Many pastors, teachers, and Christian leaders today have blood on their hands.
I think most of them are unaware of this situation. Some of them sense this dilemma a bit, but they don’t care sufficiently to be or do anything different. Lastly, there remains a remnant group who ARE aware, who DO understand, and they care a GREAT deal.
Let me explain. It’s all about being a ‘watchman.’
In the Bible, watchmen were sentinels. They guarded cities and towns, military camps, and even fields and vineyards. As their position specifies, their job was to keep watch for the interests and welfare of others. It was their duty to be alert and to warn of looming threats.
Several things about being a ‘watchman’ are made clear in the Bible.
FIRST, there’s a larger principle here than just guarding a city. God raised up His prophets as ‘spiritual watchmen.’ God said to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 33:7, “I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”
Ezekiel’s job was to stay focused and vigilant, to urge God’s people to live faithfully, and to warn them of dangers. As watchmen, God’s prophets warned those who were falling away from the Lord of His judgment. The hearers needed to repent of their choices and evil ways.
SECOND, it was a major responsibility to be a ‘spiritual watchman.’ There was only one right way to do the job. This is clear in the larger passage of Ezekiel 33:2-9.
Ezekiel – and other Old Testament prophets like him – needed to properly ‘hear’ God. They had to be in the right spiritual place themselves to do that, and then they had to faithfully declare God’s word. This was their primary responsibility.
There is no wiggle room here. God’s ‘spiritual watchmen’ could not twist the truth or dilute it. They couldn’t pretend it was something other than what it was. They had to shoot straight.
www.raptureready.com
I think most of them are unaware of this situation. Some of them sense this dilemma a bit, but they don’t care sufficiently to be or do anything different. Lastly, there remains a remnant group who ARE aware, who DO understand, and they care a GREAT deal.
Let me explain. It’s all about being a ‘watchman.’
In the Bible, watchmen were sentinels. They guarded cities and towns, military camps, and even fields and vineyards. As their position specifies, their job was to keep watch for the interests and welfare of others. It was their duty to be alert and to warn of looming threats.
Several things about being a ‘watchman’ are made clear in the Bible.
FIRST, there’s a larger principle here than just guarding a city. God raised up His prophets as ‘spiritual watchmen.’ God said to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 33:7, “I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”
Ezekiel’s job was to stay focused and vigilant, to urge God’s people to live faithfully, and to warn them of dangers. As watchmen, God’s prophets warned those who were falling away from the Lord of His judgment. The hearers needed to repent of their choices and evil ways.
SECOND, it was a major responsibility to be a ‘spiritual watchman.’ There was only one right way to do the job. This is clear in the larger passage of Ezekiel 33:2-9.
Ezekiel – and other Old Testament prophets like him – needed to properly ‘hear’ God. They had to be in the right spiritual place themselves to do that, and then they had to faithfully declare God’s word. This was their primary responsibility.
There is no wiggle room here. God’s ‘spiritual watchmen’ could not twist the truth or dilute it. They couldn’t pretend it was something other than what it was. They had to shoot straight.
Blood On Their Hands - By Steve Schmutzer
Many pastors, teachers, and Christian leaders today have blood on their hands. I think most of them are unaware of this situation. Some of them sense this
www.raptureready.com
