Jeremiah 4:3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.
Hosea 10:12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.
Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
Do we live in a time that has placed a high value on the hardness of the heart? To answer this question, I think we need to look at the preaching of our times. We have predominately seen a rejection of Biblical exposition, and an embracing of many forms of self edification. Rather than a steady feeding of the word of God, many are turning to a pacifier that provides no real nourishment. Many congregations suck on the pacifier of soft preaching and leave services with empty hard hearts. Far too many pulpits today try to make Jesus palatable to sinners; rather than teaching how sinners can be made acceptable to God.
Where there is soft preaching, there are hard hearts. Man has convinced himself that love is soft words that do not trouble the heart or mind of the hearers. Yet, in reality it is the very opposite of what love is. True love calls for the hammer of the word to break up the fallow ground of hard hearts. When we submit to soft and easy words that sooth our conscience; we are hardening ourselves toward God. When we submit to the hammer of God’s word we will find our hearts tender toward God.
I am convinced that all of this is a symptom of something greater. The real problem is man does not trust the Bible and believe in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. All mutiny from biblical preaching is rooted in a heart of unbelief and will lead to apostasy. What the Bible says about everything is exactly the reality of everything. What the Bible says about humanity, faith, love, grace, God, church, judgment, sin, and eternity is how it is.
Paul said:
1 Timothy 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
The church is to be the pillar and support of the truth, but it is impossible for the church to do this if she does not trust in the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures. We are accountable to God and are called to be the protectors and guardians of the Scripture.
Here are a few things you can do:
I am going to be talking more about the authority and sufficiency of scripture in the days to come.
Until then obey the Lord with joy and thanksgiving!
Paul