"But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit" (Matt. 15:13-14).

I have been a blind guide. Last week I put my web page address in the bulletin, and out of ignorance I got it wrong. It wasn’t that I wanted to fool anybody. I wasn’t trying to prevent others from finding my web page, or that I had been influenced by some servants of a darker power and realm. I, being a novice in these matters, got excited about putting it in my bulletin and got it wrong. I know that caused a lot of consternation on the part of those who were trying, and I am sorry. So I will try to get it right this time.

What was wrong with the address. There was nothing wrong in it. There was just something left out. It wasn’t much to leave out, but if you change one detail in a web page address you have it all wrong.

Paul said, "Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27). He didn’t leave anything out, knowing that if the whole counsel of God was not followed, the man or woman would end up at the wrong address.

John warns against adding to or taking away from the revealed truth that he had written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19). We don’t have to teach some outrageous false doctrine to be condemned in our teaching. We just have to leave something out.

Teachers fail in their responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God for various reasons. Some because they are ignorant of it. They teach boldly what they know, they just don’t know what to teach. I have some denominational friends who courageously proclaim "faith only" doctrine, not at all aware that James says, "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith" (James 2:24). And some boldly announce the coming of an earthly reign of Jesus not knowing what Jesus said about it. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). Remember, "And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit."

Paul told us that we need to study. "Give diligence (Study – KJV) to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). A diligent study of God’s word will dispel the darkness of ignorance. We can know God’s will for us, and be assured of our salvation through his word. Paul also wrote, "How that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:3-4). A man might be ignorant of God’s will, but he must not stay ignorant if he is going to get to heaven, or if he will take it upon himself to teach others.

There are others who do not declare the whole counsel of God because it does not appeal to them personally. It is said of Martin Luther that he rejected the entire book of James because it didn’t say what he wanted on faith and works. Does Martin Luther’s opinion change inspired revelation? Because he does not proclaim it, does that mean it is not necessary? The Bible teaches the necessity of faith, but it also teaches the need for faithfulness, lest we fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). Some teachers don’t like that, so they don’t teach it.

Many fall short out of fear. Ahab rejected the prophecies of Micaiah because he didn’t like what he said. "And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so" (1 Kings 22:8). Some in Ahab’s court told Ahab what he wanted to hear. Micaiah wasn’t afraid of Ahab so he told him what God said to say. That didn’t appeal to Ahab.

Likewise, there are many today who proclaim Christ in order to please men. They proclaim the truth, but they are quiet because the people who need the truth don’t want it. Preachers go to meetings on the agreement that they will not speak on certain subjects. I won’t go on those useless excursions, and I would not expect a faithful man to come here under those conditions. I don’t believe that any of us here would want such a person. But if we do, there are many who have that reputation.

It is not wrong for us to target a subject or an audience for a meeting. It is wrong for us to reject needed truth. "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Tim 4:3-4). I am persuaded that we would not want one here who is an ear tickler. If what is presented is true, and is presented in the proper manner, it is appropriate. Paul said, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).

It hasn’t been long since a high-profile denominational preacher correctly stated in public that it was only through belief in Jesus and acceptance of him as the Messiah that the Jew could be saved. Is that in the Bible? "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). He was teaching the truth, wasn’t he? When the national media and the Anti-defamation League criticized him for being anti-Semitic, he apologized and renounced his previous statement. Now why did he do that? He is a man-pleaser.

We must declare the whole counsel. We must leave nothing out. When we do, we are headed for the pit, just as surely as if we began to teach something utterly evil and false.

Let’s get the whole address, and let’s do our best to get it right.