“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.” - Jeremiah 26:2
According to Merriam-Webster to redact something is: to select or adapt (as by obscuring or removing sensitive information) for publication or release. Coming from the Latin redactus, it’s original meaning was to “drive back.” To obscure (hide) - remove (edit) - or drive back. This is the very essence of the word, redact.
We’ve all seen reports or documents which have been redacted. We see that where the pertinent information originally was there is now only a blackened space amongst the words, thus effectively obscuring, hiding, removing, editing, and driving it back from revelation. Can you imagine reading a copy of the bible that has been redacted? That is exactly what far too many evangelical churches are doing to the holy words revealed in the bible these days.
There is no discussion of hell or judgment at Sunday service any longer. Yet the bible is full of such discourses on these very issues. Jesus Christ, Himself, had more to say on the subject of hell than any other figure in the bible - Old or New Testament! Jesus warned us of the coming judgment against mankind. Yet the evangelical pulpit remains curiously silent on these subjects today. Ask yourself: why would a Christian pastor purposely refuse to deliver the unbridled and entire word of God to his flock every-time he stepped up to the pulpit? Calvin certainly did! Edwards did! Spurgeon did! Does yours?
In our title verse God speaks to the nation of Israel. His command is to stand in the Lord’s house; to speak all the words he has commanded, and do not diminish a word! Take a moment: are you hearing the undiminished word of God in your church on Sundays?
Have you ever heard evangelists like Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, or any of the other “popular TV evangelists” speak on the coming judgment of God? On the pain and eternity of hell? On any aspect of the gospel that doesn’t start off cheerfully, continue cheerfully, and end cheerfully? Is this a problem you encounter in your own church? Are you hearing far too much about your best life now and not enough of the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit in your lives? Are you hearing what Christ said about taking up our crosses and following Him? Are you hearing about how truly difficult it is to be a Christian in this Godless world today?
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” - Deuteronomy 12:32. Is there something inherently difficult to understand about that particular command of God?
The dangers of “Sunshine and Rainbows Evangelism” ( i.e the Emerging Church) are a greater threat to true Christianity than the dangers of secular progressives and Muslim extremists combined! No outward attack on the true word of God has ever succeeded in destroying the core doctrines of Christianity. The church has survived thousands of years of persecution only to arrive at a place in time when we have to fear those who call themselves “Christians” more than we have to fear those who would legislate us into hiding or attempt to kill us off!
Perhaps the apostle Paul said it best: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” - Acts 20:27. Tell your pastors today to put down their lattes and pick up their bibles! Let us always seek the whole counsel of God rather than the vain imaginings of men who would rather redact His holy word than speak all He has commanded.
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