Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
This is indeed a very serious mandate given not only to Ezekiel, but also to all those who assume the responsibilities and office of a Bishop, Pastor, Televangelist, or Preacher. This passage of scripture calls upon all those who are in positions of religious leadership to deliver God's word faithfully, not watering down or diluting the plain utterances of sacred writ to please the carnal ear, but delivering a "Thus saith the Lord" without turning to the right hand or the left. The work of a true preacher of righteousness is not to palliate, sin or to negotiate God's word to the people, even if the multitudes clamor for those smooth sermons which do not disturb the conscience. The counsel given to Ezekiel should be espoused and adopted by all those who are spiritual guardians of the people. Let's read:
Ezekiel 3:10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
This counsel and instruction is particularly pertinent in our day, where the the Biblical truths The Lord has given us to live by, are being watered down to please the sin-loving multitudes, and as a result, it is becoming more and more difficult to find preachers who will deliver God's word faithfully, not being made the sport of circumstances. This era of Christianity was actually predicted many years ago, and it is a sad commentary of our times that we are currently witnessing with our very eyes, the rapid decline of sound doctrine and morality, to which many preachers are now found to be subscribing. Let's read:
2nd Timothy 4:3 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; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The time here foretold has fully come, for many modern-day preachers and televangelists are backing away from certain moral issues, because it is becoming increasingly unpopular to preach against them, and more and more congregants are clamoring for a truce with sin. However, the word of the Lord has not changed, nor has it been abbreviated in any way, and therefore we are under a sacred obligation to preach the gospel in its purest form, and leave the results with God. All preachers, televangelists and spiritual guardians are now called upon to be faithful in warning the world of the impending conflict between the commandments of God and the laws of men, that will inevitably bring the ages old conflict between truth and error to a final climax.
We therefore end this brief presentation with an exhortation for all to preach the truth, the truth only, and nothing but the truth, for this constitutes one of the main responsibilities of a true preacher. Let's read:
2nd Timothy 4:1 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; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
May we all be found faithful in preaching the true gospel in this generation, for the time is at hand. God bless!