"A wicked generation is a generation of vipers, and they ought to be told so; it becomes the ministers of Christ to be bold in showing sinners their true character." - Matthew Henry
"The rhinoceros is blessed with his own private warning system. Because his tough hide is infested with ticks, a bird about the size of a starling and belonging to the same family rides on his back while it feeds on the insects. Whenever danger threatens, the tickbird voices an alarm to alert the rhinoceros which itself has very poor eyesight. Christians are supposed to alert their fellowmen to spiritual dangers..." - Illustrations From Nature
This illustration tells us that the rhinoceros has very poor eyesight. He is not able to see the danger that lies ahead. God blessed him with the provision of safety in the tickbird.
Like the rhinoceros, those outside of Christ have poor eyesight spiritually - they are blinded by Sin. They have no discernment whatsoever to detect when danger approaches.
God called each and every one of us as Christians to help them in their predicament. No matter what our position in life, we have been strategically planted by the Lord to warn and alarm all sinners of the spiritual dangers that lie ahead.
The "ministry" of warning the wicked is not to be relegated to a few "diehards" in the Body of Christ who willingly accept the reproach, ridicule, and rejection that oftentimes follows such preaching. Since most people want others to like and accept them, they usually veer from such "ministry."
Yet, God has called each believer to this platform. We cannot avoid it. We simply have to die out to Self, and realize that we are commissioned to speak the Truth unto others no matter how they react to it. If we don't, we will suffer very serious consequences. God doesn't take disobedience lightly. In case you need a confirmation on that, ask the Prophet Jonah!
Let's look unto the Word of God and see what it has to say exactly about this "ministry" of warning the wicked -
1. Is It God's Will For All?
Jeremiah 6:10 - "To whom shall I speak, and give warning that they may hear?..."
Ezekiel 3:17 - "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me."
Ezekiel 33:8 - "When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
Yes, God has called all believers to be watchmen - to hear the Word of the Lord and then deliver it unto others.
All believers are given a mandate to warn the wicked of the ruin and physical as well as eternal destruction that comes to all who choose to go their own way.
It is the duty of every Christian to reprove the world of sin. They are to warn of the danger at hand of yielding to Sin and Satan. They are to admonish all those who are living contrary to God's Holy Word.
2. To Whom Is The Warning Given?
Jeremiah 6:10 - "To whom shall I speak, and give warning that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it."
Ezekiel 33:8 - "...if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way..."
Matthew 3:7 - "...O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
1 Thessalonians 5:14 - "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly..."
There are those whose "ear is uncircumcised." This simply means that they can't and won't hear the voice of the Lord speaking to them. Their carnality and fleshly ways make them indisposed to receive anything from Him. His Word is a "reproach" - an object of ridicule - unto them. Rather than it being a "delight," they have a hatred for it. It exasperates and enrages them as they yield to their corrupt passions.
A "viper" is a species of serpents that is two to five feet long and one inch thick. It has a flat head and is of an ash or yellow color with brown spots. It is the most poisonous snake around. Within moments of being bitten by this highly venomous snake, one dies.
Hence, a "generation of vipers," spiritually speaking, would depict a people full of malice, enmity, deceit, and utter wickedness.
The "unruly" to whom the Apostle Paul made reference were those who were disorderly, irregular, confused, neglectful of their duty, idle, remiss, and pursuant to their own agendas. They were those who were out of rank, so to speak. They wouldn't acknowledge authority nor the discipline of position, place, or station in the Body of Christ..
3. What Exactly Is To Be Spoken?
1 Thessalonians 4:6 - "That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified."
When warning sinners, the Truth and nothing but the Truth is to be preached. Sin is to be called for what it is - Sin. There is to be no sugarcoating. Every stone is to be overturned. The transgressor is to be stripped bare of any cloak for Sin.
The Apostle Paul is our perfect example here for warning the wicked.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, he addressed the issue of "fornication," adultery, and "uncleanness." Please notice that he did not mince words here. He named the Sin for what it was. He did not use the socially acceptable terminology of "having an affair," but he called it what God called it - "Fornication" and "Uncleanness."
