“But if I say, “I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His Name,” His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jeremiah 20:9 NIV
The time has come where cowards from the pulpits need to stop suppressing truth. In the midst of a world of soft, delicate people; we need men and women to rise up boldly and allow the Holy Spirit to do what He has been sent to do.
Many fear man more than they fear God.
Many in this day and age want no conflict. They fear man more than they fear God. They would rather suppress God within them, then speak to others about Him. They no longer have the desire to speak Truth in love; but, rather water-down truth in carnal love. True Biblical love is much different than the cliche, carnal love we see today. One seeks obedience and draws nigh to God; while the other neglects God and seeks to be gentle and kind through a worldly love. It is all affection based and feel good. It doesn’t want to be offensive. You tell me where exactly that mindset is in the Bible? Tell me where it directly says, “don’t be offensive.'' Where is it!? You can’t find it because that phrase doesn’t exist in the words of a Holy, Almighty God.
Jesus Christ spoke truth in love; boldly and unashamedly.
Look at how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees: ““You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies”” (John 8:44 ESV). Jesus also gives many “woes” to them in Matthew 23. You think He took to the phrase, “Well let’s see here, how can I present the truth in the most delicate way where I won’t offend anybody. Let’s see here…ah yes, this is a good phrase. This shouldn’t offend them”? No! Jesus Christ spoke truth in love; boldly and unashamedly! He had the discernment to speak appropriately in every circumstance.
I have always said that the Gospel message will forever be the same, but the approach will be different. I will not speak to a person who is playing church and pretending to be a Christian in the same as I would a helpless drug-addict on the street. Both situations will be done in love; both will be done boldly; but the approach will be different. One is to a self-deceived hypocrite, while the other is to a helpless sinner in need of hope.
How precious is the place of humility where you see yourself for what you truly are.
You look throughout all the Bible, and you will see that Jesus did so in the same manner. Those who viewed themselves as “good” hated Jesus because He spoke with authority and intensity that shook them to the very core. They despised Him because He was willing to point out and tell them what they actually were: self-professed good people who were hypocritical and wicked internally. However, when helpless sinners cried out to Christ, He heard them and gave them the most delicate response each time. Why? Because these people knew who they were before Christ. Most of them had simple, child-like faith that He was the Messiah. They were willing to accept that they were sinners in need of Him. O how precious it is when a heart reaches this genuine stage of humility! No longer is one self-deceived by their own self-righteousness. Jesus longs for all souls to come to this point. Sadly, however, many do not.
We need cowards to stop sitting idly by while the world goes to Hell.
We need some bold Christians to stand up for their faith. We need cowards to stop sitting idly by while the world goes to Hell. If those in our lives go to Hell, let it be not because we were negligent and too afraid to share the truth in love with Holy Ghost boldness. We all have a responsibility when the Holy Spirit resides in us. We are told to share the good, life-changing news of the Gospel in love; but with genuine love, comes Truth; and Truth, we know, is offensive. Not everyone wants to hear what they are apart from Christ. Any Truth that is convicting, the world will immediately dismiss it. The majority of people hate being convicted, because it means a call towards change. Those who continue to say no to God’s conviction, will eventually dig their own grave towards resting in Hell. We need people who are willing to say, “This is what I once was. Christ came, however, and He has changed me into this and continues to sanctify me.” People need genuine, bold truth.
We have tossed out courage, and exchanged it for kindness; though, you need both when sharing the Gospel.
We don’t need to sugar-coat everything. Better to be persecuted for Christ than live the easy life. Many are fading into this casual, laid-back lifestyle where there is no call to witness or to serve or to be bold. We have tossed out courage, and exchanged it for kindness; though, you need both when sharing the Gospel. You can’t just be courageous without kindness, because then you’ll come off with a “turn-or-burn” message, which does no good; however, you can’t just have kindness without courage, because then you come off with a message that just says “Jesus loves you” and there is not a word about sin or repentance.
People are going to ostracize you. You will be hated for Christ’s name.
These are the hard, cold facts. One must possess both kindness and courage, when preaching Truth in love. People are going to get offended. People are going to ostracize you. You will be hated for Christ’s name; but I’d rather be hated by the world and loved by Christ; then to have the world love me and stand before God Almighty on that Final Judgment Day and have His wrath breathing down my neck. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 KJV). Thank God Almighty, however, that He has offered the free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him will be saved.
May we all know that progressive repentance and obedience is found through the genuine belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Mere utterance of belief is not enough, for James 2:26 (ESV) states: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
The time has come to stop worrying about what others think of you, and start worrying about where their souls will be come Judgment Day.
Lance VanTine
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