Granted, every church member/attendee or professing Christian should be studying the Bible on their own. Paul wrote to Timothy with the instructions to “Study to show thyself approved unto God” (II Timothy 2:15). And we are to be Bereans, as well, per Acts 17:11. But we know that most professing Christians attend church because they attend church. They bring their Bibles to church on Sunday morning, then when they return home, they set their Bibles down. Then the following Sunday, they pick their Bibles up again and go to church. Now, this is not an indictment on all church-goers, but it is a reality on some.
James 2:1 says, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” The pastors have a responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God. Every word of scripture should be exposited. II Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine…” Pastors are to preach and teach. Sadly, many do not teach doctrine (II Timothy 4:3). Sadly, many wear blinders and do not see what is happening in the world as relates to scripture that points to the future. But looking at scripture through the lens of the newspaper is the wrong direction for understanding. Pastors should study and know what the Bible says about the future world events that happen from scripture first. Then point to what we are seeing unfold today.
Yet, too many pastors are afraid that they will mix politics with theology and, perhaps, run people away. Many fear man more than they fear God. Or is it because they do not understand the end times like they should? Or sadly, and pathetically, they do not believe what our sovereign God said about the future? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (II Timothy 3:16). Do pastors today not understand this and are only comfortable with preaching about things they already know? Are they silently telling our sovereign God that they do not care or do not believe what He said about the future?
And what about the so-called flock that God has given them? Does the pastor want to be silent on biblical issues facing the world today? Is his silence a lack of love for the listeners in the congregation? It is almost as if the pastor does not want to warn the church body to be prepared for events that will happen, even before the Rapture. What greater evangelistic tool is there than to share with the congregation, which also is comprised of lost souls, about a coming time of irreversible trouble and destruction like the world has never seen, as the Bible so states, repeatedly (Matthew 24:21)?
Jesus Christ, Himself, said that the time will be as the “days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37, 38). And as “the days of Lot” (Luke 17:28-30). Do we not see this unfolding today, and every day on the news? These events are not all past tense as the Preterists attempt to deceive. They are happening now or soon. Too many events in the Bible, as prophesied, have not come to pass, which makes them future. Why are pastors afraid to preach this? Do they not care?
Why are there so many silent pastors?
