Oversimplification
The gods of this world have blinded the eyes of many by branding the teachings of the gospel as "oversimplification". If one is ambitious to get the attention of the sophisticated, he soon learns that the simple answer and the direct course is not acceptable. Those who lean on human wisdom demand complex and ingenious answers. All that is necessary, in many cases, to defeat efforts to persuade men to live soberly, righteously, and godly, is to brand the efforts as oversimplification.
Some men and women, becoming tired of the responsibilities of marriage and wishing to justify themselves, will decide that they do not love their companion. The next step is to decide that it is sinful to live with a companion whom one does not love. At this point, they consult the preacher. If the preacher is not ashamed of the gospel, he gives them the Holy Spirit's answer - "Husbands, love your wives..." (Eph. 5:25); ".... that they may train the young women to love their husbands... (Titus 2:4). Husbands need to be taught to love their wives and wives need to be taught to love their husbands. Certainly, it is understood that young people should be taught the obligations of love in marriage before they enter into the bond, but the above teaching is addressed to people who are not just "holding a form of godliness", it is the answer.
The wisdom of the world judges many of the Holy Spirit's solutions as oversimplifications. Note for example how the sin of drunkenness, or as most prefer to call it, the "problem of alcoholism" is dealt with by the Holy Spirit - "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5: 18). The parallel passage shows how to be filled with the Spirit - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Co1.3:16). The ones that are filled with the Spirit are the ones in whom the word of Christ dwells richly. So long as this condition exists with a person, he will "be not drunken with wine". This is within the power of anyone who will put forth conscious effort to have the word of Christ dwelling in him richly. This does not appeal to the Naaman spirit which must be complimented by being required to do "some great thing".
"Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need" (Eph. 4:28). This is another example of the Holy Spirit's "oversimplification"!! But God knows man. He, as the Creator of man, knows that a basic need of his creature is to be occupied; he needs to "labor working with his hands"; furthermore, this occupation with that which is good, puts him in the "have" class and enables him to perform as a useful member of society by contributing to those who are needy indeed.
Have you ever suggested to some brother or sister who had been wronged or defrauded, "Why not rather take wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?" Paul was "guilty" of that very thing. Can you imagine the scornful reception given to such by the person who is going to "stand up for his rights"?
Those who are convinced that the gospel is divine in origin and consequently are not ashamed of it will not be deterred from giving the Bible answer, because the worldly, proud and sophisticated brand it as "oversimplification". Just remember Satan's condescending air was not acquired in the 20th century; he used this device very effectively on Eve.
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