This Is the Lot of the Good Shepherd

Discovered the Bayly Blog this morning via Twitter.

Please read the full post if you're interested in standing for the clear presentation of Scripture truth.

Here's a summary:

But we never find the Apostles editing their teaching and preaching in such a way that they would cause no offense; we never find them taming things down in the hope that the Church would survive for another generation.

In the radical relativism of the decadent Roman Empire, the Apostles didn’t cop a posture of false humility starting their sentences with “I believe…” or “Don’t you ever find yourself wondering whether…” or “Speaking only for myself….”

When, under the guise of humility and compassion, a pastor avoids confronting the sin of his congregation; when he minces his words; there's little doubt he’ll also avoid the suffering and death of the faithful shepherd. Remember how the Apostle Paul paused his rebuke of the Galatians long enough to ask them so very plaintively, “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

Faithful pastors devoted to the teaching of the Apostles will correct and rebuke in the same manner the Apostles corrected and rebuked. And for this, they will suffer just as the Apostles suffered—this is the lot of the good shepherd:

Remember the word that I said to you,

‘A slave is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;

if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

~ John 15:20

God’s prophets have never been able to escape persecution when they were faithful to proclaim the message God entrusted to them.