“Mad” At The Preaching Of The Truth

God has specified what every faithful gospel preacher must proclaimed. “Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). We cannot pervert, modify, alter God’s Word in any form (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 3:16: Revelation 22:18-19). We must declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20, 27).

When the Truth is preached some become angry and mad. In Acts 7:51-60, some became so mad at Stephen’s preaching that they stoned him to death. Others, became so angry with the truth that they began to make false accusations against the proclaimer, as with Jesus (Matthew 11:19; John 10:20) and Paul (Acts 26:24).

Why do some become angry and mad when the truth is preached? Some, when they hear the Truth proclaimed become mad because . . .

♦         They have heard what they NEED, not necessarily what they want. There are some who are like those in Isaiah’s days who say, “Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things” (Isaiah 30:10). Some want their ears tickled with fables and foolishness (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Too many people want to hear what pleases them rather than what God demands that must be preached.

♦         They have heard NEGATIVE preaching. It is amazing how that some believe that there is no place for negative preaching. Just preach positive lessons is the demand that some make. Such is evident that one does not understand God pleasing preaching. In 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Paul declared that in the preaching of the Word there is to “reproving” and “rebuking” (that’s negative) as well as “exhorting.” There must be the preaching of both the positive and the negative.

♦         They have heard NAMES called or mentioned. Is it wrong to identify those who are making havoc of the Truth? Is it wrong to identify false teachers? The answer is No. How can one do what Paul said must be done in Romans 16:17-18, pertaining to “marking” and “avoiding” without first, identifying the person? Paul mentioned some by name who had sinned in 2 Timothy 2:17-18 and 2 Timothy 4:14-15. Was Paul wrong for doing so? Certainly not. Today, some do become angry and mad because a false teacher is condemned publically by name. But, yet will not say one thing when that same false teacher will publically proclaim his false doctrine and lead others astray causing them to lose their souls. Indeed, isn’t that strange? Such is a demonstration of the wrong attitudes toward God, His Word and the Church.

We must not become MAD with the MESSAGE nor MESSENGER of Truth.