April 11, 1997 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following is from the book Things Hard to Be Understood, David W. Cloud, copyright 1996, Way of Life Literature --

ACTS 5:38,39 – "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

Gamaliel was an unconverted Pharisee. God used him to deliver Peter and John from death, but he said a foolish thing which many Christians quote as gospel truth. He advised the Jewish rulers not to kill Peter and John who had been preaching. People say that it is none of our business to rebuke sin, to expose modernism. We should leave that to God to attend to. They say if the work be of God, it will grow; if it is not of God, it will fail. But when they quote Gamaliel they are quoting an unsaved man, not what God Himself says.

Note that the Bible only quotes Gamaliel; it does not approve his statement. It is not true that if a work be not of God, "it will come to nought." The Jehovah’s Witnesses movement is not of God, but it is more than one hundred years old and has not yet come to nought. So with Mohammedanism and Romanism and Spiritism and Mormonism. So with the liquor business; so with lewd literature. It is a foolish and unscriptural idea that we are to leave things alone and if there is anything wrong with them, then they will come to nought of themselves.

This idea that the truth should never be defended and a wrong should never be attacked is wholly different from the plain teaching of the Bible.

The Lord Jesus commanded us to "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15). Young Timothy was commanded, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Tim. 5:20). Paul was inspired to write Titus about some "vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision ... Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:10, 13). And Jude 3 tells us that "ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Some follow Gamaliel, but it would be far better if they would follow the Bible (John R. Rice, Ecumenical Excuses for Unequal Yokes).

For more on verses misused by the ecumenical movement see commentaries in THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD on 1 Sam. 24:4-10; Matt. 7:1-1; 18:15-17; Mk. 9:38-40; John 13:35; 17:21; Rom. 14:4.