So You Want to Be a Person of Truth?

Jeremiah is a man of God and a man of truth. Those two must go hand in hand as to be the former you must be devoted to the later.

The proof? He wasn't afraid to call out the entire nation for her sins against the Lord. He brought everyone's actions into account. He spoke against the political leaders, the religious leaders and even the "so called" spiritual leaders. 

This was God's calling and design for him if you remember back to Jeremiah 1. 
Jeremiah 1:18 (ESV) And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

Jeremiah's ministry would offend the gamut of Israel's populace. So it should come as no surprise when he turns his target on the priests of prophets of Israel in Jeremiah 6.
Jeremiah 6:8 (ESV) Be warned, O Jerusalem, lest I turn from you in disgust, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.”
Jeremiah 6:13–14 (ESV)  “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

Notice who he calls out in verse 13 - prophet to priest! This is extraordinary. Why? Because we live in a time when self-proclaimed prophets do not want to "offend" other self-proclaimed prophets. They want to be liked. We live in a time when Pastors want to cater to the people instead of seeing God use them to convict the people. 

Today I saw a famous, beloved pastor speak at a dead formerly orthodox turned heretical pastor's funeral and play the political game of being nice so as not to offend. Jeremiah would be ashamed. 

Now what does Jeremiah condemn in the "Spiritual" and religious leaders? They failed to truly heal the sin of the nation. When people needed truth, they offered them soft tales. When people needed a condemnation, they were coddled. When people participated in the rot of their nation, the priests just kept "encouraging" them in their lifestyles. They "healed" the wound by offering sentiment instead of sanctification.

Jeremiah teaches us clearly: Don't claim to be a man of truth if you can't stand up for truth even against your own sub-group of the population. On this, Jeremiah stands head and shoulders taller than most as he didn't worry about who he offended so long as God's word was declared. 

If you want to stand for truth, be ready to speak it even to the people to whom you belong. Which lends great credit to all of God's prophets in ancient Israel. Let us not forget that from Isaiah through to Malachi and even to Elijah and Elisha before them, these men stood for truth against their OWN PEOPLE and nation. In some cases, they may have lost family or friends because of their ministry. That's what happens when you stand for truth - consider the opinion of Jesus' own brothers:

John 7:3–5 (ESV) So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

Speak the truth long enough and you'll eventually feel the relational pain that comes with it. It will hurt. It will divide. It will stick into the side and pierce. But ultimately, for those who listen and receive - it will set free. 

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