Baptism into Christ brings much responsibility with our blessings. In the ecclesia we have the responsibility to strengthen one another in a variety of ways. We have responsibilities in our homes to guide our spouses in their quest for the kingdom and to make certain that our children grow up with a love for and faith in God.
Christadelphian parents have a responsibility to bring their children to meeting, Sunday School and various ecclesial activities and daily to raise them in the principles of the Truth. If this is not done properly, it may be the fault of the parents if their children were untutored in God’s word. If, after years of being instructed in the Truth, an individual rejected the saving faith, the responsibility would lie with him and not with his parents.
It is similar with those around us. The people of the world are mostly untutored in the ways of God. It is our responsibility to offer them the saving gospel so they will have a chance to make the right choice.
Prophets told to preach
In our readings Ezekiel was told: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul” (3:17-19). It was Ezekiel’s responsibility to warn the wicked of judgment to come and to warn the righteous not to sin. If Ezekiel refused to carry out his responsibility, he would bear guilt.
There are a number of passages which stress the need for us to preach and warn others of their responsibilities before the Lord, lest we bear guilt for failing to do so.
Jeremiah was sent to warn king Jehoiakim. “Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day” (36:2). Jeremiah dutifully warned the king but instead of heeding the appeal to repent, Jehoiakim viciously slashed the scroll and threw it in the fire on the hearth to his own destruction “I will punish him [Jehoiakim] and his seed and his servants for their iniquity, and I will bring upon them all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they hearkened not” (36:31)
New Testament examples
Paul similarly carried out his responsibility m Corinth “He reasoned m the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks” (Acts 18 4) “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads, I am clean from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (vs 5,6) Paul absolved himself of any further responsibility toward the Jews at Corinth because of their stubborn resistance to his clear testimony.
A similar sentiment is expressed by Paul to the Ephesian elders, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20 26,27) The main thrust of this passage for us is that we make certain we are witnessing on a steady basis, including in our appeal “all” the counsel of God.
Even Pontius Pilate, a Gentile unbeliever, understood the need to witness against wickedness and absolve himself of the murder of an innocent man In his desperate appeal to the Jews he was actually preaching to them by using the Lord’s rightful title, “Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews’?” And in an attempt to counter their frenzied cry to crucify Jesus, Pilate countered, “Why, what evil hath he done’?” (Mark 15 9,13-14) “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it” (Matt 27 24) If an unjust governor such as Pilate understood the principle of speaking out against wrongdoing, inadequate though it was, surely we must do no less when the occasion arises.
Our Lord did not neglect to caution us, “Ye are the light of the world A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5 14-16) Unless we preach to those around us, we are leaving a great responsibility unattended.
Paul makes the appeal to the Romans, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher’? And how shall they preach, except they be sent as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?” (10:13-15)
In Exodus 4:1, Moses was apprehensive about going before the king of Egypt He feared Pharaoh would not believe him or recognize him as sent from God Moses protested he was not eloquent but slow of speech and tongue The Lord was angry with these excuses We must be sure never to adopt this attitude to preaching.
The prophet Jonah feared to preach to Nineveh because he knew if Nineveh was spared, she would most likely be the instrument of Israel’s punishment at some future time. Nevertheless, because he hesitated he was chastened.
Different ways of preaching
Many find it difficult to preach. How can we fulfill our responsibility when we may feel inadequate or unprepared? We are not Elijah’s or Paul’s. Perhaps examining a few examples may help with our efforts.
In Acts 8, Philip approached the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from Isaiah. Philip opened the conversation by asking, Do you understand what you’re reading? The eunuch answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Here was an open invitation. We must be sensitive to such invitations because they may be more indirect than the eunuch’s question. Philip provides an example for us all who “opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” This is an example of a gentle approach. Philip found someone in need of instruction and did not shy from the task.
An even more gentle method is to let our actions speak louder than our words. Paul reminds Titus, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:9,10). And Peter instructs wives, “Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [behavior] of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (3: 1,2). Personal example is a powerful tool for witnessing. When our companions and associates are with us, are they spiritually richer or poorer for the experience?
Paul not polished or eloquent
In I Corinthians 2, Paul declares the methods of his preaching. He did not come as an orator or try to impress with his wisdom (v. 1). He preached the crucified Savior plainly (v. 2). He was humble (v. 3) and he didn’t use clever arguments (v. 4). “…we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (v. 13).
Preaching can be discouraging at times. When we feel frustrated we can take heart in the stirring words of James, “…he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Nor should we shy away from preaching to those who appear beyond reach. Peter learned that lesson when he three times he refused to eat of unclean animals even though he was commanded to do so. He would learn that the Gentiles were to receive the word of His grace. We have no way of knowing who will be responsive to the call, therefore we should extend the invitation to all.
As we approach the memorial table, let us sanctify the Lord God in our hearts and renew our efforts in the week to come to be ready always to give an answer to him that asketh a reason for the hope that is in us with meekness and fear (from I Peter 3:15).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One