At the time when Jeremiah prophesied, God was preparing to send Judah into Babylonian captivity in order to punish them for their sins (Jeremiah 1:14-16). But it was not just the common people that had devolved into a state of spiritual corruption. The prophets and priests were involved as well.
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so!” (Jeremiah 5:30-31).
The inhabitants of Judah had learned to tolerate and celebrate sin. “Where they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush” (Jeremiah 6:15). The prophets spoke lies and the priests followed their own rule. “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:13-14). Yet even as judgment was planned because of these things, God invited His people to repent and turn back to Him.
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.” And I set watchmen over you, saying, “Listen to the sound of the trumpet!” But they said, “We will not listen”’” (Jeremiah 6:16-17).
Sadly, despite God’s patience, the fact that He told the people how to please Him, and the warning of destruction for disobedience, the people stubbornly refused to follow “the ancient paths” of God or listen to the watchmen who warned of divine judgment.
Similar Conditions Today
The wise man said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). History repeats itself, and this is certainly true as we consider the similarities between our culture and the culture of people to whom Jeremiah prophesied.
Sin is tolerated and celebrated – Rather than striving to overcome every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and remove sin from their lives (Romans 6:11-13), many have perverted God’s grace and turned it into “a license for immorality” (Jude 4, NIV). They walk “as the Gentiles also walk,” and they “have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19). Though the world acts like this, Christians must not (Ephesians 4:20). Paul said, “But immorality and any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).
False teachers spread their message – Peter wrote, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned” (2 Peter 2:1-2). Paul said that these false teachers proclaim things that are “contrary to the teaching” of the gospel and “by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (Romans 16:17-18). When we preach and teach today, we are bound and obligated to speak “the utterances of God” (1 Peter 4:11). If we change the message, we are “to be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9).
Religious leaders act by their own authority – Instead of following the divinely given pattern (2 Timothy 1:13) and doing all things “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17) – which means by the authority of the Lord (cf. Matthew 7:21-23) – religious leaders today teach “as doctrines the precepts of men,” thus rendering their worship to God useless (Matthew 15:9). Yet they continue on in their “self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23). If we want to be saved, we must be faithful to Christ rather than to various religious leaders (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). We must follow “those who walk according to the pattern,” rather than those who, by their doctrines and practices, prove to be “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:17-18).
The People Love It So!
Just as the people of Jeremiah’s day rejoiced in wickedness, listened to false prophets, and followed the priests who corrupted the service to God, people today rejoice in sin, listen to false teachers, and follow those who pervert the instructions of God. If just a few followed this path, it would be sad. But the frustrating and discouraging reality is that most people are on this road. Notice what Jesus said:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The majority of people prefer a lifestyle of sin rather than the diligent effort to battle temptation and live righteously. Most people prefer false teaching that soothes their consciences rather than truth that convicts them of their sin and leads them first to repentance and then on to spiritual maturity. Religious people generally want to offer worship and service to God that they desire, rather than finding out what He desires. This is why people flock to mega-churches and “country club churches” that cater to the desires of the congregants in their worship, their preaching, and their myriad activities and “ministries,” rather than doing what God desires (John 4:24; Matthew 7:21-23). It is why brethren too often prefer weak and generic preaching instead of preaching that emphasizes the divine pattern (2 Timothy 1:13), attacks error (2 Corinthians 10:5), condemns sin (Ephesians 5:3-11), and is based upon book, chapter, and verse from the word of God (1 Peter 4:11).
Sin and error are popular, not just because false teachers and corrupt religious leaders promote them, but because the people prefer them.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
As men like Paul, Timothy, and Jeremiah continued to preach God’s unpopular message, we must do so today without compromise (2 Timothy 4:5).
A Call to Return to the Ancient Paths
Jeremiah offered the invitation to the inhabitants of Judah to return to “the ancient paths, where the good way is” (Jeremiah 6:16). We offer a similar invitation today. Forsake sin (Romans 6:6) and strive for holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16). Preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), in season and out (2 Timothy 4:2). Hold fast the divine pattern (2 Timothy 1:13) and do everything in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:17).
Very good article Andy, I hope it will be receive with the same effort that was put in it, may God always be glorify and men be helt accountable for their teachings in today time.
Carlos Raymer