May 20, 2019

Death by Ignorance

My Dear Friend,

     As Hosea famously warned, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6, NIV). And why did the people lack knowledge? Their priests had rejected it: "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being my priests" (NAS). Our lesson?

     Today pastors and other church leaders are very aware of certain subjects that bring controversy - marriage & divorce, end-times studies, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, abortion, cohabitation, and other subjects - yet are vital to sustain true, pure, strong spiritual life and vibrant hope.

     Pastor, minister, elder, bishop, superintendent, Hosea reminds us of the danger of death by ignorance. While God's people remain ignorant of what God's Word teaches on these crucial subjects, Satan is working, busily sowing error, fear, confusion, presumption, and sin of every kind. The result?

     God's people wander in worldliness, drift with cultural currents, stumble in sin, and fall under God's chastisements and judgments. Sin wins. Spiritual sleep rules. Satan laughs. Christ grieves! All because our "priests" are rejecting knowledge by refusing to address key subjects merely because they may rock their boat.

     Are we so weak, have we so little courage, are we so afraid of some rejection or controversy that we will not teach our people all the counsel of God? (While, as I write, Christians are being pitilessly harassed and killed in many nations for simply daring to be a Christian!)

     Controversy is uncomfortable - and I don't pretend to enjoy it any more than you - but God's Spirit always comforts and guides us through uncomfortable times. And there is something far worse than controversy. It is death by ignorance. Hosea's generation died that long, slow, shameful, needless death we call apostasy and ruin. Will ours?

     Rise up pastors, bishops, superintendents! Study and teach the whole counsel of God! Go for it, and trust Hosea's God to give you all the grace, favor, support, and protection you need while you give God's people all the Biblical doctrines, insights, counsels, and intercessions they need! The alternative is disturbing.

     If as the priests of Hosea's day we reject knowledge, God will reject us from the ministry: "I also will reject you from being my priests." Our anointing will cease, our messages will stop, our influence will wane, and our fellowship with Jesus will dry up. Hmm ... that rocks, and rights, my boat! What, then, if we bravely "go for it," teaching all God's Word to all His people about all life's issues as Hosea has challenged us?

     We will have our share of controversies. But God's spiritual comforts and concessions will far outweigh them. And, best of all, instead of death by ignorance, our generation will grow and thrive in the sweet, sustaining inspiration of life by knowledge.

Going for it,

Greg Hinnant Greg Hinnant Ministries