Question — Why are these 3 verses argued about in the church today as optional because they are Old Testament —

Isaiah 58:1 says, to Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Ezekial 2:5 says And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.  Ezekial  3:18 says When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest towarn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life;the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  

but every church unanimously believes these three are indisputable timeless commands?

Malachi verse 1 says the burden of the word of the LORD to ISRAEL by Malachi.  Verses 3: 8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.   Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.    Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

I think there is this polarizing of Christianity by those that preach on the streets and those that don’t.   However, I don’t think the backlash is more from those that are only bold behind pulpits and are truly against street preaching.

Why? Street preaching automatically turns you into a peculiar church. You want to have the Mayor love you, and the conservatives love you, and the town think you are wonderful.  Yes, we should have a great testimony, but not at the expense of avoiding the things that are not popular.

Street preachers seem to be a different breed because in general they FEAR GOD more than they FEAR MAN.  And that makes “the church” uncomfortable because the “church” today is so impressive that it has a lot to lose today.  But we in America guard everything, from our pay check, our homes, to our children, so it is not just a church thing.

However, street preaching seems to separate the men from the boys. (and anyone can at least hold a sign!!!).   It seems to prove you aren’t ashamed of Jesus.  It seems to show you truly believe what you claim to believe.  It seems to prove you care more about Jesus than a reputation.

There is no reproach to be behind a pulpit in America or to be an evangelist going church to church.   Everyone pats you on the back, everyone says Great Preaching!, and usually you get an offering and the next few days off to rest.

I have been rusty and not consistently street preaching like I used to do several years ago and am working toward a regular schedule again and getting things right.   I notice when i am not on the streets, my love for the world grows stronger. my desire to whine about America instead of PREACH to AMERICA grows.   My love for Jesus grows stale and I feel like an observer.

The church today has turned inward, and they promote the YES MEN, the ones who are nice and smooth talking and ones that are “SAFE”.   Jesus is not SAFE. Jesus might turn your tables over if he came into the church today.   Jesus might call your “house” a den of vipers. Jesus might be knocking outside the church.

A Street preacher sees through the nonsense and seems more in tune with the God of the BIBLE where most churches seem hypnotized by the beat of this world and mesmerized by big crowds. The street preacher sees large crowds too, but it is clear that large crowds are Anti-God and Anti-Bible and if you want a large following, you have to tone down the light.

I do not think i am better, but i can’t settle into playing church and I am not satisfied being in the barracks when a war is going on. I could be like every other christian.  The Stanley Cup could have awed me. I could get excited about the 30 programs going on to bring people in the “church’ this next Sunday. i could “Love Lucy” even though while i am laughing at Lucy and Ricky they are crying out from hell begging to be let out.

It comes at a high cost that most either can’t handle or don’t want to pay. It is far easier to keep your head in the clouds and think all is wonderful because new visitors walked in. Or keep it in the sand because someone standing up for the Bible walked out.   It is a lonely road to know the truth. it is a lonely road to be on the street and see the apathy and see the blindness and see the opposition from so-called Christians.

It is an honor to be a street preacher but it comes at a cost. You simply can’t Play church for long, nor stomach the inward, lukewarm compromise.

In yourself or anyone else.