The Freedom And Responsibility Of Our Voice

 

If you are like me, you are probably feeling very frustrated right now. With the election cycle going on, the bombardment of news detailing what is grievous on a daily basis, the injustices that are all too common, the attacks on Christians and their faith, wrong viewed as right and right viewed as wrong…..it leaves us feeling exasperated. Even helpless.

Admittedly, it is easy to feel captive to a nation, and a world for that matter, going haywire. The reality of our inability to right all the wrongs is inescapable. But we are not the first to feel this frustration, nor will we be the last.

As I blog of my lessons through the chronological Bible, the prophet Ezekiel reads all too familiar in his feelings and circumstances. He was called to serve God’s people in their darkest hour, as Judah was under judgement for their rebellion. He lived before, during, and after the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was among 3,000 Jews exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. He witnessed and prophesied to the people leading up to this devastation, and to all appearances, his voice was helpless to make any real difference.

No big revival broke out. No repentance swept the nation. The people still sinned and rebelled even though Ezekiel steadfastly spoke truth in hopes of bringing about their correction. His voice rang loud and true for what the people needed to hear.

And why was this so important? So vital in that day and time?

Because the people had ceased to hear what they needed to hear, what they needed to grieve and lament over!

The prophets and priests alike had begun to give in to what the people wanted. No one wanted to hear what was not pleasing to hear, what was not “politically correct”. So eventually, this had it’s effect on the supposed prophets and priests of God and they began to cave to the mounting pressure. They silenced their voice of warning and correction and gave way to speaking words of approval over what the people were doing. Their disobedience and rebellion from God’s commands were not held accountable.

Ezekiel was different.

He was called to serve at this particularly difficult time, when very few were remaining faithful to God and more were giving allegiance and support of sinful actions that were becoming rampant. Between the people reveling in their idolatry of that day, mixing their God-given faith with the practices of the ungodly nations around them, and the injustices that were being exercised on one another in their own country, God was giving prophecies of doom and destruction with hopes that the people would repent.

This did not happen unfortunately, but what is important is that it did not negate the responsibility of Ezekiel’s raising his voice! It was still just as necessary for him to grieve and lament, to speak up boldly and faithfully for God’s truth no matter how unpopular it was.

Ezekiel 8-9 detail the Lord’s charges of sin against the people. What I find so revealing is Ezekiel 9:4,

“Go throughout the city of Jersulem and put a mark on those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done it.”

God is looking for those who feel contrary to public pressure and opinion to conform to ungodliness and falsehood. He is looking for those who still stand true to His Word, what He has commanded as right and wrong. These He will spare from the heavenly guards being sent to destroy all those who have turned their backs on His truth and righteousness. And in Ezekiel9:5-6, He says to begin this slaughter in His sanctuary!

“……So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.”

This is shocking to me! But are we any different today?!

God had to “clean house” by purifying the falsehood and unrighteousness from the inside out. How could He affect His people with conviction if their religious leaders were being silent, or worse yet false?

Ezekiel goes on to explain in chapter 13 what the issue was. The prophets and priests alike were being silent over calling sin what it was!  They not only ceased to condemn what was wrong, they approved of it and betrayed their duty to warn the people of the sure and swift consequences that were inevitable!

How this reminds me of today…….as we see political correctness wage war against God and His truth. It is appalling how this nation, church denominations, people in our communities are trying to redefine what is true and right! How are we His people not caving in to the pressure just like the people in Jerusalem did? We see everyone from the religious leaders of our day to the people in the pews, throughout denominations and churches, failing to cry out the warnings of negating what God has decreed.

God is truth that no man can negate or persuade! 

It does not matter who is in the White House or what is politically correct. What matters is the faithfulness of young and old alike, people on the east coast and the west, in the north and the south, across all denominations, to recognize the responsibility of their voice even if we feel there is little we can do. God expects our faithfulness and He will judge it!

We may feel captive to a nation out of control, but our voices ring loud and free throughout any bars seeking to silence His Truth!

And most importantly, we have Revelation, He’s coming back!  He will once again be looking for who is faithful and who is not……….will we be judged worthy in His sanctuary, as well as in our communities?

Will we speak up at work or with our neighbors as to what God deems irrevocably as true no matter how contrary to public opinion? Will we speak it in our homes with our children who are being persuaded to cower to public opinion? Will we speak up for it with those who sit beside us in our pews but lean liberal in their doctrine?

God is still looking for those who grieve and lament, for those who will risk their comfort and reputation to remain true to Him over a people who are calling for our silence and approval.

We may not feel as free and protected as we once were but we still have our responsibility just the same. Speak up for what is true and right according to God’s Word, and may it begin in His sanctuary before it is too late.