Secrecy

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Be watchful of secret meetings.  Is the purpose a righteous one?

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Acts 4:15 – But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

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My writing today is not about the operation of work of secular businesses, companies, or even legal actions.  I am writing to and about the Church.  The Bible is God’s Word.  Every Word in the Scripture is truly recorded.  But we must understand that not every word in the Bible is true.  For example, Samson lied to Delilah; Job was mistaken about the Lord giving and taking away; that’s just two examples.  The Scriptures reveal the truth of life, even if it means exposing the lies of man.  But the Scriptures are explicit in their teaching and setting forth of standards for pleasing God, holy living, and Biblical process.  Those things are established forever according to the Word of God, and because they are established on the Word, there is no need for secret meetings in which decided actions can work to circumvent Biblical precedent.

That is what was taking place pertaining to Peter and John in their boldness and righteous standing.  First, what we might call the presiding council, the priests and Sadducees, laid hold of Peter and John, bringing them into their presence.  And then, instead of reasoning with them face to face, they sent Peter and John out so the presiding council could try to find a lawful way to silence them, and if possible, to even punish them for their actions.  It was in secret meetings of this manner that such action was simply the first step onto the slippery slope of persecution of the church.  As we study the Scriptures, we find that on subsequent occasions, the disciples were arrested, beaten, and even killed for their actions.

Meetings and gatherings held in secret for the purpose of trying to stop, silence, or deter the work of the Lord are NEVER good.  Even though many such meetings are held in ignorance of the Word, there is no excuse for such meetings.  Whether they are called “secret” or “private,” if the purpose is to stop, silence, deter, or even pervert Godly counsel, such a meeting is NEVER good.  Their basis and true nature are kept “secret” from the people who most need to be informed of the truth.  Once again, the counsel of the Word of God is fixed.  We may discuss it in private, but the outcome and its reason will be declared from the rooftop.

Ultimately, the same is true for things done in secret.  Even those things done in a deceptive atmosphere will ultimately be shouted from the housetop.  Ultimately, NOTHING SHALL BE HID!  Whether is exposed by the Lord at the time of the attempted deception, or revealed by Him in the process that follows, we who are of the household of faith, MUST hold to our faith that if God be for us, who can be against us?

Manna for Today – Acts 4:1-22; Luke 12:1-3; Romans 8:31