The prophet Isaiah pronounced six woes upon the nation of Israel, recorded for us in Isaiah 5. He pronounced Woe unto them that
Much of what Isaiah denounced makes up the social character of today's world. People live to accumulate wealth, to indulge their fleshly desires, to rationalize their sinful behavior, and are beyond anyone telling them what to do.
Isaiah was not a very popular preacher. (That tends to happen when you preach against people's sin.) Recently a preacher was arrested for a hate crime and his religious organization's tax-exempt status was revoked because he took a public stand against homosexuality.
Sometimes there are church members who want the preaching to be positive and uplifting, without the necessary balance of reproof and correction. Preachers who tickle people's ears and never preach against sin will often gather a following to themselves, but do their listeners a vile injustice. A sick or dying person would be offended by a doctor who said, Go home, everything is fine. A naked and hungry person is offended if he was told, Be warmed and filled but no help is given (cf. James 2:16). It is beyond unjust - it is the height of hypocrisy for one to call himself God's messenger and refuse to address people's sin.
Preachers are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). They must reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2). So please do not be angry with me when this preacher brings messages about the sin that is all around us and the temptations that we encounter every day. Forget about the messenger and focus on the truth of the messages from the word of God. Remember that God truly loves us and He wants us for His own. Let us despise evil and cling to what is good, in order that we might share in the blessings of salvation and a life of goodness in Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Roger Wright
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
- 2 Timothy 4:2