Acts 20:27-28 English Standard Version
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[of the Lord] which he obtained with his own blood.
If the gospel was not so simple then we must look to the other matters which are within God’s plans for this life Christ to be more complicated.
Here Paul addresses the overseers, those entrust with tending the flock of God. They are responsible to clarify such matters that are good for everyone. The prime issue here is in taking into consideration the whole counsels of God and not to lay so much weight on any one scripture that we ignore the whole truth.
Psalm 94:1 English Standard Version (ESV) O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
Psalm 86:15 English Standard Version (ESV) But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
So which is it? Is God vengeful or is He merciful? We should never allow one line of scripture weight so heavily upon us that it places a false impression about the quality and character of our God.
Discipleship classes should cover these issues in order to allow new disciples the opportunity to hear pastors and teachers speak on broad issues without being misled of God’s plans for them.
This is one reason that teachers are held to a much higher standard than the laity. It is the responsibility of the leadership of our churches to test the soundness of anyone’s beliefs before they are allowed to instruct others.
On that note, if we are unsure about a teaching we have heard, it is a good idea to ask a trusted friend what they heard. Avoid laying false accusations at the feet of a teacher. If there are still questions, ask someone in leadership and let them clarify what is right or in need of correction.