Who wants to be called a troubler? Troublers disturb and disrupt. A dictionary definition of troubler is “someone who deliberately stirs up trouble; mischief-maker.” While there are nefarious troublers like that definition, there are others who are not but are called troublers.
Troublers who teach, live, and/or promote a different doctrine than Christ’s destroy and tear down. Some came into the churches of Galatia with a doctrine that bound circumcision in order to be saved, and those who did so were troublers: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal 1:6-7). Those who bring religious error are troublers, and they trouble and disturb others from the truth.
But there are others who are called troublers who are doing what is good and right.
Take for example the courageous prophet Elijah. With boldness and courage he squarely faced wicked King Ahab of Israel. But hear this exchange: “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, O troubler of Israel?’ And he answered, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals’” (1 Kin 18:17-18).
Who’s the real troubler? The real troubler was the man in sin, the sin-promoter Ahab, who forsook the commandments of God and followed false gods, leading his people in the same way. Ahab called Elijah a troubler though Elijah was simply bringing the truth and carrying out the will of God. Why would he call Elijah a troubler? Because of the impact of Elijah’s message upon him. The truth, the will of God, troubles or disturbs those in sin.
When the apostle Paul taught in Philippi, he and Silas were dragged to the authorities and charged as being men who “exceedingly trouble our city” (Acts 16:20). The gospel troubles and disturbs those who despise and reject it and want to continue in sin.
The riot in Ephesus in Acts 19 came about when silversmiths saw their idol-making business in danger of disrepute and their profits disappearing. The culprit? “This Paul” who “has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands” (19:26). The gospel troubles and disturbs those who reject it and want to live in sin.
The gospel troubles and disturbs men. Sharper than any two-edged sword, the gospel cuts and opens and exposes. It is a very troubling or disturbing message to the hearer who is at odds with it. Being troubled or disturbed by truth, men can either fight against it, reject it, and call its messenger a troubler, or they can be convicted of its truth and humbly yield to it in obedience. It should not be surprising then that preachers and teachers of the gospel are often called troublers. Identifying sin and error as well as living righteously, even without a word, will sometimes bring you the label of a troubler.
Christian, are you willing to stand for the truth of the gospel and be labeled a troubler? Don’t be ashamed of the gospel that troubles and disturbs men in sin, calling them to repentance and obedience to Christ. Don’t be shaken by being called a troubler when you are teaching, living, and standing for the truth of the gospel.
– Larry Jones