More than one hundred verses in the New Testament contain warnings. What are these warnings about? — the dangers of neglecting regular exercise and proper dental care? Of course not. The warnings are about the danger of neglecting God and your immortal soul. But many today wonder why such warnings are needed anymore. God is ‘love, love, love’… and we are all ‘off to a better place when we die’… so who needs to pay attention to religion, church, morality or any of that? Who even needs the New Testament, which is not all that ‘new’ anyway? —or so some think.
Except that it is only in the Bible that we hear anything about a God of love, and only in the New Testament is there any reliable foundation for that ‘better place’ we all want to be ‘off to’ when the time comes. Therefore, we should be willing to hear everything that the Bible says, warnings and all. The Bible warns against not paying any attention to God. Have you been paying attention? Do you know what the Bible says about all of this? We should all want to be well informed on a subject so vital to our own interests, now and forever.
In years past, people expected to hear warnings about ‘hellfire and damnation’ when they went to church. Now, people expect a kinder, gentler word from the Lord. Both sides of God are in the Bible, just like I experienced both sides from my parents when I was growing up. They were kind, caring, and loving. However, at the same time, they warned me against disobedience, they could be very strict and demanding, and I feared their wrath when I had it coming. This is also what we see of God in the Bible. This should not be difficult to comprehend. We know that it doesn’t work in life to be only kind and loving; nor does it work to be only strict and judgmental. We should be no more surprised at God’s warnings than I was surprised when my loving father told me to be home by midnight or I wouldn’t get the car for a month. I expected the warning and I expected the consequences if I did not heed the warning.
In the same way, God does not approve of being disobeyed or ignored. Would you be fond of someone who would ignore you after you had done everything for them? God warns us against such foolish ingratitude.
As a pastor, my calling was to proclaim “the whole counsel of God;” the amazing grace, and, the serious warnings. I always preferred preaching the ‘amazing grace,’ but I was uneasy doing only that. In seminary we were taught to “comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” ‘Comforting’ is more enjoyable, but we can get too comfortable in our sin and neglect of God. Then, we must be ‘afflicted’ and challenged about our complacency.
To some (including myself), my messages might have seemed, at times, to be too harsh, judgmental, ungraceful, and unloving. To others (including myself), my preaching might have seemed too timid and watered-down, displaying a lack of courage. It is a difficult balance to keep.
I will tell you what the Bible does. The Bible tells the stories and proclaims God’s Word straight up, without trying to harmonize everything so it can all be smooth and inoffensive to our tender ears. Sometimes the message is wonderful grace, and sometimes it is harsh judgement; sometimes it comes as pure promise, and sometimes we get terrifying warnings. In one Bible story, the Prodigal Son is forgiven on the spot after years of wasting his father’s wealth on reckless living. In another Bible story, Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead on the spot for telling one lie. How do you figure that out? You can’t. So you better stay in touch, keep paying attention, and let the Holy Spirit afflict you or comfort you, as needed. Just don’t ignore God and His Word, or you will be without hope.
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For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
–Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
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Acts 20:31 – (Paul said),“Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”
II Timothy 4:2-4 — Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Hebrews 2:2 – How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
Romans 1:20b-21 — They are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
John 12:48 — (Jesus said), “Everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day by what I have said.”
I Chronicles 28:9b-10 – Serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
II Chronicles 24:20 — Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has forsaken you.
Galatians 6:7 — Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
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Dear God, I have begun to preach and teach your people. It is a difficult task. If it offends here and there, may there be no harm done. Since you have commanded me to preach your Word, I will not cease to do so. If it fails, it fails for you. If it succeeds, it succeeds for you. Amen.
–Martin Luther (1483-1546)
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