以保罗希望以弗所教会能记住，他在以弗所做的一切事，希望他们可以效法他的样式。
真理都是对人有益的，却不一定都是人们喜欢的，可是保罗却是将所有的真理，没有任何避讳的教导众人。无论是在公开场合，还是在各人的家里，他都始终言行一致的教导他们。在这里可以看到保罗是忠心的传讲真理，没有选择性的传讲真理，也没有差别性的教导。因为忠心传讲真理，他才会毫无避讳的传讲真理，才能勇敢的传讲真理，无论在什么样的场合，他在教导真理时都没有丝毫的妥协。保罗能这样传讲真理，另一个很重要的原因就是他不像当时周游四方的哲士或说客，为了谋取利益，从而在真理上有所保留。
因为“谋利”不敢传讲真理，这个就跟保罗那个时期的周游四方的哲士或说客差不多。为了谋取利益，为了获得信徒的好感，为了得着更多的奉献，然后迎合信徒的口味，专门讲一些信徒爱听的真理，例如关于恩典与祝福的教导。并且完全不敢讲信徒不喜欢的真理，例如关于罪、审判、悔改之类的教导。现今会出现的成功神学，其实就与这个谋利离不开关系，因为成功神学，除了讲恩典，就是讲成功，而且又不讲罪，也不讲认罪与审判。
因为“胆怯”不敢传讲真理，这个在教会中确实太多了，害怕因为一些真理会得罪信徒，所以很多真理不敢讲，就连信徒犯罪了也不敢指出。例如教会中最不敢讲的就是“奉献”，害怕讲奉献会让信徒误会，会得罪信徒。其实这种人根本不是胆怯，根本就不是没有勇气，相反这种人是胆大包天，因为他们是宁可得罪神，也不敢得罪人。连神都敢得罪了，那他的胆子还小吗？他还是缺乏勇气吗？他只不过是害怕得罪信徒，怕信徒因此不来教会，导致教会人数减少，最终导致奉献减少了。
作为被神呼召出来传讲真理的人，自己一定要努力认识真理，防止自己传讲偏颇的真理。务要至死忠心，才能得着神所赐予的生命冠冕。
（注：本文作者为福建一基层教会全职同工）
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/52544
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. (Acts 20:20)
This scripture is part of Paul's parting speech to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Paul said that he preached the truth, not to boast, but to teach them. The church at Ephesus was established by Paul himself, and he lived there for three years. The believers in the church at Ephesus were very clear about Paul's behavior. So, Paul hoped that they would remember everything he did in Ephesus and follow him.
The truth was of benefit to people, but maybe not all people liked it. Paul taught everyone the truth without evading it. Whether in public, or in everyone's home, he always taught the believers consistently with his words. Here one can see that Paul was faithful in preaching the truth and didn’t preach selectively or speak a variance of it. Because of his loyalty to the truth, he could preach it bravely. No matter what the circumstance, he taught the truth without the slightest compromise. Why could Paul preach so bravely? Another important reason was that he was unlike the philosophers or lobbyists. They traveled around the world at that time and having reservations about it, spoke about it in order to benefit from it.
Because they wanted to benefit from it, they did not dare to preach the truth. This was similar to the philosophers or lobbyists who traveled around during Paul's period.
In order to benefit, to gain the believer's approval, to get more accolades, and then to cater to the believer's taste, they specialize in some truths that believers love to hear, such as the teaching about grace and blessings. But they dare not tell the truth that believers do not like, such as teaching about sin, judgment, repentance, etc. The theology of success that has emerged today is actually inseparable from this theology of benefit. In addition to speaking of grace, the theology of success is about how to succeed, and not about sin, confession nor judgment.
Because of being timid, they dare not preach the truth. This often happens in the church. For fear of offending the believers, they dare not speak the truth, even when the believers sin. For example, most dare not speak in the church about "being dedicated", because they fear offending believers who may misunderstand. In fact, such people are not timid nor without courage at all. On the contrary, such people are bold and courageous, because they would rather offend God than offend people. Even when they dare to offend God, are they still timid or without courage? They are just afraid of offending believers, fearing that the believers would not come to the church, which would lead to a decrease in the number of believers and eventually a decrease in dedication.
As a person who is called out by God to preach the truth, one must strive to understand the truth and be careful to preach it without bias. One must be faithful until death in order to receive the crown of life given by God.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker of a grassroots church in Fujian)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
Devotional Series from Acts: Be Faithful to Speak Truth
