Salam folks
About 2:159-160 i partially agree with brother wanderer here. yes it's not about preaching and spreading directly, but indirectly it is related to "spreading the truth, revealing what is hidden".
It may be referring to Jews and Christians of the past, but we should ask the question: "Why did ALLAH (swt) tell us about this ? What should we extract from this past event ?" Obviously it is a message for us. Because it is highly likely that next generations will have those kind of people who conceal the clear ayat of ALLAH (swt) , letting people stay in error, not letting them know the truth.
Don't we see people who idolise their imams, sheikhs, ancestors today ? When you remind them the ayat of ALLAH (swt) do they listen to you ? So what if they try to teach their deviant thoughts to innocent people ? or should I ask: "what if they did this in front of you and you stayed silent then (and afterwards), you didn't want to get involved at all so you let him teach wrong ideas about ALLAH (swt) or Islam ?" Don't you think it's one of those times the truth must be spoken ?
"O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower. " (5:24)
May ALLAH (swt) make us courageous in those kinds of situations and may HE forgive us if we fail (cause we do, again and again).