There is an interesting dichotomy in Scripture regarding truth.
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, then you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and truth shall make you free.”
The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica that in the last days men and women would refused to receive the “love of the truth” but would choose to believe the lie. For this reason, they were content and found great pleasure in unrighteousness and were given over to strong delusion.
There is an inseparable link between holiness and truth.
Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.”
Men and women who receive the love of the truth will be drawn to holy living. That is why every authentic revival has so impacted the culture of a family, a community, even the nation, that drunkenness, cursing, and immorality has been reduced or even wiped out.
On the other hand when the teaching and preaching of truth has been compromised sin flourishes and the culture embraces as acceptable behavior those things once known to be evil.
God admonished the people of Jerusalem, “’You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.” Ezekiel 22:24–29 The New King James Version.
When the preachers of the land compromise the truth and no clear distinction is made between absolute sin and absolute right; holiness becomes legalism and those things God says he hates become acceptable and enjoyable.
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-20 NKJV).
God concluded His message to Jerusalem through the Prophet Ezekiel saying, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them: I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deed on their own heads,” says, the Lord God” (Ezekiel 22:30-31 NKJV).
Imagine God’s broken heart when He could not find one man of God who would stand in the breach as a representative of the truth of Almighty God; standing against the forces of evil and bringing deliverance to the people.
There was not one man who would preach the uncompromised truth.
Not one man who would call the people to repentance and authentically turn them back to God.
Not one man who would stay on his knees and his face before God until an outpouring of the Holy Spirit would bring spiritual awakening and revival.
The postmodern culture has so impacted the United States since the 1960’s that deconstructionism and post-structuralism has invaded the seminaries and Christian universities of the land.
That influence has been devastating to the spiritual well-being of America, as preaching compromises the truth and spiritual leaders are doing exactly what God rebuked the leaders of Jerusalem.
Wrong behavior is not clearly being called sinful.
Even the church has adopted the medical model for wrong behavior. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and other deviant behavior are “a sickness.”
Men who beat their wives and teenagers who are violent need “anger management classes.”
Immoral behavior is determined by the individual’s personal choices and couples who live together is normal.
Sin is not sin any more so repentance is unnecessary and is rarely being preached.
We are seeing results similar to ancient Jerusalem in the unrestrained living of the people. “Christians” are hooking up in the bars on Friday and Saturday evening then gathering in church on Sunday morning.
Worship leaders and worship band members are playing in the bars on Friday and Saturday night then leading worship to Almighty God on Sunday morning.
The sound may be awesome and the music highly professional but Jesus described this situation when He said, “They worship me with their lips but their heart is far from me.”
The people are not receiving “the love of the truth”.
Even if they have that rare preacher who declares the uncompromised truth, they reject it as legalism and choose to believe the lie.
The church in America has become content in their sin and they are finding pleasure in unrighteousness.
God does not want to pour out His wrath upon the United States.
He is searching “for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land…”
Indeed, I believe He is looking for many men who will respond to His call.
God is looking for the man who will get on your face before God and stay there until the Holy Spirit rekindles the fire of God in his soul that will burn out the love from worldliness and give him a holy hatred for sin.
But at the same time the fire of God will give Him a passionate love for Father, Son and Holy Spirit and deep love for true righteousness and holiness.
Then the man of God can stand between his congregation and God; make a wall and stand in the breach.
Preach the truth without compromise and see God send revival and spiritual awakening.
That is what will transform this post-modern culture into an authentic people of God.
