Just Blowing the Trumpet

Any regular reader of this blog knows that I talk with fair regularity about the problem of sin. I talk about the sins of Christians including my own and the sins of churches and the sins of unbelievers. I do not try to mitigate the sin, but state it as plainly as I can. While society is trying to tell us that "gay is good" and "loving homosexual relationships are fine", I continue to point to the Scriptures that say otherwise (e.g., Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 1 Tim 1:8-10; Jude 1:7). Our culture is sure that wives shouldn't submit to husbands and biblical patriarchy is evil while I keep saying, "Yes, well, I get what you're saying, but the Bible isn't vague on this." (e.g., 1 Cor 11:3; Eph 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-6) Our world tells us and many in the church echo, "Women should be pastors! Don't be a sexist!" and I point to Scripture (e.g., 1 Tim 2:9-14; 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6) and urge a biblical view instead.

The question is "Why?" Why do I do it? Am I trying to regulate your life? Am I trying to dictate morality? Am I trying to cram my beliefs down your throat? Do I think that if I can get you to be more moral you will be saved? Am I trying to reject or discriminate people who disagree? No ... to all of that.

Ezekiel was a prophet of God. God actually spoke to him. In the 33rd chapter, we read a passage that begins, "The word of the LORD came to me." (Ezek 33:1) This isn't his ideas or his suggestions. This is God speaking directly, the most literal and obvious "Word of God." What God tells Ezekiel is compelling.

"Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, 'If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.' So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezek 33:2-9)

That's why. That's the only reason. I'm not trying to make you more moral. I'm not trying to make you believe. I'm not trying to change the laws to align with biblical rules. I'm not trying to remove your freedoms or run your life. I'm simply sounding the alarm. "In His Word God says ..." and I tell you what He says. I'm just trying to sound the trumpet. Your response is your responsibility. If I discharge my responsibility to raise the warning flag correctly, I have discharged my responsibility. If not, I bear the responsibility. I don't want to bear that responsibility. I want to raise the issues that God raises. After that it's on you what you do with it. Just as it is on me what I do with it.