In verse 6, he specifically called this Church to attention, concerning the adulterer's cheating or defrauding of another man of his wife's affections or fidelity. "No man" "in any matter" was ever to be found guilty of alienating a wife's affections for her husband or to be guilty of illicit intercourse with another man's wife. The "will of God" is that all "abstain from fornication" by having their own wife and living within their own limits and rights of the marriage covenant.
4. Is Warning Enough?
Colossians 1:28 - "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom..."
Warning sinners of their wrongdoing is not enough. They have to be taught a better way - God's way of living.
They are to be admonished, cautioned, exhorted, and put in mind concerning all the practices that are amiss in their lives.
Isaiah 1:16 - In keeping with the Holy Word, they must be instructed to "put away the evil" of their doings from before God's eyes and "cease to do evil."
Isaiah 1:17 - But then they must "learn to do well..."
How will they ever learn unless we teach them?
5. In What Manner Should It Be Delivered?
1 Corinthians 4:14 - "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you."
We should never warn sinners in a harsh, bitter, sour, or moody manner. Neither should we approach them in a haughty and arrogant or faultfinding and belittling fashion.
Our main objective is to win them to the Truth.
In order to do that, Paul offers a method of approach here in verse 14. He spoke to the Corinthians as a Father would address his children.
This does not necessarily mean that he spoke quietly or in a whispered fashion. Fathers, at times, can be very stern, strict, and demanding and can even raise their voices in righteous indignation to get their point across to their children.
6. How Often?
Acts 20:31 - "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
In view of the dangers that are surrounding them because of their Sinful ways, sinners should be warned consistently, continually, repeatedly, tirelessly, and at every opportunity.
"By the space of three years" as well as "night and day," Paul "ceased not to warn" or to place before the minds of the believers their individual duties along with the pitfalls and snares surrounding them.
How much more should we continually admonish the sinner who is already in the hands of Satan, the Great Destroyer?
7. Are There Any Limitations To The Subject Matter?
Acts 20:27 - "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
Paul did not keep back, suppress, conceal, disguise, or withdraw the Truth from his audience. He was not deterred in any way by a fear of man or moved by a desire for popularity. He was not apprehensive of giving offence or losing his reputation or support. He preached "all the counsel of God" no matter who liked it.
When warning the wicked, we cannot, at any time, avoid certain Scriptures or topics because they might be offensive. We must deliver God's entire will and purpose, however provoking or displeasing it might be to the hearers.
8. What Outcome Is To Be Avoided?
Matthew 3:7 - "...who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
1 Thessalonians 4:6 - "That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such..."
In warning the sinner, they must be brought to the realization that God is not only a God of Love and Compassion but also a God of Wrath and Judgment.
Romans 1:18 tells us that "...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..."
2 Thessalonians 1:8 adds - "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."
Romans 2:5-6 - They must be convinced of the fact that their Sin is displeasing to God and is storing up His wrath against them.- "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; WHO WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS."
Our opening illustration informed us that - "...Whenever danger threatens, the tickbird voices an alarm to alert the rhinoceros which itself has very poor eyesight..."
It then concluded with this statement - "Christians are supposed to alert their fellowmen to spiritual dangers..."
As a Christian, are you warning those around you of the spiritual dangers that beset them? Or are you turning your head the other way so that you don't have to address their Sin?
God definitely has called us to be watchmen. He is yearning for us to lay aside all Self, fear, and pride and "warn the wicked from his way..."
If we don't, we will face terrible consequences in this life and the life to come, one of those being more ungodliness filling our churches and quenching our Gospel witness to the world.
Barnes Notes comments - "One reason why there is so little piety in the church, and why so many professors of religion (Christianity)go astray, is, that the great mass of church members feel no responsibility on this subject. They suppose that it is the duty of the officers of the church to admonish an erring brother, and hence many become careless and cold and worldly, and no one utters a kind word to them to recall them to a holy walk with God."
Ezekiel 3:17 - "Son of man...give them warning from Me."
Will you do it?
Copyright 2005 by Connie Giordano
