Back To The Bible (part 1)

Ben F. Vick Jr

Jeremiah prophesized before, during, and after the Babylonians had ransacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C. They carried away many of Judah into captivity. In his efforts to get Judah to repent he said, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein "(Jeremiah 6:16). The Weeping Prophet was trying to get Judah to change her ways, and return to the old paths. The sad thing about the results of his plea was that the people refused to obey. They said, "We will not walk therein." Though it was the good way wherein they could find rest for their souls, they refused.

The church is facing the same issue today. The religious world in general, and even the church in various places, is obdurate, stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing. When a plea is made to return to the old paths they say, "We will not." However, Ezekiel was told, "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD" (Exekiel 2:3-4). Whether people will hear or refuse to hear, God's preacher is to preach the truth.

Paul told Timothy: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 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" (II Timothy 4:1-4).

There is a need to go back to the Bible in preaching. Preachers are not entertainers. Their job description is to preach God's word. The charge is serious because of the souls that are at stake. The preacher's soul is at stake if he does not preach the truth relevant to the situation. By this I mean, a preacher might paint beautiful word pictures of the creation, the flood in Noah's day, the wilderness wandering or some episode in the life of Christ; but if he never addresses the sin in the congregation, he is not doing his job.  Or, a preacher might teach a Bible lesson, but never make an application to those present. Also, the souls to whom he preaches are in jeopardy, if he does not teach the truth. This is serious.

(continued next week).