The spirit of flattery that exists in the world has entered the church. Like never before, the world will not tolerate being called into question for the choices they have made. They are who they are, not by the grace of God, but by their own choices. They have created and defined themselves and no one dare attack their person. To say to them you should not have done this or that is taken as an insult, bigotry and hatred of the worst kind.
This fierce self-defensiveness that screams: “Don’t judge!” is not only the mantra outside the walls of the church, it is fast becoming the standard inside God’s camp. Preachers are popular according to their skill at finding scriptures that can encourage us to be successful at achieving our dreams. The word of God is not exposited for truth; it is used for the purpose of flattery. Promises are plucked out of context and applied to any and all who want to feel God’s favor and blessing upon them. Repentance, sorrow for sin, God’s hatred of evil, judgment, salvation as deliverance from sin, holiness without which no man shall see the Lord, these are all rarely, if ever, mentioned.
Whatever the cost, God’s word that rebukes an idolatrous, ungodly, self-serving generation must be preached as God meant it be preached: uncut.
Some may say, “Well, that’s not my ministry. I have been called to encourage.” There is one word of God given to every man of God. All scripture has been given to us, not only to encourage and comfort the saints as they press on to know the Lord, but also “for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” God gives no minister the liberty to take from His toolbox only those instruments he likes to use, and leave the more abrasive tools for others to wield. The man of God is charged before God to preach the word, using it to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
The time has come when men will not endure sound doctrine. God’s word must therefore be edited. Those parts that are too harsh and overbearing must be cut out. Ministers must adapt their teaching to the sensibilities of the day. The gospel must be reworked to suit the world’s tastes. Thus, teachers have arisen for itching ears and flattering mouths work ruin.
The church’s mandate is to be the light of the world. Now more than ever we must be a light that reproves the darkness that is spreading over mankind at an accelerated pace in anticipation of the Man of Sin. Judgment must begin at the house of the Lord. God’s true people who love Him and His word must come out and be distinguishable from a crooked and perverse generation which is pure in their own eyes, but not washed from their filthiness.
Let us shake as Jeremiah did when he realized that profaneness had infiltrated God’s house and the prophets and priests were no different in their approach than the Gentiles (Jeremiah 23:9-11). We do not need more “pillow prophets” (Ezekiel 13:18). The desperate need of our hour is for God’s word to be declared in all its fullness and power by men who love it and live it. Whatever the cost, God’s word that rebukes an idolatrous, ungodly, self-serving generation must be preached as God meant it be preached: uncut.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4)