Tell People What They Need To Hear!

Galatians 1:10-12  “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

If someone is trying to “get in the good graces” of another person, how might they go about it? They may compliment them on their appearance, using flattery to get what they want. They might agree with everything that the other person says, regardless of whether they actually believe it or it is actually true, all done in order to obtain something from them eventually. 

But Paul didn’t use flattery when preaching to people. He preached the truth that people needed to hear; commending those who were doing God’s will correctly and rebuking and admonishing those who needed to change some things. 

That’s a huge problem in some churches today, they have people who are actively sinning, but they don’t address that issue. They are not preaching the truth to them, that they need to leave those sins behind and change. 

Some people only preach to receive a paycheck, not because they really believe it. So they skip over certain parts of the scriptures that will cause other people to be upset with them. They desire the praise of men. They don’t want to “create any waves,” so they tell others that their actions are fine, and don’t need to change.

2 Timothy 4:2-4  “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.”

This happens all the time today in many different denominations. In the past century, homosexuality has gone from being widely condemned even by the world, to being accepted in what are supposed to be “Christian” churches. They have even gotten to the point to where they are ordaining openly homosexual people to teach the scriptures! This is a practice completely against the Bible, yet it is being taught by some that it is acceptable

But why? Why are these groups not warning people that they need to turn from their sins, such as homosexuality, but instead embrace it? Well, you would sure offend and upset those who call themselves Christians who are living like this, wouldn’t you? They might even leave their current group to go and find a different one that tells them that they are not sinning by living like this. Less people in the pews=less potential money in the offering plate. 

Instead of telling people the truth that they need to hear, they “tickle” their ears, telling them what they want just to keep the money coming into the plate. 

Correction is an important part of becoming a Christian, because through it we can become a better, stronger, more complete child of God.

Paul made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t preaching to acquire money or possessions for himself. He didn’t preach the gospel seeking praise or admiration from others. He preached the truth that he had learned through the revelation from Christ, and told everyone everywhere about Jesus free of charge.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-9  “For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”

He preached the truth to people whether they wanted to hear it or not. He didn’t tickle their ears, ignoring their sin by giving them false assurances that they were doing God’s will when they actually weren’t.

Jesus used some firm words with the Pharisees because they were claiming to be following the commandments of God, and appeared outwardly to be holy and righteous, but their works denied Him.

What matters is that a person needs to listen to and do the word of God without question. It means what is says and says what it means, there are not multiple versions of the scriptures where it means different things. Sin is sin, and no matter how much some people don’t want to hear it, we all need to turn from our sins if we want to enter into eternal rest someday. Tell people what they need to hear!

In Christ,

Andrew