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In any call to arms or plea for aid, people invariably ask – ‘Why should I get involved? Why can’t the people we elect, hire or appoint take care of it?’ In the case under consideration today, ‘Why can’t the preachers do it?’ The preacher gets paid to preach - to educate - to excite - to motivate YOU to become actively involved. He can’t do it all himself. Besides, preachers can make mistakes, a few have been known to intentionally lead others astray. At one point, Hosea delivered God’s word as a blistering rebuke against back-slidden Israel and her priests, declaring, “Like people, like priests,…”; signifying that some had listened to their congregations grumble and complain about God’s supposed rigidity and had begun to tell them only what they wanted to hear, what they were comfortable with. (See Hosea 4:1-9) With no firm knowledge of God’s will, the people then mimicked the ungodly behavior of their neighbors and were led into idolatry. Paul, in dealing with this same issue years later, warned that, “…the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3,4 So, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” 1 Timothy 4:7 (People don’t really change that much over time – do they?)

Ezekiel records an incident in Israel’s history where he compares the sins of Jerusalem to a break in its protective wall. When attacking a city, the enemy would often avoid the fortified gate and instead endeavor to knock down a section of the wall, making a hole or gap to enter through. The defenders responsibility then was to fortify, rebuild, or literally stand in that gap; fighting off the enemy, keeping him and his “influence” outside. God is depicted as lamenting, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done,…” Ezekiel 22:30

So? They deserved it! What’s that got to do with me? Once more, Ezekiel describes God dealing with his rebellious people. Calling the Prophet (and us by inference) to be watchmen; beacons of warning, voices in the wilderness; lighting the way to the truth and security of God. Some will refuse to listen and rightly face punishment, but it is our responsibility to warn them, regardless how they respond. In fact, we are threatened with punishment ourselves if we don’t do so. “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but didn’t take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.”

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will save yourself.” Ezekiel 33:1-9 As Jesus’ representatives to fallen man today, serving as the light of the world and salt of the earth (Matthew5:13,14), we must assume the duties of watchmen for our struggling countrymen as well. Jesus declaring, “As the father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21

So, how are we doing? It would appear none too well; war, famine, murder, rape, neglect and abuse abound. But what does that have to do with Christians? Our message. It is often confused and confusing. The world has made a gap in our defenses and crept into the inner city. Many watchmen are asleep at the job or are actually telling the people, ‘All is well’ when in reality it isn’t! Several polls have been taken and report that as many as 50% of “Christians” are okay with homosexuality. 30 - 40% are okay with premarital sex. Up to 70% of Christian kids (the definition of Christian being pretty wide and inclusive) have had sex. Smoking, drinking and mild drugs are tolerated as a result of a live and let live attitude permeating our society. Sales of pornographic materials is up, as well as crimes of passion. (Think there might be a connection?) Many Christians have ambiguous feelings about evolution and creation. Discipline at home is down, misbehavior in public is up. Rudeness is accepted, coarseness expected. Churches have led the march for freedom in the past but many movements today include freedom of choice concerning abortion, homosexuality and euthanasia; the right to be and do whatever we want with no one else having the right to even suggest the only true alternative lifestyle! Teaching in school is in disarray, no-brainer classes offered with grammar and punctuation deemed irrelevant; some students unable to intelligently express a good idea if they had one! Many having no goals, no ability and no motivation to succeed let alone excel.

Where are you prepared to stand in all of this? Off to the side or in the gap?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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