Just when you thought things couldn’t get any sillier, scarier, sadder …

The online video of this absurdity is some 12-14 minutes long—far too long to bear for anyone with any sort of grasp of biblical and historic Christianity, with any love for the church of the living God (“which he obtained with his own blood”), with any concern for lost sinners, with any heart for the cause of the Gospel in the world!

This is the sort of thing let loose on people when “church” is detached from its biblical moorings. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “… we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard [i.e., the biblical Gospel], lest we drift away from it” (2.1). The truth and teaching of the Gospel are matters of life and death. It’s critical to get this right.

It’s critical to teach and preach this faithfully—with power and proportion, but without any apology. It’s why James issues this warning: “Not many of you should presume to be teachers … because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). And it’s why the danger of drifting away from truth, and so losing truth, can’t be treated too seriously. If we drift, we not only lose the gospel, we lose ourselves as well at last. Fellows like Long and Messer are in a fearful place!

The world is full of exotic currents, ready to take you off to who knows where. There’s a strong current to this present evil age, always pulling us away from safe harbor in Christ. Richard Phillips reminds us, in his great commentary on Hebrews, that there are all sorts of subtle undertows at work in daily life.

Just don’t pay attention—just read uncritically, watch TV mindlessly, embrace the unspoken assumptions of the workplace or of popular religion, become preoccupied with the sights and sounds, the offers and applause, and the special effects of the world—and you’ll be drawn out, out, out until you’re swept away!

Eddie Long and Ralph Messer, and the whole bunch of their ilk, should seriously come to grips with what Jesus himself did, when the crowds meant to crown him a king. We read, “Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6.15). Even he, who had claim to the throne of David, would not be made “king” on false pretenses, under false impressions, on the authority of men, because of misguided enthusiasm. His sole concern, rather, was for the kingdom of God, and the “King” God himself would crown!

By the way, a very good piece outlining at least 27 misrepresentations of the Torah and other Jewish sancta, as well as of New Testament and Christian biblical interpretation and theology made during this bizarre ritual (written by Rev. Wil Gafney, PhD, Associate Professor of Biblical Hebrew and Jewish and Christian Scripture at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia) can be found and read HERE! I recommend it as a good exposé of the kind of foolishness these sorts of “pastors” and “rabbis” are spouting.

There is only one King who matters!

He is both “Lord and Christ”—”he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6.15-16).

King Eddie? Really? No! Not really!

While here and there one finds notable exceptions, the Church-at-large in our culture seems to be of quite the opposite mind: “Don’t worry about what needs to be done, only what will happen if you do it.” In other words, look out for yourself, your interests, your investments, your future. Choose selfishly, not sacrificially.

If it comes to a choice, better to look good (image) than be right (character), better popular than prophetic, better culturally successful than fearlessly faithful!

God’s call to Ezekiel stands in stark contrast to such thinking. The Lord’s first words to him were: “I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day” (2:3). Okay, not quite the comfortable little position to ride out until retirement.

In fact, not only are they rebels and habitual transgressors, but they are “impudent and stubborn” as well, i.e. shameless and hard-hearted. Is it up to Ezekiel to make a career decision here, put together a list of pros and cons and opt for a more promising path? No! He is being “sent” and the heart of his commission is summed up in these words: “you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD…’” (2:4). And before Ezekiel can voice the slightest concern, the Lord adds: “And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them” (2:5). In other words, Ezekiel is not to worry about what will happen. “Be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words … nor be dismayed at their looks” (2:6). His only concern is what needs to be done. “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear” (2:7).

Here is the crying need of the hour, in the midst of our dying culture: for the church to be the church—called and sent by God, taking a sacrificial stand if necessary, but always speaking the word of God into the midst of the rebellion, chaos and confusion of our day.

We truly don’t need to worry about what will happen when God calls and sends, only what needs to be done!